327 
LARGE ‘CHESTER COUNTY WHITEB’’ HOGS. 
Mr. John Danforth, cof New London, Connecticut, sends us an affidavit of 
several individuals relative to two Chester county white hogs, six months old, 
which weigh respectively 343 and 311 pounds. They affirm that “the pigs 
came to the Post Hill farm-house when five weeks old. At the age of eight 
weeks one named Beauty weighed 84; the other, Slick, 79; total, 163. On 
the 17th August Beauty weighed 204, Slick 200; total, 404. On the 17th 
day of October Beauty weighed 343, Slick 311; total together 654 pounds, 
making a gain of 44 pounds per day for the last sixty days.” 
THE DROUGHT IN ILLINOIS. 
° 
Richland county, Illinois —The crop of corn will not be more than half; 
much of it rotted in the ground, soon after planting, and the drought has almost 
eaused the ruin of that that did come up. The wheat sown this fall has suf- 
fered severely, as have also the fall pastures. Water for stock is very scarce. 
CORN IN ILLINOIS. 
De Kalb county, Illinois—The corn crop so far as maturity is concerned 
is’ finer in quality than any previous crop for many years back; but it has 
been too highly estimated. In regard to our State, one of the first in the 
Union as a corn-growing State, the figures should not stand higher than nine, 
and I am not sure but eight would better represent the whole crop. With us 
in De Kalb county, ten compared with 1866, as regards quantity, is too high, 
but twelve would represent the quality as compared with last year. 
DROUGHT IN INDIANA. 
Ripley county, Indiana—Our corn is but little over half a crop. We have 
suffered the latter part of the summer, and the fall so far with one of the most 
unprecedented droughts we have ever had in this county at this season of the 
year. No wheat sown yet. Indeed, the ground is so hard and dry that it is 
impossible to plough it. : 
CROPS IN NEBRASKA. 
Ottoe county, Nebraska.—Our corn and potatoes have materially suffered 
during the past two months on account of the drought in this section of country. 
We have had but one shower or rain-storm during the last eight weeks, and 
then the roots of plants were not materially benefited by it. The consequence 
is, that late corn and potatoes are very much lessened in quantity. Still we 
shall have a fair crop of both. Of late, the grasshoppers have again visited 
our section and are depositing their eggs in vast numbers. We begin to fear 
‘that they may prove to be an annual pest to our river towns, and in fact to the 
entire Missouri valley. 
AMERICAN WINES AND WINE GRAPES. 
A recent examination of American wines and the progress of grape culture 
has impressed me very strongly with regard to the vast proportions and import- 
ance which this interest is assuming, the energy and intellizence with which it 
is being conducted, and the encouraging prospects that, in the main, have so far 
attended these efforts. 
