420 AGRICUIiTUKAL REPORT. 



the moutlily report of the Department for August and September, 1872. 

 An enterprising" farmer in Mississippi instituted experiments in raising 

 fruit and in seeding down a portion of his land to grass, both of Avhich 

 were quite successful. His orchard, embracing winter-apples, has 

 already become a source of profit, and his success with grasses consti- 

 tutes him a strong competitor with the hay-makers of the North. He 

 was especially successful in raising clover, obtaining a growth of three 

 tons to the acre. Other similar experiments in the State confirm the 

 belief that grasses can be successfully cultivated. In Lowndes County, 

 upon a field seeded fifteen years ago to clover, and which has since re- 

 peatedly produced both grain and hoed crops, the clover-crop in 1871 

 was a most luxuriant one, although the field was seeded to clover but 

 the one time. 

 A writer in the Southern Farm and Home says : 



As a forage-plant at the South, lucerne — Alfalfa, (Medicago sativa) — is very far superior 

 to all others. It is used for three purposes. First, for feeding green, or soiling ; used 

 in this "way, it is best to cut the lucerne a day in advance, so as to feed it in a wilted 

 state. It must never he lyastiired. * » » * Lucerne-hay is extremely nutritious, and 

 is relished by horses, cattle, and sheep. It is prefeiTed by the domestic animals to any 

 other kind of hay. The jiroduct of lucerne is enormous. Five tons of excellent hay 

 may be cut from an acre. It is estimated that fodder, gi'eeu and diy, may bo obtained 

 from an acre of lucerne for the support of five horses during the entire year. This in- 

 cludes the great bulk of green food during the spring, summer, and autumn. 



There is nothing so congenial to the growth of grass as lime ; espe- 

 cially in sandy, dry soil ; limed soil retains and attracts moisture if any- 

 thing will. Lime is a large component part of clover. 



JUTE. 



In addition to the promising accounts of success in the culture of jute 

 in this country, heretofore published, experiments being recent and on 

 a small scale, many others have been received during the present year. 

 These indicate a growing conviction that the cultivation of this valuable 

 fibrous plant will eventually become a profitable industry in the country. 

 Jute has been cultivated successfully in Florida for several years. In 

 Georgia, recent experiment has established in the minds of planters a 

 belief in the feasibility of and profits attending the production of the 

 fiber — the cost of production being small and the cultivation simple. A 

 planter of South Carolina says that the cultivation of sea-island cotton 

 having become precarious, a more certain crop is demanded, and is con- 

 vinced that jute Avould prove a proper substitute. Another gentleman 

 of the same State thinks the fact fully demonstrated that jute is a fibrous 

 plant well calculated for growth in the South. In Louisiana, where a 

 company has entered upon the production on a large scale, the ramie- 

 machine is said to be well adapted to the cleaning of jute. Mr. H. H. 

 Stevens, of Massachusetts, well acquainted with the relative merits of 

 jute-products, after comparison, states that the fiber raised in Louisiana, 

 as to length, strength, and color, is fully equal to that of India. 



]\Ir. Thomas H. Dunham, of Boston, to whom, as a competent judge, 

 a.sample of our domestic jute-fiber was submitted, writes as follows : 



The quality is very superior. The market is just now very much depressed. Some 

 parties here have lost heavily on imported jute-i)utts, and this season (before the iire) 

 India goods Avere imported at immense loss. The present rate is 6 to 8 cents per pound, 

 (gold,) the usual rate 10 to 13 cents, (gold.) Your sample is very superior, and at 10 

 cents (gold) it would be safe to quote. You will understand that our merchants do not 

 favor home-growth of jute, or, rather, make light of it : but my advice to you is to omit no 

 step iu pushing forward jute-growth ; make every effort to get it raised here. Beyond 

 and above all obstacles, push it on. The country will sustain this to any extent. The 

 motive is greater than you can have any idea of. The moment you get the growth 

 started, j^ou will be fully assured, as capital will follow quickly, as iu cotton. 



