446 AGRICULTURAL REPORT. 



other corn-producing countries havo not the like advantages, that Brit- 

 ish agriculture is rich and thriving. 



Farmers^ protective association. — Four farmers' clubs in Soutliwesteru 

 New Jersey, namely, the Progressive Farmers' Club, of Mount Laurel; 

 the Farmers' Club of Woodbury; the Farmers' Mutual Benefit Associa- 

 tion of Camden County ; aud the Burlington County Farmers' Club, at 

 Mount Holly, have associated themselves together under the name of 

 the Farmers' Conference Club of New Jersey, aud have engaged a promi- 

 nent member of the Philadelphia bar as a permanent counsel for the 

 advice and assistance of members. This action has been taken on ac- 

 count of grievances heretofore suffered by iarmers dealing with the city 

 markets. 



Association of lyroducers. — The Sidney Farmers' Association of Cham- 

 paign County, Illinois, contracts, on behalf of its members, for sales 

 and purchases in quantity. For example, in a membership of 100 

 there are 1,000 hogs to be disposed of ; a committee is appointed who 

 arrange for their sale, securing a small advance over current prices, on 

 account of the size of the lot. In selling grain, the general shipper of 

 the association returns the value of the grain in the Toledo, New York, 

 or Boston market, (as the case may be,) after deducting charges of 

 transportation, and a commission of oue-half cent per bushel. 



Agricultural organization in California. — Much interest has been 

 aroused in California in respect to agricultural organization for busi- 

 ness purposes, and a State Farmers' Union has been projected, includ- 

 ing in its scheme local clubs with rei)reseutation in the central society. 

 The co-operative principle has been carried into effect with much ad- 

 vantage in several town and county associations of farmers in that 

 State. At a meeting of the Stanislaus Farmers' Club, at La Grange, 

 December 8, 1872, Mr. W. J. Warder said that in an interview with Mr. 

 Ten Basch, of San Francisco, that gentlemen had offered to ship wheat 

 for associated farmers at the lowest market-prices, to advance $20 j^er 

 ton while atioat, without interest, to make no charge for drayage or 

 storage, and to charge commission only for sales in Liverpool. If the 

 wheat was to be stored for a rise, it would be held at a rate of 4 per 

 cent, per annum. It was stated that the Oakland club by combining 

 had obtained their sacks that season at 11 cents apiece, instead of 18 

 to 20 cents apiece, the current price, and that parties had offered to the 

 club, on grain in store, an advance of 70 per cent, at G and 7 per cent, 

 interest, yearly. At the Sonoma Farmers' Club allusion was made to 

 the successtul operation of combinations of farmers in Iowa and Illi- 

 nois, owning warehouses, employing shipping agents, and forwarding 

 products by the car-load and cargo under special contracts with rail- 

 roads, mercantile men, and consumers. 



Corn for fuel. — D. H. Wheeler, secretary of the Nebraska State board 

 of agriculture, reports that during the winter of 1871-'72 many families 

 in all parts of the State used corn for fuel, finding it cheaper, consider- 

 ing its low price in the market, than coal at $9 per ton. It is claimed 

 that 50 to 100 bushels of corn per acre are a common yield, and that the 

 cost of raising is 8 to 11 cents per bushel. The corn makes a good fire, 

 but requires constant attention. 



Potato-starch factories. — Mr. Moses Woodward, of Jefferson, Coos 

 County, New Hampshire, an experienced starch manufacturer, states 

 that in his section a good potato-starch mill capable of turning out nine 

 tons of starch per week would cost aboiit $3,800, not including povrer 

 for engine or mill-dam. As much power v»'ould be required as for a com- 

 mon wool-carding machine, and three men would be needed to work the 



