504 AGRICULTURAL REPORT. 



of tlio transactions of these associations during the year ^^'cre received 

 jroni tlio oflicers of upwards of seventy of tbeni. 



The Madison County cattle sales, as reported by Mr. Jrving I\ Willis, 

 evidence an improved condition of the stock of this section of the State. 

 Mr. lrvin.i;- eonchidcs his statements with the followini^- comparison of 

 sales : 



The number ul' ;ill cattle sold, {G,2'M licad,) us iigaijist 5,401 lioad iu 1870-'71, shows 

 a large increase. 'I'lie average weight of three-year-old cattle is now 1,132 pounds lor 

 the year, against 1,101 pounds last year. Two-year-olds are now 906 pounds; last 

 year 887 pounds. One-year-olds we re^wrt at (547 pounds, as agaiusfe 014 pounds in 

 1871. Oxen, per yoke, are now averaged at 2,81)4 i)Ounds; last report gave these at 

 2,060 pounds. In all of those which comprise the greater part of the whole sales the 

 increase is most satisfactory and large. 



The average weights being greater aud the numbers roportetl larger tlian last year, 

 would of course make a larger number of pounds' weigiit ; but, on the other hand, the 

 average prices and cents per pound, for evoy ago and kind, are largely retluced from 

 the showing of 1871. Three-year-olds were, last year, .$64.13 ; thisycar, $53.55. While 

 the average of throe, Uvo, and one year-olds togothei', from last report, was !|49.59 

 per head, it is but $40.28 for these ages this year. In last report, three, two, and 

 one-year-olds brought an average of §5.49 i)er hundred pounds. This year these ages 

 bring $4.53, a falling off of nearly §1 jier hundred, which is only iu proportion with 

 the general decline in values of all stock within the past twenty-foui- months. The 

 total cash results, notwithstanding the decline in prices, is almost equal to last year, 

 being about $9,000 less iu the footings. 



The number of horses purchased is larger than last year. The average iiriceof these 

 in 1870-71 was $113.37 i)or head. Our present report shows a small increase, being 

 an average of $115.75 for the year, and for the past six months $125.30, against $116.ia 

 in 1871. 



Mr. G. W. Campbell, iu his report to the State Horticultural Society, 

 thus alludes to an insect which seems to be doing some damage to the 

 hot-house vines of Central Ohio : 



I will mention that I have been examining the roots of grape- vines that have little 

 bunches of knots or bulbs formed on their librous side-roots, and by the aid of a strong 

 magnifier iiud them to bo covered by an aphis, or plant-louse, certainly very much like, 

 if not identical with, the Phyllaxcra rittata, or gall-louse, Avhich produces the knots or 

 galls on the under-side of the leaves on the thin-leaved vinos in so many vineyards. I 

 do not know how to account ibr the fact that I have not seen the work of this aphis 

 on any of the out-door vines on my place tliis season ; but iu two of my green-houses 

 there were, in patches, vines affected with these galls. Upon digging the iilauts it 

 was found that in the ]ilaces where the leaves had been affected the roots were more 

 or less knobby, and abounding in little bunches of knots so well known to vine-ijrop- 

 agators ; and upon a careful examiuatiau of these knobs or knots mth a powerful 

 glass, I found the little rascals in great numbers. Upon smooth roots, or upon vines 

 free from those knobs and knots, I found none of them. Cutting open, I foiuul nothing 

 inside these knots— simply the clear, white substance of the root, the action of the aiihis 

 seeming to be conlined to the surface of the root. I have not carried my investigations 

 far enough to enable me to form an opinion as to the extent or probable damage done 

 to the vines by this insidious and hitherto unsusiiected enemy ; but it is not impossi- 

 ble that many of the maladies to which the vine is subject, and which have been hith- 

 erto unexplained and unexplainablo, may bo referred to the hidden Avorkings of this 

 microscopic depredator. 



At the November meeting of the society the following-named varie- 

 ties of winter apples were named for cultivation in southern Ohio: 

 White Pippin, Eom/j Beauty, Eambo, Baldwin, Pujtnam Ilusset, Cler- 

 mont, Newton Spitzenberg, Milam, and Pomme Gris. 



Mr. Campbell, in the report submitted by him at this meeting, speaks 

 of his uniform failure with the Walter gi-ape until he commenced to 

 graft it on other varieties. He says that had he purchased grafts at $20 

 each w^heji this variety first made its appearance, it would have been 

 more profitable to him than vines at $3 and $5 apiece. He is confident 

 the grape will do better grafted on some other variety than on its own 

 roots. 



