STATE REPORTS OF AGRICULTURE. , Dae 
. 3. The harder the ground is where the grain is sown, the less chance for this bug to 
_penetrate to the roots of the grain and lay its eggs therein. Hence the importance of 
fall plowing, and using the roller upon land that is loose and friable. Hence, also, if 
old corn ground is sufficiently clean, itis a good plan to harrow in a crop of small grain 
npon it, without plowing it at all. Moreover, rolling should always be adopted, as the 
best wheat-growers, both in this countay and Europe, attest that the heavier the 
ground for wheat is rolled, the better the crop. 
4. Asingle heavy rain immediately checks the propagation of the chinch bugs. Con- 
tinued heavy rains materially diminish their numbers. A long-continued, wet season, 
like that of 1865, sweeps almost the whole brood of them from the face of the earth; 
but from the rapid rate at which they multiply, there will always be enough left for seed 
for another year. It is not only a general, but universal rule, that this insect is never 
ruinously destructive, except where there is continued hot, dry weather; and if in two 
adjoining districts there has been a dry summer in one, and much wet weather during 
the summer in the other, however plentiful and destructive the bug may be in the first 
district, it will scarcely be heard of in the second. 
The natural history of the army worm, canker worm, caterpillar, cab- 
bage worm, bee killer, and prominent insects affecting the grape-vine, 
as well as innoxious insects, is given with great particularity, making 
the report of great value to the farmer. 
CALIFORNIA. 
The last volume of transactions of the California State Agricultural 
Society comprises the proceedings for 1868 and 1869. The addresses 
and reports made at the two State fairs are filled with valuable sugges- 
tions on the importance of a more diversified agriculture, on artificial 
forests to ameliorate the climate and beautify the country, on irriga- 
tion, and onimproved culture of the cereals and fruits, which have become 
great staples in the wealth of the State. There are also special reports 
on several subjects, and suggestions on the native grasses of California, 
beet-root sugar, silk culture, rice, flax, mining, diseases of cattle, immi- 
gration, &c. 
The receipts of the society in 1869 were $28,497 85, which was all 
disbursed in premiums and expenses, except $171 78. 
The statistical reports for 1868-69 of leading farm products show 
aggregates of 19,651,984 bushels of wheat, 7,331,333 bushels of barley, 
2,568,757 bushels of oats, 3,226,997 bushels of potatoes, 5,571,132 pounds 
of butter, 4,422,355 pounds of cheese, and 9,402,364 pounds of wool. Of 
fruits, there are now under cultivation over 2,000,000 grape-vines, nearly 
100,000 orange, lemon, olive, and fig trees, and 2,500,000 apple and pear 
trees. Of wine and brandy, rapidly-increasing staples, nearly 3,000,000 
gallons were produced. Of live stock, 636,468 neat cattle, 2,137,948 
sheep, 20,000 Angora goats, and so on, showing wonderful progress in 
a State but little more than twenty years old, and its chief advance 
made during the last ten or twelve years. -The value of the farming 
products is estimated at $30,000,000. This entirely eclipses her product 
of gold, a result which no one would have predicted twenty years ago. 
The wheat culture of the State becomes vivid to the mind’s eye from 
the single fact that, on the 1st day of August last, 50,000 tons of wheat, 
in sacks, were stretched along the banks of the Sacramento River, in 
the counties of Tehama, Butte, Sutter, Colusa, and Yolo, and that 
60,000 tons more were to follow them, making 110,000 tons of wheat as 
the yield of five counties. Five years ago the land from Yolo to Val- 
lejo, fifty-six miles, was unproductive, and almost uninhabited; last 
year it was nearly one continuous wheat-field. A railroad now runs 
through this tract, with two wheat-trains daily, one every night, and 
extra trains on Sundays. Tor miles along the track last year the wheat 
was piled up in satks waiting for shipment, and more than 40,000 tons 
were shipped from Vailejo direct to Liverpool. 
4 
