452 MONTHLY JOURNAL OF AGRICULTURE. 



about that time. Sometimes they die on the passage. Of 297 shipped on own- 

 ers' account to England — 1 male to 9 females, 2 years old — only 3 arrived. The 

 vessel was loaded with guano in the lower hold. Frequently 12 or 15 have 

 been shipped, and only one or two die ; the risk of bringing is great, on account 

 of distance ; at least 12 or 14,000 miles must be sailed over. 



" Quinua " is a small grain much used in Peru, produced in the highlands of 

 the interior ; is sowed like wheat, and gives a large crop. It is cooked by boil- 

 ing with potatoes and meat, or alone, like rice ; but the natives generally cook 

 it with a small piece of meat, cheese, or other substance, to give a flavor. It 

 also makes a delicious sweetmeat and pudding, and is much used as a diet. The 

 Emperor of Russia ordered it sowed largely in his dominions ; with what result 

 I know not. 



At the request of a friend, when I visited Peru in 1844, I sent to the val- 

 ley of Jauja for a bag of Quinua, which I brought with me to the United 

 States, and sent a part of it to the Commissioner ol Patents, and a part to the 

 person who requested me to obtain it ; and he has since informed me that he 

 had sown some, but that it did not grow. I supposed that it must have been 

 kiln-dried, or mjured on the voyage. I have no doubt that it would be much 

 liked if it could be produced here, and I see no reason why it cannot. 



Arracacha is unknown to me by that name. 



So far as my observation goes. Merino, or part-blooded sheep (as they keep in 

 the best order) are superior for sea-stock to other classes of sheep. 



The " Vicuna'''' I have frequently seen when crossing the Andes, or on the 

 Punas (highlands), which I have crossed fourteen times ; and it is a fact, as I 

 have been told, that if you can encircle them with a red yarn two feet above the 

 ground, that none will leave the circle ; and by shooting one of a flock, you can 

 take all but two or three, as they all congregate about the dead one until only a 

 few remain, when they run olF. 



Respectfully, your most ob'dt, SAM. F. TRACY. 



SHEEP AND WOOL— NUMBER AND VALUE IN THE UNITED STATES IN 1340. 



The quantity of Wool sheared in the United States in the year 1S39, accord- 

 ing to the census of 1840, and the estimated value by Professor Tucker at that 

 time, as the result of his inquiries on the subject, are as follows : 



States. Pounds. Value. 



Maine 1,465,551 $492,942 



New-Hampshire 1,260,517 441,181 



MassachaseUs 941,906 329 677 



Rhode Island 183.830 65.340 



Ootinecticut 889,870 311,434 



Vermont 3.699,235 1,284,232 



States. Pounds. Value. 



Alabama 220,3'33 66,206 



Florida 7,285 2,185 



Louisiana 49,283 16,428 



Mississippi 175,192 52,-559 



Arkansas 64,943 20,483 



Tennessee I,0ti0.332 265.583 



Missouri 562,265 140,564 



Kentucky 1,786,847 446.712 



Ohio 3.685,315 921,329 



Indiana 1,237,919 309,473 



Illinois 650,007 162,500 



MiehiRan 153,375 38,344 



Wisconsin 6,777 2,259 



Iowa 23,039 7,679 



District of Columbia 707 212 



Total 35,802,114$H,341,390 



Total New-Englaud States. 8,440,909 $2,924,806 



New- York. 9,845.295 3,44.5,853 



NewJersey 397,207 139,022 



Pennsylvania 3,048,564 1,066.997 



Delaware 64,404 22.541 



Maryland 488,201 170,870 



Virginia 2,.538,374 761,512 



North Carolina 625,044 1.56,261 



South Carolina 299,070 89.721 



Georgia 371,303 111,391 



The average value, by this statement, is about 33 cents per pound. 



Since the census of 1840 was taken, an immense increase in the number of 

 sheep, in the Western States particularly, has taken place. 



The total number of sheep in the United States, when the census was takeu 

 in 1840, was 19,311,374. Of course the average weight of their fleeces cannot 

 be ascertained, as the number of lambs is not given in the census ; but, making 

 u liberal allowance for the lambs, it would appear that the average weight of 

 fleeces did not exceed three pounds each. 



(932) 



