Vol. XXI, Second Series. 



ROCHESTER, N. Y., JULY, 1860. 



No. 7. 



AGKICULTURAL STATISTICS OF CANADA. 



The Bureau of Agriculture in Canada issued 

 circulars of agricultural queries to' the Presidents 

 of the different county societies, and received sev- 

 enty-two replies from Upper Canada and thirty 

 from Lower Canada. 



The wheat crop in Upper Canada last year 

 appears to have sustained little damage from the 

 midge or weevil. Of the seventy-two reports, 

 forty-two state that no mischief was done by this 

 insect to winter wheat; eighteen, that very slight 

 injury was done ; eight report serious and extensive 

 injury— say from 10 to 25 per cent.; and three 

 report a loss of 50 per cent. 



The remedy for the midge universally given is, to 

 ;o sow early kinds of winter wheat very early, and 

 ;he Fife spring wheat, either very early or not till 

 lf£er the 20th May. The Soules, White Flint, and 

 'lue Stem, and also the White Kentucky, are men- 

 ioned in very many of the returns as the earliest 

 .nd best winter wheat, and the Fife as the best 

 pring wheat. Good draining and good cultivation 

 re much recommended. Six returns report serious 

 ijury from frost on the 5th of June, 

 The county of Carleton gives the highest yield of 

 '•heat — winter wheat, 28^ bushels per acre; spring 

 'heat, 22f bushels. The total average of Upper 

 anada is, winter wheat, 21 bushels per acre; 

 )ring wheat, ISf bushels. It is said that this is 

 Tillable. If so, it speaks well for the skill and in- 

 illigence of Canadian farmers. It is 16 per cent. 

 )ove the average of the last twenty years. 

 Five years ago, there was comparatively little 

 Ting wheat sown in Canada — not one-tenth as 

 uch as winter wheat, Now it is estimated that 

 ere are twice as many acres sown with spring 

 heat as with winter wheat. This great change is 

 .iefly owing to the invasion of the midge. 

 The total average yield of spring wheat in Lower 

 mada is 13 bushels per acre. The midge seems 

 - have done considerable injury. The general 



remedy suggested is, to sow very early or very late; 

 and one writer recommends running a rope steeped 

 in turpentine over the heads when in blossom. The 

 Black >Ssa variety seems to be most generally sown. 

 The average yield of barley in Upper Canada is 

 2Ti bushels per acre ; in Lower Canada, 23 bushels. 

 In the latter Province, more attention is paid to this 

 crop than formerly. 



Eye is grown to a considerable extent in Lower 

 Canada, but the average yield is only 13 bushels 

 per acre. In Upper Canada, fifty of the returns 

 report that there is very little or none grown. The 

 average yield is 18 bushels per acre. 



In Upper Canada, only thirty-seven returns men- 

 tion Indian corn, the average of which is a little 

 over 40 bushels per acre. 



Of oats, two counties in Upper Canada report an 

 average yield of 50 bushels per acre. The total 

 average ss 34| bushels. In Lower Canada, the av- 

 erage is 22|- bushels per acre. 



The hay crop last year in Upper Canada was 

 very deficient. The reported yield .varies from 500 

 lbs. to two tons per acre. Out of the seventy-two 

 reports, forty-eight use gypsum or plaster as a top- 

 dressingf and eighteen use barn-yard manure occa- 

 sionally. 



Of turnips in Upper Canada, sixty-nine of the 

 returns mention that this crop is grown very suc- 

 cessfully, and that its cultivation is largely on the 

 increase. 



Flax and hemp are little grown, but in some sec- 

 tions of Upper Canada its cultivation is receiving 

 some attention. 



There is a great improvement reported in the 

 Potato crop. The yield in 1858 averaged 125 

 bushels per acre ; last year it was 176 bushels. The 

 rot prevails only to a very limited extent. Tlie 

 Irish-cup is generally recommended as freest from 

 the rot — though one return states it to be the 

 worst. New land and dry situations are most re- 

 lied upon as preventives. 



