AGRICULTURAL STATISTICS. 
285 
AGRICULTURAL STATISTICS. 
A desire faithfully to discharge the duties de- 
volved on this office in relation to agriculture, 
prompts me to seek impartially from persons of 
known experience and research, the best informa- 
tion on the several topics embraced in this circular, 
and upon such others as may, in the judgment of 
practical men, contribute to the benefit of that 
vitally-important branch of our national industry. 
Comprehending, as this circular necessarily does, 
a variety of subjects, with all of which no one 
person can be supposed to be practically familiar, 
it is presumed that each one to whom it may be 
addressed will confine his observations to such 
matters as have come under his own experience. 
Such information it is the purpose of Congress in 
this mode to collect and distribute for the common 
benefit of the agricultural community, and it can- 
not but be, in the aggregate, of enduring value. 
Excluding mere estimates and local details of 
weather and crops, which may be found in the able 
agricultural journals of the country, the design of 
the annual report, to which you are invited to con- 
tribute, is to bring to light and register in a perma- 
nent form, important facts and discoveries, the 
results of actual experiment, which might not 
otherwise become so soon nor so widely known. 
It is likewise intended to constitute a repository 
of agricultural statistics, founded upon official and 
other reliable data, which may serve as authentic 
bases for the use of the politico-economical inquirer 
and legislator. 
Whatever may have been tested and found new 
and useful in practice, together with important 
agricultural statistics, will be acceptable; especially 
suggestions as to the introduction of such new 
objects in the way of machinery, animals, pro- 
cesses, or plants, as may tend to the profitable 
diversifying of the application of labor and capital 
to the all-important science of cultivation. 
With this brief explanation of the objects con- 
templated by Congress, and leaving to your dis- 
crimination to judge how you may best and most 
conveniently assist in their accomplishment, I beg 
leave to tender in advance, for any contributions 
you may be pleased to make, my respectful acknow- 
ledgments. Thomas Ewbank, 
United-States Patent Office, ) Commissioner. 
Washington, July, 1849. j 
The Commissioner of Patents, in execution of 
acts of Congress, desires to procure information 
from planters, farmers, and others, on the follow- 
ing, and any other points that may occur to yon 
connected with agriculture: — ■ 
Wheat. — Your experience as to varieties — differ- 
ence in weight, and of time in ripening — their 
enemies and diseases — soil and manures best 
adapted to. 
Oats. — What varieties have you tried, and with 
what results, particularly as to time of ripening — 
what their estimated value as compared with corn 
as food — is the cultivation of the oat becoming 
more or less popular, and for what reason 1 
Rye. — Have you knowledge of any new and 
valuable variety — to what uses is it applied — have 
crops diminished of late years, without any appa- 
rently corresponding diminution in the fertility of 
the soil, and to what influence is it supposed to be 
attributable 1 
Barley. — Have any new varieties been tried, and 
with what results — to what uses is this grain applied 
in your state — if not cultivated, is it forbidden by 
your soil and climate 1 
Indian Corn. — What varieties most esteemed, 
and for what reasons — what the difference in time 
of ripening — is it liable to change of character and 
qualities according: to soil and climate, and other 
influences, and your observation on that point — 
give the estimated value of the shuck as compared 
with the blade, and of both as compared with good 
hay, weight for weight — what is the value of green 
corn for soiling cattle, and especially for producing 
milk — your experience as to feeding grain, whole 
or ground, cooked or raw. 
Rice. — Variety cultivated — describe any new and 
valuable process for its cultivation or preparation 
for market. 
Note.' — As to all these grains, please to state the 
cost of production and usual weight, and the pro- 
bable average per acre, and actual aggregate pro- 
duct, if known, of each in your state — whether 
the average product per acre has increased or dimin- 
ished — whether the weight per bushel of the various 
grains is fixed by law in your state, and what weight 
is prescribed for each. 
Hay. — State the comparative value as food for 
stock, of clover, Timothy, and mixed hay — the 
grass seeds preferred in laying down meadows — 
the average yield per acre; describe any new pro- 
cess in curing. Have meadows been irrigated in 
your state, and with what effect 1 
Peas. — For what purpose cultivated in your state 
— for food, or for improving the soil — estimated 
value as food for stock compared with Indian corn 
— the most esteemed variety for field culture — 
average product per acre — value of haulm, or vines, 
compared with other fodder— average price per bushel 
in the last year. 
Root Crops. — Irish and sweet potato, turnips, 
carrots, beets, mangold wurtzel, artichoke, and 
other varieties — comparative value — cost of pro- 
duction — weight per bushel — average per acre, and 
aggregate product for your state. 
Cotton. — Average 'yield per acre and per hand in 
your state — aggregate yield of the whole state for 
1849 — describe new varieties and process of culti- 
vation—manures best adapted to— cost, per pound 
or bale, of production — freight, charges, commis- 
sions, &c, paid by the planter. 
Sugar. — Whether of cane or maple — the product 
per acre — describe any new process of cultivation 
or manuufacture — variety of cane cultivated — its 
enemies and diseases — cost of making sugar — 
freight, charges, commissions, &c, paid by the 
planter. 
Hemp. — On this head give any information that 
you may deem valuable and new, as to varieties, 
processes of cultivation, and preparation for market 
— soil and manures best adapted to — cost of pro- 
duction. 
Butter. — Quantity made in your state — average 
annual produce per cow — are cellars or spring 
houses preferred 1 
Cheese. — Same questions. 
Horses and Mules.— Number raised in your state 
