Jmlitstrjal 
THE AGEICULTUEAL AND MINEEAL 
WEALTH OF THE COUNTRY. 
From an interesting and valuable article in 
theN. Y. Evening Post by “W. B. C.” we 
copy the following : 
The wealth of the tfnited States in 1870 
was estimated at thirty thousand and sixty- 
eight millions of dollars. This is the founda¬ 
tion of our flnono al credit among the nations 
of the world. All this sprang from either 
personal labor, productions of nature, impor¬ 
tation of money by immigration, and as the 
result of trade and commerce, and the en¬ 
hancement of the value of land from all these 
causes. 
THE LABORERS. 
There are twelve and one-half millions of our 
population who are engaged In all classes of 
lihor. Nearly six millions are employed in 
agricultural pursuits. Herein is probably the 
greatest source of our wealth, for on the 
labor of the people and the produce of the 
soil our commerce is dependent. Given the 
hat its of the people as to labor and quality 
of the land they occupy, and the wealth of 
the community is at once indicated. 
THE WHEAT PRODUCING LAND 
is principally enclosed in a rectangle whose 
corners are placed at New York, Savannah, 
Kansas City and 8t„ Paul. There are also 
large tracts In California, Oregon, Washing¬ 
ton, Montana, Colorado and New Mexico. 
California, Minnesota and Iowa present the 
most striking examples of large yields of 
wheat in portions of their territory. 
THE MOST PRODUCTIVE COSH LANDS 
are chiefly included in a triangle whose base 
extends from the southwestern part of Texas 
to the southwest corner of Pennsylvania, and 
whose apex is at Omaha. Illinois, Iowa and 
Kansas afford the highest degrees of corn 
production within their limits. There is also 
a small urea of land at the contiguous points 
of Kentucky, Tennessee, Missouri and Arkan¬ 
sas, which partakes of the same degree of 
corn production. 
THE COTTON LANDS 
are south of the southern boundary of Vir¬ 
ginia, Kentucky and Missouri. The areas of 
densest production are, first, a region of 
about one hundred miles width from east to 
west, lying on both sides of the Mississippi 
River, extending from Tennessee on the 
north easterly to Baton Rouge on the south ; 
second, a small area on the southwest coast 
of Florida ; and third, a region in the south¬ 
western part of Arkansas, near Shreveport, 
Louisiana. 
THE HAY CROP 
occupies a region which complements that of 
the cotton crop, covering the lands north of 
a line slightly to the north of the southern 
boundary of Virgina, Kentucky and Missouri. 
The regions of great est hay produce are in 
Maine, Vermont, New York, Minnesota, 
Iowa, Nebraska and Kansas. 
THE TOBACCO CROP 
is mainly confined to a belt of land lying 
between the line of the southern boundary 
of Pennsylvania and a line fifty miles south 
of the southern boundary of Tennessee. 
There are four areas of exceptionally large 
production, the largest in the region bound¬ 
ed by the Mississippi and the Ofiio rivers on 
the north aud west, by the southern line of 
Kentucky on the south, and on the east by a 
line about one hundred miles east of Cairo, 
Illinois. The others are small areas in Ken¬ 
tucky, Tennessee, Maryland and North Caro¬ 
lina. Beyond the broad belt of tobacco 
fertility there are exceptional instances of 
tobacco cultivation in rnuny States. Tobacco 
is raised to some extent in Minnesota, Iowa, 
Wisconsin, New York, Pennsylvania, Florida 
and Texas, New Jersey, and in the New Eng¬ 
land States Vermont, New Hampshire, Mas¬ 
sachusetts and Connecticut. 
THE DAIRY PRODUCTS 
are confined principally to the Western, 
Middle and Eastern States. New York is far 
the most productive in this respect, Cali¬ 
fornia, Vermont and Ohio are the only 
States which present the same degree of pro¬ 
ductiveness for portions of their territory 
that New York does. The most marked 
area of rich dairy produce is bounded by St. 
Lawrence River on the north, aud by a line 
fifty miles west of the Hudson on the east, 
ext nding southward from the St. Lawrence 
to the boundary line of Pennsylvania and 
New York, and westward to Lake Ontario’s 
eastern 1 ne. In this region the value of 
dairy products is more than forty dollars per 
capita. 
THE TOTAL VALUE OF FARM PRODUCTS, 
including betterments and additions to stock, 
for 1870, was two thousand four hundred 
and forty-seven millions of dollars. The 
States to which the largest portions of this 
aggregate are credited are—Illinois, two hun¬ 
dred and ten millions ; New York, two hun¬ 
dred and fifty-three millions ; Ohio, one hun¬ 
dred and ninety-eight millions, and Penn¬ 
sylvania, one hundred and eighty-three 
millions. But further detail as to the staple 
products of the land belongs properly to 
another subject, and cannot be given here. 
THE MINING WEALTH 
of our land, estimating by the number of 
hands employed, absorbs most labor in Penn¬ 
sylvania, where the numbers are elghty-one 
thousand (forty-five thousand underground), 
employing eighty-four millions of capital, 
earning thirty-eight millions as annual wages 
and affording seventy-six millions’ worth of 
products. Ohio is second, employing eleven 
thousand bandB, but with comparatively 
small capital, nine millions, and product, 
seven millions. California is third, employ¬ 
ing seventy-five hundred hands, twenty 
millions of capital, earning thirty-nine 
millions annual wages, affording eight mil¬ 
lions products. Pennsylvania’s product for 
each laborer is nine hundred and thirty-nine 
dollars ; California, one thousand and ninety- 
one ; Ohio, six hundred and eighty-nine 
dollars. Illinois, next in order, employs 
seventy-five hundred hands, with only four 
million eight hundred thousand dollars capi¬ 
tal ; the product, however, is returned as 
high a- six million nine hundred thousand, 
or nine hundred and twenty-eight dollars to 
each hand. Michigan employ 1 * six thousand 
hands, with a capital of nine million nine 
hundred thousand dollars, and a product 
amounting to seven millions, or eleven hun¬ 
dred and twenty-eight dollars per hand. In 
Illinois five thousand out of her seven thous¬ 
and five hundred work under ground. New 
York is the only other State that employs 
more than four thousand miners, but there 
is nothing of special interest in her figures. 
Nevada exhibits a remarkably large sum as 
the earnings of each hand. She employs 
twenty-eight hundred hands, with a capital 
of thirty-two millions and a product of eleven 
millions, being at the rate of thirty-eight 
hundred and ninety-five dollars for each 
hand, The whole number of miners is one 
hundred and fifty-four' thousand. Eight,y-one 
thousand work below the ground. The 
whole capital is two hundred and twenty- 
two millions, and the products for the year 
of the census of 1870 were one hundred and 
fifty-two millions, being an average product 
of nine huudred aud eighty-eight dollars for 
each miner. These statements include in 
the category of miners those employed in 
quarrying, in oil boring and in peat-cutting, 
as well as those who are miners in the more 
strict sense. Louisiana and Texas return 
bub two miners each. Pennsylvania has 
three thousand establishments; California 
one thousaud. 
In the census tables the largest number 
employed in agriculture are credited to the 
States of Alabama, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, 
Iowa, Kentucky, Mississippi, Missouri, New 
York, North Caroliua, Ohio, Pennsylvania, 
South Carolina, Tennesssee and Virginia, 
each more than two hundred thousand. The 
largest numbers engaged in professional and 
personal services are credited to Illinois, 
Massachusetts, Michigan, Missouri, New 
York, Ohio and Pennsylvania, m each more 
than one hundred thousand. Of those en¬ 
gaged iu trade and transportation, the largest 
numbers are credited to Illinois, Massa¬ 
chusetts, New York, Ohio and Pennsylvania, 
in each jmore than seventy-five thousand. 
Those engaged in manufactures and mining 
and mechanical industries are fourid in great¬ 
est numbers in Illinois, Massachusetts, New 
Jersey, New York, Ohio and Pennsylvania, 
in each more than one hundred thousand. 
Iu fifteen States the numbers of agricul¬ 
turists run over two huudred thousand ; 
in but seven States, those in professional and 
personal service number one hundred thous¬ 
aud ; in only five States do the persons en¬ 
gaged in trade and transportation number 
more than seventy-five thousand ; and in 
only six States those engaged in manufactur¬ 
es and mechanical and mining industries 
number more than one hundred thousand. 
--— - - 
Floods at the West. —Heavy rains have 
lately prevailed through Kentucky, Ohio, 
111., Ind. and Missouri, doing great damage to 
crops and in some places nearly ruining the 
harvest while in progress. In some parts of 
Kentucky it has rained continuously six 
weeks and farmers are nearly disheartened. 
Wheat and barley have grown very badly 
and oats and corn are down to the ground. 
RAISING AND FATTENING HOGS. 
J. G. Brow.v of Marshall County, Iowa, 
who, it is said, raised the heaviest hogs in 
the State in 1874, communicates his method 
of raising and fattening hogs bo the Register 
of that State. He says : 
We breed young sows and have the pigs 
come in April, May and June. Would like 
to confine them to the first two months, but 
cannot always do so. Each sow is put in a 
separate pen, on a floor or dry ground, a 
few days before farrowing time. When 
one sow has a large number, and one a 
small number of pigs, we equalize them, but 
always put older pig3 with younger, and do 
it as soon as the sow has farrowed. The 
sowb are fed ear corn and kitchen swill, with 
a little bran or ground feed in it. When 
the pigs are two or three weeks old, the 
sows and pigs are turned together in a lot, 
or the pasture, If the grass has started 
sufficient for feed. As soon as the ycung 
pigs take to feed, we shed and soak corn for 
them, and give swill with as much milk in it 
as the farm affords. The com or swill 
should not be allowed to sour until the pigs 
are six weeks or two months old. The 60 ws 
are still fed ear corn, and run to grass or 
water. We wean the pigs at tnree to five 
months old, by turning the sows into another 
pasture, with the stock hogs, where they get 
only grass and water. The pigs are fed 
soaked corn until the new corn is hard 
enough to pull, which they are fed for 
awhile, and then, generally, they are put 
after cattle. 
In the following spring, as soon as the 
timothy Btarts so the shoats can get a 
mouthful, they arc turned to pasture, and 
get only grass and water till the new corn 
crop is ready to feed, unless dry weather 
late in the summer should make the grass 
veiy short, when they are fed a little old 
corn once a day. We feed new corn sparing¬ 
ly uutil it is dry. The latter part of October 
the hogs are shut from the pasture and the 
feed increased to a full feed by the last of 
November, which is continued till February, 
when they are ready for market. In the 
winter the fat hogs have good shelter, with 
a dry dust nest. 
Many feeders make a great mistake by 
stuffing their poor hogs with green com, 
expecting to fatten them in a few weeks. 
It is a great waste of corn, as a bushel will 
not make over five pounds of pork, while 
later, when it is dry, It would make double 
that amount. Hogs that are intended for 
market before December, should bo fattened 
on old corn, as a change from old to a few 
weeks’ feeding of new com, will be of little 
advantage to them. 
--- 
PUSH UHE HOGS EARLY. 
Few men In the South have had the suc¬ 
cess with hogs that I had for thirty-three 
years’ plantation life. I know that many 
claimed it was the result of extravagant 
feed, aud one who had a right to say, com¬ 
plained that 1 wasted corn ; proof was de¬ 
manded, and it turned out that my feeder 
used two bushels of corn, carried in a gunny 
sack, of course with two bushels in he had 
the end in his hand, bag on liis shoulder, and 
corn with the shuck on—there were two 
bushels. Would any one pay present price, 
§1.25 for each bushel, in such measure < I 
had good stock, and kept them from getting 
poor ; and did not turn in the woods to get 
a living until cold weather, and then by 
waste corn. Hogs will be better off with a 
little com on best pasture. Sorghum cut 
and given to them bountifully, and very 
little com will push. March pigs should be 
pushed by thoroughly cooked meal, into 
gruel, and in a good pasture, with all the ad¬ 
vantages of squash, cabbage etc., so as to be 
two hundred and fifty or three hundred 
pound porkers by the middle of December. 
No mau owing one-eighth or one-fourth sec¬ 
tion of land in Mississippi, from latitude 31°, 
can fail in finding an acre of land to grow 
red clover, which will feed ten pigs uutil 
time to begin on com and peas. This acre 
can have orchard grass, adding to variety of 
feed, will protect, from winter cold snaps, 
and when clover passes away the orchard 
will do for pasture or hay until the last babe 
is old enough to marry, I say never turn 
hogs on the range—to me it was more costly 
than supplying food within the plantation. 
In thirty-three years’ experience there is 
something. 1 have put on the range ninety 
fat shoats, and I got fifteen for meat. I 
have killed over one hundred,making twenty 
thousand pounds of pork and my pasture 
was ample. For economy never keep a 
poor pig.—P., in Southern Farmer. 
---- 
PIG-PEN PAPERS. 
Hogs love sulphur, and a considerable 
amount of it is necessary to keep them in 
fair health. When hogs run at large and 
find green food they supply themselves with 
what is needed but pigs kept in close pens 
and fed on house slops or corn need some 
more laxative food. 
Charcoal should be fed to hogs frequently. 
Keep a supply by them in small boxes. Mix 
four quarts of salt, two ounces of sulphur, 
and one bushel of wood ashes, and keep con¬ 
stantly in the pens in boxes. It tends to re¬ 
duce fever, destroy worms aud aid digestion. 
HEADING BACK EASPBEEEY CANES. 
“ I observe on page 18 of the Rural that 
you condemn much shortening of Black-Cap 
Raspberry Canes. As one of the editors on 
your staff has large experience in the culti¬ 
vation of this delicious fruit, I wish he would 
give us id your next issue the best method of 
managing the different sorts in this respect. 
“ Years ago, when I began to cultivate 
raspberries in my garden, I was told by those 
who pretended to know all about them that 
the canes of all kinds should be kept pinched 
off to the bight of 3 or 4 feet, and the bear¬ 
ing canes be cut out Immediately after the 
fruit had been picked. I have invariably 
followed this rule for years, aud have always 
had good crops. 
“ My principal garden is in rather a bleak 
place, and should I let the rasberry canes 
grow over 4 feet high, they would be badly 
broken up by the wind, no mutter whether I 
tie them to a stake or loosely tie 3 or 4 grow¬ 
ing canes together to support each other. 
The growing canes are so succulent and ten¬ 
der, that even when I use large-sized spuu- 
varn to tie them to the stakes the wind often 
breaks them down. It also does the same 
with blackberries, and I came to the conclu¬ 
sion this season that I would let none grow 
over 3 feet high ; but they have surpassed 
this in many instances, for where I have 
pinched off the top at this bight it throws 
out numerous side shoots, which would run 
up a foot or two more if I did not also pinch 
them off. These are now accumulating so 
rapidly that I have become tired of the 
pinching process, and have about made up 
my mind to let them go on at their own 
sweet will, which is the course I pursue with 
my grapes. 
“ I doubt whether so much cutting and 
slashing, as many recommend, is the best 
method to follow with grapes or berries in 
our hot, dry climate. A friend of mine 
planted a vineyard over ten years ago and 
never got a fair crop from it till last year. I 
asked him to what he then attributed his 
better success. His answer was that he let 
the vines grow their full length in 1873, and 
shortened them notlling like so much in the 
next winter’s trimming, and thas he got a 
good crop in the winter of 1874. 
"The rapid growth of raspberry canes in 
my garden is not owing to a rich soil, or be¬ 
cause highly manured. Whe.e they are 
planted the land would not produce over 30 
bushels of corn to the acre ; thus you wifi see 
that its fertility is quite moderate. a.” 
With the Black-Cap Raspberries we usual¬ 
ly practice pinching off the young canes 
when 3 to 5 feet high ; then let the lateral 
canes grow unchecked. In spring these late¬ 
rals are pruned to about one foot of the main 
stems, varying the length according to size 
and vigor. This is all the pruning we prac¬ 
tice or advise with this class of raspberries, 
excepting taking out the old canes aftei 
fruiting and removing a portion entire when 
too great a number start from the same root 
or stool. 
For all the other sorts, such as the Ant- 
werps and Pliiladelpbias, we neither pinch 
off the ends of young ones in summer nor do 
anything likely to check the growth, for it 
should be remembered that raspberry plants 
which continue to grow vigorously uutil kite 
in the season are in better condition to with¬ 
stand the cold of winter than those ripening 
tlieir wood and leaves early. Hot, y 
weather in August and September is the 
cause of more plants winter - killing than 
anything else. It is difficult to lay down 
specific rules for pruning plants in all cli¬ 
mates and soils, because conditions and cir¬ 
cumstances demand a wide variation in prac¬ 
tice. 
