324 
THE CULTIVATOR, 
Oct. 
•with which we have hitherto been acquainted. It there¬ 
fore forms an important addition to our knowledge of 
the diseases and casualties to which wheat is subject, a 
good crop of which all our farmers are more proud to 
grow, than any other which they cultivate. 
One step more remains, to render our knowledge of 
this insect, and the disease which it occasions, so com¬ 
plete that it can be correctly designated and definitely 
spoken of in all time to come. The fly that will be 
hatched from these joint-worms requires to be scientifi¬ 
cally named and described with such precision that it can 
be distinguished from the many other species of midges 
and gall-flies that are now known. This can only be 
done, by an examination of the living fly—for these in¬ 
sects are so minute, so delicate, and fragile, that dried 
specimens of them seldom show what their natural ap¬ 
pearance and characteristic marks are. Happily, under 
the present postal regulations, by which our citizens are 
so greatly accommodated, light articles of this kind can 
be transmitted speedily, securely, and almost gratui¬ 
tously, from one extremity of our country to the other. 
Specimens of insects, and of infested grain, straw, &c., 
respecting which any one is desirous of information, may 
readily be enclosed in a goose-quill, or some similar ve¬ 
hicle, and sent in a letter to any person conversant with 
matters of this kind, for his examination and opinion. 
It is, perhaps, now too late in the season for Mr. Rives 
to find any of the larvae or pupae of these insects among 
the stubble of the wheat-fields; but should they re-ap- 
pear another year, by forwarding us portions of the dis¬ 
eased straw, at intervals, say of one or two weeks, when 
the worms are approaching the period of their maturity, 
some of them would be sure of coming to hand in a con¬ 
dition so healthy and advanced, that they would com¬ 
plete their transformations, and yield us living flies, from 
which a suitable description can be drawn. Should he 
be able to furnish us with such specimens, he will not 
only confer a personal favor, but be instrumental, we 
trust, in making an interesting and substantial addition, 
both to agricultural and entomological science. Yours 
truly, Asa Fitch. Fitch’s Point, Salem, N. Y., Aug. 
22, 1851. 
AGRICULTURAL RESOURCES OF OHIO. 
BY W. G. EDMUNDSON. 
When the series of papers on the Agriculture of Ohio 
was commenced, the writer supposed they would extend 
through some six or eight numbers of the Cultivator; 
but circumstances have transpired which make it proper 
that for the present, at least, this feature of our corres¬ 
pondence should be suspended. The cause for this change 
may be readily explained, by simply announcing the 
fact, that a tour through Michigan, Illinois, and Iowa, 
is contemplated, and some notes by the way-side will af¬ 
ford, doubtless, very agreeable and entertaining subject 
matter for the readers of the Cultivator. It therefore, 
may be expected, that a pretty full description of the 
country bordering on the Upper Mississippi and her tri¬ 
butaries, will be given, embracing the peculiar features 
of the agriculture of the country through which we may 
pass, for the purpose of affording the general reader 
Borne reliable facts by which he may judge of the com¬ 
parative advantages that are possessed by different sec¬ 
tions of those new and flourishing states. 
There are many matters of interest connected with the 
agriculture of Ohio, that deserve an extended notice, 
but owing to influences already explained, only a mere 
outline description can be given, and for the convenience 
of the reader, the remarks will appear under their re¬ 
spective appropriate heads. 
Sheep Husbandry. —This branch of business is year* 
ly on the increase, and is fast becoming a great favorite 
among the farmers in the older settled portions of the 
state. The extraordinary high prices paid for wool this 
season, have produced the conviction on the minds of 
many, that those rates will continue to be offered in fu¬ 
ture seasons, and hence almost a mania has been produc¬ 
ed among those who possess large flocks of sheep, and 
in many cases, persons who have heretofore confined 
their operations to other branches of agriculture, have 
purchased sheep the present summer, and have seeded 
down their worn-out lands with the cultivated grasses, 
for the purpose of affording pasturage for their flocks. 
The number of sheep in Ohio may be fairly estimated at 
4,000,000; these, at a low calculation, yielded a revenue 
of $2,500,000. Those who pay much attention in the 
selection, and are careful in providing their flocks of 
sheep with good wholesome summer and winter food, 
have no difficulty in obtaining an average value equal to 
one dollar per fleece. This, in connection with the in¬ 
crease of lambs, make it a business beyond all compari¬ 
son, more profitable than any other branch of farming. 
Some choice flocks of full-blooded French Merino sheep 
have yielded, on an average, four pounds per fleece, 
which brought forty-five cents per pound, and in a few 
instances still better than this was done, though the 
flocks in the latter instance were not so large, and a por¬ 
tion of them were wethers. 
In the eastern counties, those bordering the Ohio 
river, the full-blooded Saxon sheep may be found in 
great abundance; and the fineness of the staple of the 
wool cannot be excelled by any other portion of the 
Union. It must be admitted by all who have given this 
matter proper investigation, that Eastern Ohio, as a re¬ 
gion for the production of a fine staple of wool, has no 
competitor on this continent. The soil and climate, and 
withal the tastes and habits of the rural population, are 
eminently adapted to produce this result; and if the pri¬ 
ces for the finer sorts of wool be at all remunerative in 
future years, the flocks of sheep throughout all the hilly 
counties of the state, will be greatly enlarged. This re¬ 
gion, embracing some fifteen to twenty counties, is ca¬ 
pable of sustaining 10,000,000 sheep, without materi¬ 
ally interfering with other products. The more sheep, 
the more clover the land can be made to produce; and 
the larger the yield of clover, the greater will be the 
quantity of wheat the soil is capable of producing. This 
doctrine is now pretty well understood by many of the 
old wealthy farmers of Jefferson, Harrison, Belmont, and 
other eastern counties of Ohio, who have realised large 
fortunes from their extensive flocks of fine wooled sheep. 
Agents from eastern manufacturing establishments 
passed through all parts of the state during the winter 
months, and contracted for the fleeces with the farmers, 
many months before the sheep were shorn, at prices rang. 
