SHEEP HUSBANDRY IN MISSOURI.

S. P. Boardman, in an article upon this subject, claims that sheep husbandry will be found more profitable than in the eastern States, for the reasons: 1. The greater cheapness of Missouri lands. 2. Their greater fertility. 3. The less amount of labor necessary to produce an equal quantity of winter feed. 4. The greater mildness of the climate, rendering less winter feed necessary. 5. The great extent of "range" open to the use of the Missouri wool-grower for pasture. Among the incidental advantages of wool-growing is mentioned the small cost of getting to market, as two horses will walk off as easily with a thousand dollars' worth of wool as with twenty dollars worth of corn, the same difference holding good when shipped by rail. Sheep are recommended for "shrubbing out" and clearing up rough, bushy lands; as, by feeding on them in winter, they will kill alders, hazel bushes, small wild crab-trees, black berry bushes, &c. In a timber pasture they also cause the blue grass to spread much faster than other stock. Prairie grass, too, is quite easily killed out by close pasturing with sheep, which is frequently quite an advantage when one has part of his farm "lying out," and which he would like to break as cheaply as possible before fencing in.

In discussing the general management of sheep, the writer recommends tagging the whole flock before turning out on the range in the spring: and also at the same time the cutting of all long hoofs. In a flock of 1,000 or more it is better to herd the breeding ewes by themselves, particularly if compelled to raise lambs on the range. It is better, if possi ble, not to fold sheep, but to give them a field of considerable size in which to choose their place to lie. If lambs are to be raised on the range, it will not do, in any part of Missouri, to have them come in until the worst cold storms are past, and there is a good bite of grass. Docking and castrating should be done before the lambs are four weeks old. When herded on the prairies, early weaning is preferable; say, wean April lambs from the 10th to the 15th of August. The best method of washing, the easiest, and cheapest, and the cleanest, is by swimming them three times across a running stream, with an hour's interval between the swims. One swimming soaks the wool, and the second and third clean out the filth. When so situated as not to be able to wash by swimming, the writer prefers to shear without washing. In Missouri, sheep should be washed from the 10th of May to the 1st of June, and shearing commence in six to twelve days thereafter.

The American Merino and the Cotswold are designated, respectively, as the best representatives of fine-wooled and mutton sheep. Bucks ought to be kept by themselves the year round, except when serving ewes, which period should not exceed five weeks. Lambs, even though on good grass, should be fed much sooner in the fall than old sheep; and the latter must be fed as soon as it is found they are not doing well without feeding. Lambs must be wintered by themselves; and, when practicable, yearlings also.

PRAIRIE LANDS.

A writer, speaking in reference to what prairie lands can do, claims that prairie, broken in time and sown in the fall with wheat, is sure to yield a crop which will pay for plowing, fencing, and the cost of the land the first year. Suppose a farmer pays for forty acres, $320, call the fencing $320, labor $200, with $60 more for extras, the whole costing $900. Suppose he gets twenty bushels of wheat to the acre, equal to eight hun

dred bushels, worth, say $1 50 per bushel, equal to $1,200, being $300 more than cost of land, fencing, labor, &c. The land will not only pay for itself the first year, but will also increase in cash value for years to

come.

THE PROGRESS OF MISSOURI AND ILLINOIS CONTRASTED.

The same writer states that, in 1820, Missouri had a larger population than Illinois by 10,000, while now the latter has double the number of the former. In 1850 Missouri had $137,247,707 real valuation; Illinois $156,265,000. In 1860 Illinois had increased her valuation 475 per cent.; Missouri gained only 265 per cent. In 1860 Illinois had 13,251,473 acres of improved lands, and Missouri 6,246,871; the cash value of farms in the former was $432,531,072; in the latter $230,632,126; while the value of farming implements in Missouri was about $10,000,000 less than in Illinois; all of which the writer attributes to the difference of institutions, freedom and slavery, during the forty years included in the record, since Illinois has no advantage for which Missouri has not some compensation. Since the State pronounced for freedom, not less than 150,000 emigrants have poured in, and the tide is increasing.

THE MINERALS OF MISSOURI.

In an address upon the minerals of Missouri, it is estimated that the coal fields of the State extend over 26,880 square miles, with an average thickness of five feet of workable coal, making an aggregate store of over 134,000,000 of tons. The iron mines not only contain ores in unexampled quantities, but their ores are even more remarkable for quality than abundance; the resources are simply inexhaustible, sufficient to supply the whole Union for generations. There are now seven furnaces in the State, smelting iron ores with charcoal, and a beginning has been made in smelting with mineral coal, with entire success. Lead is found in greater or less quantity throughout the metalliferous regions of the State; and it is asserted that in no part of the world is there so large an area of lead-bearing rocks, so uniformly disposed, so regular, so readily identified, or on so grand a scale. Copper is also believed to exist in quantity, but as yet has not been developed to any great extent. Tin, cobalt, nickel, zinc, &c., exist in limited quantities.

34

FOREIGN EXCHANGES.

This Department recently entered upon a system of exchange with foreign governments, societies, and individuals. Brief as has been the period since this system was inaugurated, it has been attended with the most gratifying results. Correspondence has been had with the principal agricultural societies and academies of Europe, societies of natural history, horticultural societies, public libraries, and individuals well known for their attainments in agricultural science. The system has thus far met with the approval of all that practical and sagacious class of men who are the representatives of foreign agricultural interests, to whom it has been presented.

Already the increase of the library of the Department by this means has been considerable. Valuable books and periodicals, English, German, French, Spanish, Italian, Danish, and Swedish, have been added, in exchange for our own publications. Contributions to the museum have also been received. Many societies have offered to exchange vines, plants, and seeds, of various descriptions.

It is the design of the Commissioner to extend this system of exchange to embrace, if possible, all civilized countries, expecting to receive in return for the agricultural works of the Department, and valuable specimens of American growth and production, contributions of interest and value. The advantages of such a system cannot be overestimated, adding, as it does, to our own experience the practical and theoretical knowledge of other countries. It is within the scope of this design to exchange specimens of mineralogy, botany, entomology, horticulture, &c., with the confident expectation of enriching and adding to the practical value of the museum of the Department.

A few references to the manner in which the system of exchange has been received are presented:

In a communication from the central directors of the agronomical societies of the grand duchy of Posen, dated September 14, 1868, acknowledging the receipt of books and seeds from this Department, for which a suitable exchange was returned, the directors express earnestly a desire to continue for the future and to enhance the custom so happily commenced of communicating to each other the fruits of labor upon a common field."

Alexander Buchan, secretary of the Scottish Meteorological Society, in acknowledging the receipt of reports of this Department, and communicating an offer of a set of the "Transactions" of his society, says, in relation to a system of exchange: "I am much gratified to see the activity with which you have taken up and work at this important practical problem."

James Plaisher, president of the Meteorological Society at Blackheath, England, thus writes: "In addition to the official letter sent, acknowledging the receipt of the books with which you have kindly favored the Meteorological Society, I am desirous of carrying out the wishes of the council of three by mentioning how much the interesting series of your Department publications is appreciated. Not only are there many valuable papers on general science, but there is also much meteorological

information. As president of the society, I beg to add the expression of my own satisfaction, and the great interest with which I witness the intercommunication which you have kindly suggested, and with which the Meteorological Society most gladly co-operate."

The following is an extract from a letter dated Melbourne, September 1, 1868, from George R. Latham, United States consul, to the Commissioner of Agriculture:

"I may here remark that an exchange of publications with the Agricultural Department of the United States will be appreciated by none more highly than by the scientific agriculturists of this colony. The annual reports of your Department are regarded by them as the most valuable agricultural publications in the world."

The following is an extract from a letter of M. Jules Joubert, secretary of the Agricultural Society of New South Wales, dated November 6, 1868:

"One of the most useful works we have had placed before us; and without any exception the most valuable to our colonists, for all matters connected with agriculture, is the report published annually by your office."

Mr. David, director of the Statistical Bureau of the kingdom of Denmark, in giving notice to Mr. Yeaman, United States minister resident at Copenhagen, of the transmission of reports of his bureau, on agricul tural statistics, to this Department, expresses very warmly the "utmost interest" which he feels in making exchanges of works upon agriculture, and conveys his hearty thanks for the offer of exchange.

The meteorological committee of the Royal Agricultural Society of Great Britain has signified its appreciation of the mutual benefits of exchange by accepting the offer of this Department; and in return for some recent volumes of departmental reports, has transmitted forty-nine volumes of great interest and value, constituting a series of its own reports, with atlases. It has also signified a desire for future exchanges. Mr. F. F. Cavada, United States consul at Trinidad de Cuba, in a letter requesting of this Department seeds of cereals, vegetables, &c., and promising others of choice varieties in return, on behalf of American citizens employed in agriculture in Cuba, speaks of the great and recip rocal benefits to be derived from such exchanges between Cuba and the United States-benefits of which this country will naturally reap the superior share.

William S. Mechling, of Belize, British Honduras, joins in the uniform recommendation of a system of exchange. As between this country and British Honduras, he expresses the opinion "that such an arrangement would be highly beneficial to both countries;" and touching the productions of Honduras, writes: "I am satisfied that I could send many rare and valuable seeds."

Dr. Jos. D. Hooker, director of the Royal Gardens at Kew, England, in sending seeds of trees gathered from the Himalayas, and acknowl edging the receipt of seeds of shrubs and trees from this country, also speaks warmly of the benefits of exchange. He promises a large collection of seeds of European and Asiatic shrubs and trees, and of such seeds native here he says: "You cannot go wrong in sending them."

Eugene Schuyler, United States consul at Moscow, Russia, writes as follows:

"I inclose you a specimen of hemp, prepared by a new process, by Mr. Michael Puzanof, in the government of Kursk. I have not yet been able to learn the details of the process, but will send them to you as soon as I can procure them from Mr. Puzanof.

"Some parts of Smolensk and other western governments are very swampy, and the Prince Mestchersky has thought it would be well to try to introduce there Zizania aquatica, or Indian rice, which is said to be largely eaten by the Northwestern Indians. He has requested me to procure him some of the seed. Is it in your power to inclose me a package of this seed for the prince? I shall be very happy to oblige him, and am much indebted to you.

"It may interest you to know that there appeared in the February number of the Russian Messenger, the chief monthly journal here, a long and very flattering article on the Agricultural Department over which you preside."

Transmitting seeds from Asia Minor, E. J. Smithers, United States consul at Smyrna, writes to the Department as follows, under date of April 10, 1869:

"I have the honor to inform you that I have transmitted to your Department, through the United States dispatch agent at London, a small box containing three kinds of seed of the most delicious melons grown in Asia Minor. These seeds were kindly procured by his excellency Ismail Pasha, governor general of this vilayet, and forwarded to this consulate for transmission to your Department.

"I may remark in regard to these varieties of melons, that when kept in a dry place they will remain perfect till mid-winter. Especially is this the case in regard to the Magnesia and Kir Ragatch varieties. As the climate of Asia Minor is very dry after the middle of April or the first of May, until the latter part of September, I would recommend California as the most suitable section of our country for the successful cultivation of these melons."

The following is a copy of Ismail Pacha's letter to Mr. Smithers, transmitting the seeds referred to in the preceding extract:

"VILAYET OF AIDIN, Smyrna, April 4, 1869. "SIR: It has been to me an agreeable duty to be able to realize your desire concerning melon seeds. I have procured three kinds, which you will receive with this letter.

"I will be happy if the committee of agriculture of the United States succeeds in the cultivation of our delicious melons in the New World, and I will feel flattered every time the eminent members of this committee require my feeble help, which will always be accorded to them so far as I am able. On their side, if they would sometimes send us seed capable of being acclimatized in these fine regions of Asia Minor, I would feel grateful.

"Please to accept, sir, the assurance of my high consideration.

"E. J. SMITHERS, Esq., United States Consul."

"ISMAIL.

Auguste Dupuis writes from Village des Aulnaies, L'Islet County, province of Quebec, as follows:

"You have been kind enough to send me the report for 1867. This valuable report to the agriculturists of the United States would be profitable to farmers in all parts of the world. The farmers of your beautiful country ought to be proud of being represented by men who are elevating agriculture to its proper position.

"They receive in this report lessons numerous and profitable. They can make comparisons between the methods pursued in States adjoining their own.

"You deserve much from your countrymen for this great work.”