The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1857-03-25
DEPARTMENT NEWS.
DEpAararsr on STATE.

DKPARrMENr STATE
The Commerce Of 81 Phomas,--we give the following
extract Of interesting letter received from
pendent at St Thomas.
"The importatons from the United States into ST. Thomas
have greatly decreased since 1854 This accounted for
the fact that the other West India sands which formerly
purchased provisions from ST. Thomas import directly
from the United States The decrease in the commerce
were imported by three American houses here about co.
900 barrels Of -four last year s56) the whole impora
ton less than half that quantity OF the $57689l Of
impotaons last year from the United States about $780,
900 Of the amount made by American houses The
tai Of mporations for the years 1884 shown by the
books of the custon-house $4654s but the received
opinion here is that the value of goods nearly
double that amount The importaons from Europe have
not decreased for the that the island dealers in dry
goods continue to purchase their supplies at St Thomas
This may also be attributable the fact that ST. Thorn
is the depot for the royal mail steamers which line a
fods constant and certain means Of communication with
the Old World while the absence OF any direct means OF
communication with the United States certainly affects
commerce here ipjuriously.
"The expectations from St Thomas to the United States
very nconsiderabe consisting OF afew aacaibo hate
little bay run, old IRON &c, &a
INTERIOR DEPARTMENT
Smut in Wheat--Mr b. +. Barkley of Birdvie, Tar
rant coanty Texas in letter to the Commissioner Of
Patents states that in looking over the Patent Office
ports for 1865, his attention called TO the subject Of
smut in wheat. This brought to his recollection expert
which made by acquaintance Of his, Mr. John
Mitchell while he Mr.. By resided in Nicholas county
Kentucky One bushel Of wheat was prepared in the fol-
lowing One peck covered with water, and
after being permitted to remain undsturbed for twenty
four hours it rolled in hickory ashes and sown mme
diaey second peck after being treated in similar way,
rolled in lime and immediately third peck,
after being stepped in water rolled in ashes from oak
wood, and Immediately sown and the fourth peck was
sown without any preparation.
The soil used for this experiment the in all
cases. The result highly satisfactory, the wheat
which had been prepared by being rolled in ashes not
touched by smut whilst that which had been prepared by
being rolled in lime had four five heads of smut and
that which bad been without any preparation was
almost entirely destroyed by its ravages. This was the
only experiment of this kind which had under tho
notice of Mr. b. who further states that the enemy of the
wheat crop where be resides is the chinch bug.
The Doscorea BIaas-Professor Bume, of Calvert Col
lege Maryland writes to the Commissioner of Patents that
few weeks ago he took up the dioscorea baa of which
he had received from the Patent Office small tuber last
June He had read lately many articles in the agricul
tural papers, in which the dioscorea described
humbug that he anxious to ascertain whether he had
also been humbugged From his short experience in the
cultivation Of this plant he inclined to think that,
after all the cutlery which had been raised against it, it
would in the end prove very valuable addition to the
gardens of the country From the small tuber scarcely
one and half inch in lengthy which he planted in June
last he had raised doscorea of at least inches
length which be intended to start in hotbed and
thus give it another fair trial. the of which he
should not fail to communicate at the proper time.
POST OFFICE DEPARTMENT
Ne,c Poet Ofces-The following post Offices hare
been established for which the following gentlemen have
been appointed postmasters
HalIowelI, Dodge county Minnesota; D. H. Shaw, post
master.
Crab Apple Grove vermllion county, Illinois Jesse
Burke postmaster.
Haws, Jackson county, Ohio; Solomon Norrs post
master
Sageland Henderson county, Illinois; J. B. Golden,
postmaster,
Ross, Lake county, Indiana Alfred Hayward, post
master
ri Paso, woodford county, Illinois; VIM. NJ Jenkins
| postmaster. -
Shirley Mclean county, Illinois, Rufus W. Dibble post
master
Etna, Lafayette county, Wisconsin, Jonathan Hoffman
postmaster.
Mount Alvia, Blount county, Alabama; James J. Land
postmaster
Chance Of STE and Name.-The site and name Of the
post Office at Prigmores Store Marion county Tennessee
has been changed Crown Point and p A. Mitchell has
been appointed postmaster, in place of j. K Prgmore re
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