Cincinnati daily press. [volume] (Cincinnati [Ohio]) 1860-1862, 1860-09-20
agricultural.

STATE OF AGRICULTURB IN AMERICA Mr..
Irvine, of the British delegation at Washing
ton, in conformity with instructions, has
made report to the authorities at home
upon the state of agriculture in this country.
He notices the small crops produced here in
comparison with the amount of cultivable
land and our large population, and reasons
upon these things as follows:
The immense extent of territory, and the
comparative scantiness of the population.
have induced good deal of careessness in
the cultivation of the soil The price of land
being low, the proprietors have found it more
economical to work out their land than to
spend their capital in manures and other
means of preserving its productive qualities:
and when the soil has become exhausted, the
owners have left it for some new settlement.
The consequence of this has been that in
stead of full and abundant crops, in many
parts of the older settled portions of the
country the fields do not yield, at present.
half as much as formerly, and in many local.
tiles not third, nor even quarter as much;
and that, Notwithstanding the advantages of
climate, the facility OF transport to available
markets, and the lightly taxed condition of
farmers and planters, the ratio of increase in
agricultural products of the United States is
not in proportion to the increase of popula-
tion.
Mr. Irvine might have gone little farther
and traced the evil effects of the system of
foreign trade which encourages the general
importGt on Of manufactures and expectation
of ofproduce and specie. But that would be
too much to ask of an Englishman, in these
days of free trade.-BOston Advertiser.
The HORSE CHESTNUT AS SHADE TREE-
The New York World has the following:
"AmOng all the fine trees which embellish
our houses or grounds, there is none, in its
fine conieal head and robust figure which
excels the hOrse-chestnut. 1t is thoroughly
hardy, as we'll as clean in habit. 1t is freer
from insects than most of our popular shade
trees, and in rapid growth, under favorable
circumstances, few exceed it. Compact, and
fbrous in its roots, it seldom dies in trans
plantiDg-less often than any other tree. 1t
will accommodate itself to almost any soil
not absolutely 9oet-moist or dry-and in
the fine spread of its leaves, compactness of
foliage, and density of shade, it stands un-
rivalled, excepting only in the latter quality
the sugar maple. Another of its good quail
ties--it needs l pruning.
1.-THE horse chestnut is usually charged at
high prices in the nurseries. Why, we can
not imagine, only that it is not so much
prOpagated as many other varieties. No
tree is easier of propagation, as it grows
readily from the seed or not, of which all
trees after standing a few years in open
ground, bears quantities. Every farmer, or
country dwelleF who wants shade-trees, or
plants them, should grow the horse-chestnut
for himself If he wants them for immedi-
ate use, he may go to the nurseries for them.
But unless he takes them small, he must pay
extra prices, so much in demand are they for
lawn purposes; and unless they are thor
oughly protected by guards or railing small
trees Of any kind are unfit for street plant
ing. The common price for nursery horse
chestnuts, the size of broom-stick, is abodt
twenty-five cents, while fifty cents to 81 is
asked for those the size of hoe-handle up
TO still larger-the latter only fit for street.
planting.
'1ndeed, ii is better for him who intends
planting at some future day, if he has no
young trees Of his own, to buy his smaller
trees by wholesale, at lower prices; take
them home and plant in rows in his garden,
and grow them to sufficient size for his uses,
as be may need them, than to run the risk
of getting large trees from the nurseries. 1t
is a surer and better as well as a cheaper
way. We have grown hundreds of them in
this way, and found an advantage in it, as
well as in planting the nuts and rearing
them. fproperly taken up in the nursery,
even when very large, and well planted, the
horse-chestnut seldom fails to grow at once,
from les multiplicity of roots apd their tena-
city of life. Only day or two ago, passing
where a bank had been dug away by the
sue OA u tnIlitg young tres Oi tuib hlnu1 70
set in wall, we saw that its roots had
pushed down four feet into stiff red clay,
which required pick TO loosen it.
SIN planting the nuts, take them soon after
gathering, any time in October or Royem-
Der, and lay them by in moist place. Pre-
pare the ground by thorough blowing and
narrowing, If not better done with the spade.
Then strike out a straight furrow for the
length Of the furrow needed or, If more
than one row, let the rows be four, five or
six feet apart, according 70 the size required
for the trees when taken out for transplant
ing. Plant the nuts one 10 two feet apart
in the row as in the last condition, for the
trees vii require more room for perfect
growth the lonRe., they stay in the ground
before removal. Let this be done before the
frost sets in for the winter and the nuts
covered about three inches deep The next
sprlng they win spring up hne and vigorous,
ana Niip any thing ike decent care viii go
on telolelng A they grow In after years
they may b taken VI and transplantsi at
pleasure -