Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1861-10-23
THE EVENING STAR.
FOREIGN Agricultural Items

A recent report from the Registrar General
OF Scotland, on the mortality OF the past year,
shows how favorable the practice OF agriculture
IL to the continuance Of human life. In the
eight great cities of the Kingdom the deaths
werc SO during the year, out Of 10000. Out
Of the same number Of people in the small
cities there were 226 deaths, and the number
was farther reduced in the 'rural districts to
only I76-a very significant difference ia their
favor as compared with the large cities, and
one of considerable Importance as compared
with the smaller towns.
A French paper, LIE Courier du BaS
Kim, informs rs that the harvest time in that
district was heralded by a proclamation from
the local authority, Offering a reward Of a
penny dozen for the carcases Of all field mice
(CGDtpaSnaLs) killed and produced, and a
hecatomb Of 81, 900 was piled up at the mayor
atty Of St Hypolite sfter six days slaughter.
= The Prussian Minister of Agriculture has
offered prize Of about S430, and a second prize
OF S2l5, for the best two essays on Worms and
Insects Injurious to Agriculture, to be written
in German, and handed in at the Ministry OF
Agriculture at Berlin, before the first Of July,
1884.
- The season in Denmark has been favor
able one-ryea good yield, wheat in greater
quantity than usual, barley and oats fine and
abundant. The Danish farmers are conse-
quently able to offer considerable surplus for
expectation.
I'VE chronicle all kinds Of progress with
satisfaction" writes Barral, in the Journal
dAgriculture Pretique,-''we like to render
Justice to every effort, and we regret often to
see those devoted to it discouraged: OF this we
have a sad example" It appears that Baron
Liebig has published letter in late number
of the Ausburg Gazette, in which he attacks
violently, met the ignorance of farmers, but
the creation Of institutions which are intended
not only to spread among them knowledge
already acquired, but also to achieve still
still farther steps in agricultural science.
Liebig exeommunicates at q single stroke, all
agricultural schools and stations so numerous
In Germany, and to the labors Of which we
have 30 often called the attention of our
readers. This celebrated chemist, to whom
agricultural chemistry ewes so much of
progress, now declares that none Of these,
institutions, the establishment of which has
always been received with 50 great favor, can
be of any real service. This attack from such
a sourca has produced well founded surprise
among these laborious observers, who justly
thought they were filling a scientific mission
OF the highest order in applying themselves to
the analysis of the natural phenomena of
vegetation and of life, and they have replied
with violence of which we can form little idea
In this country. We shall not repeat any of
the high words that have been exchanged.
BGs we can not refrain from saying that Liebig,
as he owes no little of his renOwn to his labOrs
IN agricultural chemistry, should the less
endeayor to discredit the labors of his COM
patriots who follow the path he pointed out
All Is not yet said, nor done and the agricuI-
tursl stations Of Germany have rendered
services which it is unjust to ignore