The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1863-11-05

lucky. Still the yield is greater than last
year. The crop of 1863 is about 258, 1852, Alb
lbs, and of 1862, 208, 8O7, 078 lbs, and in
crease of 49, 655, 1856 lbs. Yet the injury was
great, being in the west % per cent The
cause of the increase, under such an injury,
will be found in the fact that Upper cent, more
of ground was cultivated as is seen from the
returns in the July report of this department.
Our correspondents state, generally, that about
one-half the crop was gathered before the
frost i'll the western States.
Root crops.-The inquiries respecting these
made to our correspondents embrace all usu-
ally cultivated roots except potatoes. Their
replies show that these exhibit a usual good
crop, with the exception of two or three States.
As most of them are grown in the eastern
States where rains have been favorable, the
crop is good one, and information, apart
from the circulars, speak of an increased at
tention to these important products.
HopS.-The growing ofhops has been grad
ually increasing in this country with the more
extensive use of malt liquors, until it begins
to take rank as one of the crops Of the coun-
try. Hence the department has recognized it
as such and placed it on the circular. The
column of returns exhibits it as good crop,
but the different replies to the circulars show
much diversity. Insects, In many localities,
have injured the hops, and in some places the
weather has been too wet. A considerable ex-
port Of them is made, and the London papers
give this general glance of the present Euro
pean product.
Gin Bavaria and Bohemia the crop is about
half yroduce of 1862. An immense crop ig
grown this year in the district of Baden and
the adjacent parts of Germany, whence are
imported the inferior and weak hops, too often
marked and sold as first class Bavarians.' In
AIsace the crop is very large, but the quality,
as usual, is secondary. The Lorraine planta
lions are highly favored both as to quality
and abundance. In Belgium there ie the larg-
est and best crop known for years, and mark
| ed improvement is observable in cultivation
and curing. American reports are conflicting
but we are assured the produce is greatly in
excess of the local requirements, In each of
the above districts Of production the great and
steady increase of hop plantations OF calcula-
ted to have a permanent influence on the
trade"
Honey-Although the honey crop is more
a luxury than necessity, and receives but a
r limited attention, yet the recent improvement
of the hive by Langstroth and others, has
made bee culture a most interesting pursuit,
and one that should receive much greater at
tention. With the knowledge of the merits
of these improved hives, and the modes of
handling bees, will arise greater interest in
the bee culture, until, once more, honey will be
an inseparable accompaniment of buckwheat
cake. The returns do not present much sue
cess in honey making, or in the increase Of
bees, for there is a general statement that bees
did not swarm or increase this season, and that
but little honey was made. The common as
signed cause for this is the scarcity of flowers
from drouth in the spring months.
i Gr0p6s.-But few Of our fruits are so wide
Iy and rapidly spreading as the grape. 1t is
not many years since a cultivated grape was
scarcely to be found in the rural districts, and
now all our correspondents make return Of il
and speak of it as common in their counties
In Kentucky some of these reports are very
favorable of its success, but in Ohio there has
been considerable rot, as there has also been
in Kentucky and elsewhere. The mildew has
been prevalent in the Eastern States, and il
nearly all the States it has met with injury
1t is as yet too scattered crop to appear az
a whole i'll figures, showing regular annual
production, but central points, such as Cincln
natl, should endeavor to ascertain the grape
and wine production of the country.
Stock h0gs.-The inquiries relative to stock
hogs in the September circulars are the first
we have made of that great stock product,
which, by its vastness, shows, not less thar
our cereal crops, the greatness of American ag-
riculture.
The hogs are reported as a full average as
to number and but a ba!f-teaeth or per cent
below an average as to condition. Some cor
respondents state that the hogs were put ear
. ly on the frosted corn, and that many will &C
eastward as soon as possible. In the west the
; the chief part of the hogs are turned on the
cornfields to "hog dozen, !" as it is there call
, ed, and the quality of the corn is determined
by the rapidity of fattening, for little of it is
gathered in the hog districts. 1t is the mode
Of fattening which keeps fertile the corn
grounds of the west, as nothing is taken of
the grounds but the additional fat accumua
ted by the hogs. Having once been turned
on they will be fattened so that the usua
number of fattened hogs may be looked for
How they Compare in weight with former
years will depend on the price and the quail
ty of the corn. Inquiries relative to fatten
ing hogs and cattle will be made in the
monthly circulars until after the slaughterine
: season.