The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1881-02-16
farm aud Garden.
Conducted by DR.. THOMAS POLLARD, State
Commissioner of Agriculture
Report of the United States Commits
sioner of Agriculture.

u
embraces Sc pages and contains a large
amount of interesting statistics about
the crops of each State their area, yield
per acre and value-about farm animals,
number In each State, value, etc.-farm
labor, and wages in each State-value of
lands-agricultural exports-cotton and
cotton manufactures-wool and its pro-
ducts-pork packing-some European
statistics, and the sugar crop of the world.
We find the yield of wheat for Virginia
is put down at 90 bushels per acre, corn
at 19 bushels, rye 9 bushels, oats IL bush
els, potatoes 50 bushels, tobacco 1853 lbs.
hay l.19 tons. From this it would seem
that potatoes and hay will pay best in
Virginia. Tobacco put down at cents
per pound for Virginia, but after the ex-
pense of the crop is calculated, with delay
oftwelve months in getting to market,
there can be no money in it at present
prices. Hay is the least expensive of
these crops, and will pay if well attended
to. By the way Oregon is the heaviest
hay producer of all the States, the yield
being 2.lO tons per acre. We were sur
prised to see California credited with only
Ia bushels wheat-while other States are
put at Is and 20 bushels, (Indiana at 20.)
Kentucky is shown to be one of the most
productive of the States.
Virginia is credited with only 426, 900
sheep, while Texas has upwards of five
millions, and California at least seven and
half millions, and Ohio four millions.
We think it is great oversight in the
farmers in Virginia not to raise more
sheep, as we'll as other stock. We con-
slider Virginia particularly adapted to
sheep-breeding. Think of the United
Kingdom of Great Britain having 324
millions, Australia 81 millions of sheep.
Labor per month is reported for Virginia
at 1926 with board, while at the North
ern and Western States it ranges from
$40 to SIS, and higher in some of the
States and Territories west of the Missis-
sippi, as-in Nevada and Montana $50, and
IN California $27. In North Carolina, S.
Carolina, and Georgia, it is nearly the
same as in Virginia, but higher in the
Gulf States. The value put on lands is
scarcely correct-being too high in Vir-
ginia, being putat 1912 for cleared lands
Of the exports of the United States we
have previously spoken.
The Beet sugar pr oduction of the world
is put down for 1879-9O at 1,355,OOO
p tons; Cane sugar at 3, 10000 tons. Total,
4,487 900. The United States produces
only 10000 TONS of which Louisiana
produces 100000 TONS Cuba produces
625O00 tons, and British India, 1,45O,-
900 tons, none Of which they export But
sugar seems to be falling off in France
and other European countries. Now we
have strong hopes that the sorghum will
come to the rescue in the United States
Ana ysis proves it to be nearly as rich in
toaccharine matter as the cane, and it can
be grown in almost all the States-ad H.
6ltMma-all States that will grow corn
and the experiments made already have
been very successful in the manufacture
OF sugar from sorghum. Car loads of it
were made the past year in Minnesota,
Pennsylvania, etc.
We have not space to say much of the
report of the Entomologist. We notice a
remed y for the grape curculio, birds, bees,
and other insects which prey on grapes,
worthy of notice. 1t is to slip a pa
per bag over the bunch of grapes when
one-third grown, drawing the mouth to-
gether with pin, and making small
slit In the bottom Of the bag, to prevent
the collection of water inside when it
rains. This also serves to protect the
punches from mildew. For the "aphis."
which infests the roots of plants and
fruit trees, hot water is advised, also
opening place around the roots of trees
to catch water to drown the insect. In
undation for the phylloxera," which de-
Stroys so many vines in France is said to
be the best remedy they have yet found.
The aphis which destroys our young fruit
trees, by getting on the leaves, and roots,
and older ones too, by attacking the roots,
particularly apples, is very similar to the
phylloxera of France This report con-
tains long article on the cotton worm. +"
and the boil worm, which every cotton
"a raiser should obtain if possible and read.
The remedies are to protect the birds by
legislation if necessary, and to use poisons.
Paris green in preference to London pur
pie, and arsenic. The kinds of birds re-
commended to be protected are named
but the list is too long for introduction
here. But the leather winged" bat is
mentioned as one of the most effective
enemies Of the cotton worm. The cred
winged black bird, and the Grain crow"
or yellow billed cuckoo are among the
most useful of birds in this respect. The
latter is always mentioned first in replies
from the planters to the question as to