there is a vast deal more information of this kind possessed than formerly. The consequence is, that information is more diffused; the minds of the farmers are set in action; many become contributors to the agricultural journals, and the value of these latter are much heightened by the increased practical bearing they assume, and the extent and variety derived from these sources. A comparison of these papers at the present day with those published some twenty years since will show how far the science and art of agriculture has advanced in this period.

The prejudice which improvements suggested by science have sometimes to combat is well described, though some what sarcastically, in the following extract from the Revue Scientifique, in an article on manures, which we take from an agricultural journal. The writer says: "Among others, we recollect the jokes, the epigrams, the vituperations, uttered upon Darcet, Camille Beauvais and his pupils, a few years ago, because they had the audacity to make the raising of silk worms a scientific affair. 'What!" said they, does not the south of France know how to raise silk worms, after having tried it for centuries? Is it in the south of France that the fine folks know all about silk worms, because they have raised four worms in a little desk? Oh fie! Mr. Darcet! Mr. Beauvais! You are mere theorists! You are mere parlor farmers!'

"However, (thanks to their noble studies!-thanks to their perseverance) the silk culture of the south of France is wholly regenerated. They now can work at it almost with certainty of success. Their production of silk is already doubled, and all, the former chances of loss are diminished one-half."

Mr. Colman's Observations on European Agriculture, in the course of publication, under a liberal patronage, may very probably add to the stock of knowledge, by contributing much material relating to the economy of the farm, based on long and careful experience, directed to the aim of increased improvement.

It is gratifying to observe, in the examination of the notices and reports of the numerous agricultural societies, the very decided advance which is making in the various departments of agricultural labor. The premiums, either intrinsically valuable or merely honorary, have stimulated honest industry, and in many cases tracts comparatively barren have been rendered fruitful, and difficulties which seemed insurmountable have been readily overcome. It augurs well for the hope of future extended benefits, that the number of those associations is increasing; and the numerous records of the productions of the soil, the dairy, the orchard, farm yard, and household, thus presented, show that the attention directed to these objects is not without effect. The gain of many parts of our country, in consequence of these means, is estimated by good judges at not less than 20 or 30, and even as high sometimes as 50 per cent. Large crops, improved farms, and better seeds, implements of agriculture, manners and modes. of application, are the happy results of the diffusion of a generous spirit of emulation thus encouraged. A great variety of most valuable records are secured, which serve as comparative references, and detailed successful. experiments may furnish the ground for many more. As a single instance, we may mention that the New York State Agricultural Transactions contain, beside various valuable treatises, reports of 46 county agricultural societies. The geological reports of State surveys are likewise increasing in interest. Among the latest of these may be mentioned Doc

tor Jackson's, of New Hampshire, and Mr. Ruffin's, of South Carolina, both of which are highly meritorious.

The State of Alabama, likewise, has recently ordered a geological survey, by which, no doubt, the resources of the State may be developed. A recent foreign paper speaks of an agricultural convention held at St.Quentin, in the north of France, by the proprietors, which might be very profitably imitated on an extensive scale in our own country. It was attended by the deputies, members of the councils general, and upwards of three hundred practical farmers, who passed three successive days in discussing the best means of improving the breed of horses and cattle of all kinds, the growth and importation of oleaginous seeds, wool, hemp, and flax, the cultivation of waste lands, and other important questions. It was also decided that a general association of the northern departments, similar to those in Normandy and Brittany, should be formed, and its first meeting should be held next year at Cambray. We cannot doubt that such measures among us would have a most happy effect in diffusing intelligence on important agricultural subjects; and it is to be hoped that many years will not elapse before the conviction of its beneficial effects will prompt to the enterprise. The great Father of his Country, who watched with an eagle eye for her welfare, earnestly recommended means for such an object, the benefits of which would be realized, as he says, "by drawing to a common centre the results every where of individual skill and observation, and spreading them thence over the whole nation."

Another cause, which deserves to be considered in forming the estimate, is found in the effect of a rapidly increasing population in portions of our country. In some of the new States the lands are becoming yearly more and more brought under tillage. Thousands of acres thus add to the amount of produce; so that the effect of the season, even in the years which are most unpropitious, is in some degree repaired.

The number of persons landed in this country as emigrants, during the past year, is said to have been 84,674. To take a single instance, by way of illustration: It appears, by the census of last spring, that the population of Iowa amounted to 82,000; and allowing to the estimate 10,000 increase a year, for the last three or four years, which is said not to be too large, it now amounts to not less than about 90,000. Of course, as most of these are agriculturists, there must have been a very considerable increase of the quantity of land thus brought under cultivation in that Territory. The same may be said of Arkansas, Missouri, and some of the other more recent States. This will affect the particular crops raised in those States. Besides this, there are other lands in the process of clearing up, which, for the first time, each year receive and produce a crop. These add very considerably to the amount. Notwithstanding, too, the low prices of the markets and the great surplus of produce, there is still a disposition to increase the amount sown, in the hope, it may be, of some favorable change in the demand for the product. All these things tend to make up for losses from other causes; so that, on the whole, there is no sensible diminution in many of the most important crops.

THE SEASON.

An attempt has again been made to estimate the influence of the season, by collecting notices of the state of the weather, from the earliest periods in which the various crops could be supposed to be much affected by the diversity of the same.

An extensive examination has been entered into; and by comparing the journals of one month with another, published in many parts of the country, the following conclusions have been reached:

There appears to have been no very extensive injury from the effect of the cold winter or spring, though we meet with occasional notices of the grain being winter-killed. Nothing like uniformity can be expected in so widespread a territory, embracing many degrees of latitude. While winter reigns in one section, spring may be breaking in another; and while heat is drying up the ground in one, in another refreshing showers may revive the drooping vegetation. A kind Providence has thus guarded us from the severity of either extreme of our climate. Seldom is it that we are called to notice any meteorological cause which has affected the whole country. During the past year, there has been, as usual, important alternations of the weather. Partial damage is now and theu noted, as resulting from the occasional frosts of spring extended into summer; but the injury has been quite limited. Thus we find notices like the following:

Michigan City, Indiana, May 21.-"Last night we were visited with one of the severest frosts ever witnessed here at this season of the year. Destroyed corn, potatoes, vines, &c., and all kinds of fruit, and actually freezing the ground in some places. It is confidently asserted by some farmers to-day, that the wheat is greatly injured, if not in some sections entirely ruined; the truth of which I cannot decide, but a few days will determine."

Marshall, Michigan, May 23.-"For some days past, it has been cold and rainy; but on Monday it cleared up, and we were visited on Monday and Tuesday nights with very severe frost, which has doubtless destroyed all kinds of fruit in this region."

In other sections, at this early period, apprehensions are expressed on account of the want of rain, and yet in others rain was most abundant. Thus:

Greenville, South Carolina.-The prospect of fine crops was never more flattering in the upper districts than at this time. In some neighbor-` hoods, however, they have suffered severely from drought, and immediately under the mountains from too much rain. The wheat crop produced abundantly.

Cassville, Georgia. For eight weeks we have had scarcely sufficient rain to lay the dust. Crops are in a bad condition. The oat crop is entirely ruined. The wheat and corn corps will be cut very short.

Natchez, May 4.-" Unquestionably, and beyond the shadow of doubt, the prospect for the crops now planted has not been as unpromising for twenty-five years. We have had the longest and severest drought ever known at this season, causing a complete check to vegetation. There is nothing in the fields for insects to feed upon, and consequently the cotton is cut down by worms, caterpillars, and grasshoppers, as soon as it makes its appearance through the surface. Thousands and thousands of acres are now being ploughed and planted over, and the demand for cotton seed is greatso great, that one dollar per bushel has been paid for large quantities. We plant about two bushels to the acre."-New Orleans Picayune.

It is certainly singular, that while the planters on the Mississippi are complaining of the drought, and many of them despairing of making any thing like an average crop, those in the western part of Arkansas are in a predicament nearly as bad, from too much wet weather. The Van Buren Intelligencer of the 4th instant says: "Perhaps there have been few seasonsmore unpropitious to the farmer than the present. Rains have been

tor Jackson's, of New Hampshire, and Mr. Ruffin's, of South Carolina, both of which are highly meritorious.

The State of Alabama, likewise, has recently ordered a geological survey, by which, no doubt, the resources of the State may be developed. A recent foreign paper speaks of an agricultural convention held at St. Quentin, in the north of France, by the proprietors, which might be very profitably imitated on an extensive scale in our own country. It was attended by the deputies, members of the councils general, and upwards of three hundred practical farmers, who passed three successive days in discussing the best means of improving the breed of horses and cattle of all kinds, the growth and importation of oleaginous seeds, wool, hemp, and flax, the cultivation of waste lands, and other important questions. It was also decided that a general association of the northern departments, similar to those in Normandy and Brittany, should be formed, and its first meeting should be held next year at Cambray. We cannot doubt that such measures among us would have a most happy effect in diffusing in-. telligence on important agricultural subjects; and it is to be hoped that many years will not elapse before the conviction of its beneficial effects will prompt to the enterprise. The great Father of his Country, who watched with an eagle eye for her welfare, earnestly recommended means for such an object, the benefits of which would be realized, as he says, "by drawing to a common centre the results every where of individual skill and observation, and spreading them thence over the whole nation.".

Another cause, which deserves to be considered in forming the estimate, is found in the effect of a rapidly increasing population in portions of our country. In some of the new States the lands are becoming yearly more and more brought under tillage. Thousands of acres thus add to the amount of produce; so that the effect of the season, even in the years which are most unpropitious, is in some degree repaired.

The number of persons landed in this country as emigrants, during the past year, is said to have been 84,674. To take a single instance, by way of illustration: It appears, by the census of last spring, that the population of Iowa amounted to 82,000; and allowing to the estimate 10,000 increase a year, for the last three or four years, which is said not to be too large, it now amounts to not less than about 90,000. Of course, as most of these are agriculturists, there must have been a very considerable increase of the quantity of land thus brought under cultivation in that Territory. The same may be said of Arkansas, Missouri, and some of the other more recent States. This will affect the particular crops raised in those States. Besides this, there are other lands in the process of clearing up, which, for the first time, each year receive and produce a crop. These add very considerably to the amount. Notwithstanding, too, the low prices of the markets and the great surplus of produce, there is still a disposition to increase the amount sown, in the hope, it may be, of some favorable change in the demand for the product. All these things tend to make up for losses from other causes; so that, on the whole, there is no sensible dimimution in many of the most important crops.

THE SEASON.

An attempt has again been made to estimate the influence of the season, by collecting notices of the state of the weather, from the earliest periods in which the various crops could be supposed to be much affected by the diversity of the same.

An extensive examination has been entered into; and by comparing the journals of one month with another, published in many parts of the country, the following conclusions have been reached :

There appears to have been no very extensive injury from the effect of the cold winter or spring, though we meet with occasional notices of the grain being winter-killed. Nothing like uniformity can be expected in so widespread a territory, embracing many degrees of latitude. While winter reigns in one section, spring may be breaking in another; and while heat is drying up the ground in one, in another refreshing showers may revive the drooping vegetation. A kind Providence has thus guarded us from the severity of either extreme of our climate. Seldom is it that we are called to notice any meteorological cause which has affected the whole country. During the past year, there has been, as usual, important alternations of the weather. Partial damage is now and theu noted, as resulting from the occasional frosts of spring extended into summer; but the injury has been quite limited. Thus we find notices like the following:

De

Michigan City, Indiana, May 21.-"Last night we were visited with one of the severest frosts ever witnessed here at this season of the year. stroyed corn, potatoes, vines, &c., and all kinds of fruit, and actually freezing the ground in some places. It is confidently asserted by some farmers to-day, that the wheat is greatly injured, if not in some sections entirely ruined; the truth of which I cannot decide, but a few days will determine."

Marshall, Michigan, May 23.-"For some days past, it has been cold and rainy; but on Monday it cleared up, and we were visited on Monday and Tuesday nights with very severe frost, which has doubtless destroyed all kinds of fruit in this region."

In other sections, at this early period, apprehensions are expressed on account of the want of rain, and yet in others rain was most abundant. Thus: Greenville, South Carolina.-The prospect of fine crops was never more flattering in the upper districts than at this time. In some neighborhoods, however, they have suffered severely from drought, and immediately under the mountains from too much rain. The wheat crop produced abundantly.

Cassville, Georgia.-For eight weeks we have had scarcely sufficient rain to lay the dust. Crops are in a bad condition. The oat crop is entirely ruined. The wheat and corn corps will be cut very short.

Natchez, May 4.-" Unquestionably, and beyond the shadow of doubt, the prospect for the crops now planted has not been as unpromising for twenty-five years. We have had the longest and severest drought ever known at this season, causing a complete check to vegetation. There is nothing in the fields for insects to feed upon, and consequently the cotton is cut down by worms, caterpillars, and grasshoppers, as soon as it makes its appearance through the surface. Thousands and thousands of acres are now being ploughed and planted over, and the demand for cotton seed is great-so great, that one dollar per bushel has been paid for large quantities. We plant about two bushels to the acre."-New Orleans Picayune.

It is certainly singular, that while the planters on the Mississippi are complaining of the drought, and many of them despairing of making any thing like an average crop, those in the western part of Arkansas are in a predicament nearly as bad, from too much wet weather. The Van Buren Intelligencer of the 4th instant says: "Perhaps there have been few seasonsmore unpropitious to the farmer than the present. Rains have been