it was about 1,226,300 bushels, while in 1850 it was 1,210,238 bushels; showing a decrease of 16,062 bushels in ten years. The yield in 1853 averaged about 30 bush. to the acre.

POTATOES. The Secretary says there is no means of ascertaining the exact potato crop of the State. He estimates, however, that about 24,051 acres are devoted to this crop, that each acre produces 100 bushels, and that the whole yield of the State is 2,405,100 bushels.

BROOM CORN. This article is chiefly cultivated in the valley of the Connecticut. It is increasing rapidly, as it does well, and is found to be very profitable. In 1840 only 580 tons were raised in the State, in 1850 the amount had increased to 1,291 tons. The crop in 1853 is estimated at 1,600 tons.

TOBACCO. The cultivation of this plant has been revived, and is becoming an important product in the valley of the Connecticut. One producer of tobacco states that he has raised not less than 2,000 pounds per acre, that he has sold at his door for the last two years this crop at 14 cents per pound. The cost of raising tobacco he estimates as one to three of corn.

FLAX. The demand for flax fibre in this country will undoubtedly lead to the study of the plant and its more extended culture, and experiments will probably prove it to be profitable in many situations. The farmers of the West find it for their interest to raise it for the seed alone. The amount of seed raised in the United States in 1850, was reported by the census to be 562,312 bushels. In 1852 there were about 250,000 acres in flax, producing on an average from 8 to 10 bushels of seed. The yield of seed must have been about 2,250,000 bushels. But two tons of flax were returned as raised in Massachusetts in 1840. In 1850 there were only 69 tons.

HOPS. The yield in 1840 was about 237,941 pounds. In 1850 there were only about 150,655 pounds produced.

RECLAIMED LANDS IN MASSACHUSETTS. Much attention seems to have been paid to this branch of Agriculture in the State. In 1840 the returns gave 955,283 acres of unimproved land, and 360,278 thought to be incapable of improvement. The whole number in the State being 4,491,812 acres. In 1850 the returns gave 715,294 acres. improved, 257,929 incapable of improvement. Waste lands have been reclaimed at

the rate of 10,000 acres annually.

The land in tillage in 1840 was returned as 259,038 acres. In 1850 it had increased to 300,269 acres, while the upland mowing had increased from 440,930 to 528,025 acres, and the pasture lands from 1,210,154 to 1,311,210. This makes the increase in tillage land 41,2304 acres; in upland mowing 87,095; and in pasturage 101,056; making in all 229,381 acres. This shows how a very large part of the 239,989 acres reclaimed in the ten years has been appropriated; the pasture land has been turned into mowing and tillage, and the unimproved land into pasturage or tillage.

PASTURES. The number of acres in pasturage in 1840 was about 1,210,154. In 1850 it had increased somewhat, and the returns gave 1,311,210 acres, capable of keeping 273,310 cows, with the help of the fall feed they could get on the other lands. This calculation allows about 44 acres to each cow.

WOODLAND. The number of acres of woodland in 1840 was reported to be 729,792. In 1850 it had advanced to 896,450, showing an increase in ten years of 166,650 acres, or an annual increase of 16,665 acres.

STOCK OR CATTLE. In 1840, there were 143,591 cows, three years old and upwards. In 1850, there were 152,911, an increase of 9,320 in ten years. The oxen four years old and upwards numl e ed 46,584 in 1840; 49,986 in 1850-making an increase of 3,402 in the same time. The number of steers and heifers one year old and upwards was about 88,562 in 1840, while in 1850 it was reported to be 76,703-showing a decrease of 11,859. But the number of horses had increased in the ten years from 60,030 to 74,060, or at the rate of 1,403 annually. The number of steers and heifers under three years old was 11,859 less in 1850 than in 1840, giving an annual decrease of 1,185, and showing that instead of raising more stock on our farms, to satisfy the wants of our people, we had become more and more dependent on other States.

SHEEP. The number of sheep in Massachusetts in 1840 was 343,390; it decreased at the average rate of 16,396 annually, until, in 1850, it was only 179,428. They are kept principally in the interior and western parts of the State.

HOGS, OR SWINE. Probably no one of our domestic animals has been more improved than the swine. Importations have been many and frequent, and either pure bloods or grades of the different breeds, are widely distributed in every county in Massachusetts. The number of these animals has considerably decreased however, if

official statistics are to be relied on; for we find that 1840, there were 90,335, while in 1850, only 73,041 were reported, showing a decrease in the ten years, of 17,294. There has probably been a great increase since 1850.

A practical farmer, of Worcester county, expresses the opinion that pork can be raised in the state at a profit of at least ten per cent. He illustrates this position as follows:

"The average price of corn for the last ten years, is eighty-five cents a bushel, Twenty bushels, or 1,200 pounds, will make 300 pounds of pork, the average price of which, for the last ten years, has been 64 cents the pound. Taking these premises, the account will stand thus:

A pig at birth worth......

20 bushels of corn, at 85 cents,.

The time taken to consume the corn, and for the hog to grow to 300 pounds weight, dressed, would be from eight to ten months, say ten months; the average time on which to charge interest on the $17 50 cents outlay, would be five months, which at six per cent would be

$0.50 17.00

44

$17 94

.$19 50
.50

20 00

$2.06

Or more than eleven per cent on the outlay, without taking into the account the manure, which will pay, at least, one dollar niore than the cost of attendance."

LEGISLATIVE ENACTMENT IN MASSACHUSETTS, ETC.

As

Massachusetts was one of the first governments, if not the first, in this country, which attempted to aid the progress of agriculture by legislative enactments. early as 1680, her bounty began in premiums offered for the raising of horses, cows, swine and goats, for the promotion of agriculture. During the last thirty years, this bounty has been increasing and always liberal. Other States have not been slow to imitate or rival her in generous endeavors to promote the success of an interest on which the prosperity and happiness of their people so largely depend.

The amount paid, or to be paid, from the treasury of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts for the year 1853, distributed in prizes by the various Societies, is no less than $8,782.

The aggregate amount of the permanent fund of the societies is....

$92.816 54

of the property of all the societies is..

109,911 10

of income fund

4,325 03

of disbursements for the year,.....

21,014 37

1,574 00

4,451 37

For farm products of all kinds,.

2,133 18 2,095

Of the premiums distributed, there were paid on farms and various farm improvements,

For live stock of all kinds

The number of persons who received prizes and gratuities was..

In the preceding abstract, we have endeavored to present the readers of the Merchants' Magazine with as condensed, and at the same time comprehensive, view of the agricultural resources of Massachusetts, as the material furnished by Mr. Secretary Flint made practicable. In closing his report, the Secretary of the Board remarks:— "On the whole, we have evidence of a gratifying progress in our agriculture, though it is still embarrassed by many deficiences. More attention is paid to farming now than formerly. Intelligent cultivators are more numerous, and more successful, and there seems to be every reason to believe that the progress which has begun will contivue, until at last the cultivation of the soil will take its proper rauk among the various occupations in which the inhabitants of the State are engaged."

JOURNAL OF MINING AND MANUFACTURES.

AMERICAN AND EUROPEAN MANUFACTURES.

The superiority of Americans over Europeans in several of the useful mechanic arts, is no less surprising than gratifying, when we reflect how lately we have turned our attention to manufactures; and it affords encouraging promise for our future success and ascendancy, when once as a people we shall devote ourselves more closely to the working up of our abundant raw material. So much has been said about the long experience of Europeans, and the perfection of their fabrics, that we hope to surprise at least some of our readers, by a catalogue of articles in which the Americans decidedly excel.

1. NAVAL ARCHITECTURE. In this we are superior in all its branches, and in every department-whether we regard the hull or rigging-sailing vessels or steamers river craft or ocean-going ships. Not only is the invention of steamers our own, but also that world-renowned improvement, the clipper model. Our river steamers are quite unique, running from 20 to 25 miles an hour. The world besides has nothing at all like a parallel. The reason for our great success in navigation, we suppose, is simply because our attention has been turned to it the longest-ever since our earliest colonization.

2. TELEGRAPHING. The invention not only belongs to ourselves, but our daily practical operations in celerity, correctness, and vast amount, exceed our European rivals.

3. DAGUERREOTYPING. At the World's Exhibition in London, it was generally admitted that the American photographic productions were the best.

4. LOCK MAKING. No good building, in this country at least, is finished with European locks. Our domestic article is far in advance of all others. English locks are still imported, but they are a very cheap, trashy affair. We need not refer to the celebrated lock contest in London.

5. CLOCK MAKING. There is a moral elevation in the career of Connecticut clocks; they aid in carrying civilization, not only to the humblest cabins in our own land, but they are cheering the homes of tens of thousands everywhere in Europe. Of late, we hear they are beginning to be largely exported to China.

6. PLOWS. These are lighter, handier, less expensive, and turn the soil more evenly and smoothly, and with smaller power, than any in Europe.

7. REAPING MACHINES. The recent eclat of these renders superfluous any further remarks.

8. CUTLERY. Our table cutlery, pen and pocket knives, sustain a favorable comparison with their Trans-Atlantic competitors; but our scissors and large shears, such as are used by tailors for cutting our garments, are quite superior. No tailor thinks of using a European article.

9. AXES. The superiority of our axes over those of foreign make has resulted, we suppose, from our aptitude in feeding the forests. Our frequent employment has taught us the need of a handy and efficient tool.

10. DENTISTRY. It is generally admitted that American dentists excel all others in forming beautiful teeth, and their fitting seems perfect. This is fortunate, for it is said that Americans lose their teeth at an early age. However this may be, certain

it is, that Englishmen lose their hair, and become bald, sooner than ourselves. 11. INDIA-RUBBER GOODS. With these, in all their varied forms, we are leading the way far in advance; and our workmen are going to Europe, both to give instruction and to carry on large establishments.

THE COAL TRADE OF PENNSYLVANIA.

The Coal trade of Pennsylvania is justly regarded by our cotemporary of the Philadelphia Inquirer as a modern wonder. Only a few years since, says that Journal, and the citizens of Philadelphia ridiculed the idea of burning anthracite coal, or of substituting it as an article of fuel for wood. In the year 1800, Mr. William Morris brought a considerable quantity of anthracite to Philadelphia, and after in vain trying to dispose of it, he sold his coal lands and abandoned the enterprise altogether, Nay,

in 1825, or about a quarter of a century ago, the whole amount of coal shipped from the vicinity of Pottsville, was about 6,500 tons per annum. What a change has since taken place! What marvels have been accomplished! Millions of dollars have been expended in constructing avenues to bring the coal to market, and the trade, although it may languish occasionally, is only in its infancy. It is really worth while for a stranger to visit Richmond, a little village just above our city, and view the great Coal Depot at this end of the Reading Railroad. At times a fleet of 300 vessels may be found moored there, and all actively engaged in taking in coal. The railroad itself is a curiosity. At the close of last year, there were no less than 77 locomotive engines constantly running on it; and of these, 46 were of the first class. The Company at that time had 502 cars for freight and general use, in addition to 22 passenger cars. Also 2 express locomotives, 13 stationary engines, 7 snow-ploughs, and 50 horses. All this, be it remembered, in connection with one facility or avenue for bringing coal to market. The road from first to last has cost millions of dollars. There are various kinds of coals now employed as fuel. Like wood, coal differs according to the localities where it is found. Anthracite has thus been analyzed-the first being the purest and best coal, the other the inferior or least valuable:—

This difference in the quality of coal is again perceptible in reference to its weight. We append the following, which will exhibit the character of our anthracites according to the weight of each respectively, per cubic yard.

WEIGHT OF ANTHRACITE COAL-FIRST, OR SCHUYLKILL REGION.

The Pennsylvania Anthracite appears to be altogether heavier than the European, as will appear from the following:

While upon the subject, we must not forget the Schuylkill Navigation, another great avenue to the anthracite regions of Schuylkill county and neighborhood. The length of this navigation is now 108 miles-its lockage 620 feet-the burden of its boats 180 tons-the size of its locks, 110 by 18 feet--the width of its canals, never less than 60 feet-and the least depth of water upon the mitre sills 5, and in the clear levels 6 feet.

A navigable route from the heart of the Coal Region to tide water, for boats carrying 180 tons is, therefore, now in full operation. The five leading railroads, and their laterals, to the navigation, are the Mine Hill and Schuylkill Haven, terminating at Schuylkill Haven; the Mount Carbon, terminating at Mount Carbon; the Mill Creek, terminating at Port Carbon, and the Schuylkill Valley, terminating at Mount Carbon.

The following was some time since the estimated population of the principal towns: Pottsville,

7,500 Port Carbon,
3,000 Schuylkill Haven,.
3,300

2,200

2,000

THE GAS WORKS OF SAN FRANCISCO.

The editor of the Alta California recently took occasion to visit the San Francisco Gas Works, and to inquire into the method of making, purifying, and refining the gas preparatory to sending it through the city. The coal used is bituminous or cannel-at present the latter is used. He thus describes the works:-

The first apartment is the RETORT HOUSE. This contains a large structure of brick in which are distributed twenty-one retorts of cast-iron. Each retort is about eight feet long, a foot and a half wide, and a foot thick. These retorts are filled with coal, then a very hot fire is kindled beneath them, and the gas passes off through a pipe at the top. About four hours of white heat in the retort are necessary to drive all the gas from the coal. The gas is conveyed into a large pipe called the hydraulic main, about thirty feet long and one foot in diameter. This pipe contains water, and in it the gas cools and deposits a large quantity of tar, which is carried off by a pipe to a cistern, where it is preserved and kept for sale. The gas passes off by a pipe from the top of the hydraulic main to the

PURIFYING ROOM. In the purifying room the gas is forced by the constant increase from the retorts to pass through water in which it deposits the remainder of its tar and some ammonia which escaped from the hydraulic main in which the gas is still After passing through a number of pipes, the gas, not yet pure, is admitted into large purifying boxes, where slaked lime is kept upon shelves, and this lime absorbs the sulphur and carbonic acid gas, and leaves the gas sufficiently pure for use. From the purifying room the gas passes to the

warm.

RESERVOIR, OR HOLDER. Imagine a brick-cistern 60 feet in diameter and 20 feet deep, without a top. Then think of a sheet iron tub about 2 leet less in diameter sitting inside the cistern, bottom upwards. That is the gas holder. In the bottom of the cistern is water, and the gas passes up through it into the tub, which rests upon the water and is held up by the gas within; and the more gas inside, the higher rises the vast tub, and when there is no gas, the tub rests flat down on the water. This tub or holder is made of sheet-iron, supported by a wrought iron framework, and its weight is the force which drives the gas through the city.

The holder has a capacity of 35,000 cubic feet, and 50,000 cubic feet might be made by the works in 24 hours. To make 50,000 feet, about 6 tons of first-rate coal is necessary, and after the gas is extracted from the coal, there remains in the retort a substance resembling charcoal, called coke. It is nearly all carbon, and makes an excellent fire. This coke, after being taken from the retorts, is used in the furnace to drive the gas from other coal, so that the establishment is at no expense for fuel after purchasing its coal from which the coke is made.

QUICKSILVER IN NEW MEXICO.

The Santa Fe correspondent of the Ohio State Journal writes thus of the quicksilver mines in the Apache country, in New Mexico:—

Although the Jicarillas Apaches have more enemies among our own people than any other Indians, I have never since I have known them been unwilling to trust my life with them. It is true, they are beggars; but they beg because they are poor and hungry, and no man ever went to their camp hungry that found them unwilling to divide their last morsel with him.

It was near their country that some pastor boys, about two years ago, discovered small globules of quicksilver oozing up as it were from the ground, shining, as they described it, like silver dew. They gathered it up in small phials, and, knowing but little about its use, they kept it as a curiosity to show their neighbors. Au old Mexican woman told me she used it to put on the children's heads; and don't you think, said she, that it wouldn't be there two minutes before the piojos would drop out as thick as bran. One of our youngsters, said she, was desirous of learning the taste of it, and he had no sooner swallowed some of it than it went right through him presto! sallio! Thinking quite likely it did, I did not stop to argue the question with the old lady. Whether the ground itself is saturated with quicksilver, or whether there is cinnibar in the neighborhood, from which the metal is extracted, or whether it is produced from other causes, are questions that remain as yet undecided. All that we know is, that after a rain or the melting of snows, it appears in globules on the surface of the ground, under rocks, in the tracks of animals, and when the ground becomes hard and dry, it disappears.