pork with what grain could have been bought for the potatoes, at ten cents per bushel, with half the trouble or labor. The manure formerly used in the cultivation of potatoes is now used for corn and other grain and the grass crops, to much better advantage.

The result to which I arrive is this, that while a comparison of the direct cost of the production of pork with the price to be obtained for it, would leave but a small margin for profit, yet inasmuch as it is very desirable that the crops of a farmer should be returned to the soil in the shape of manure, which object can be accomplished in no way so well as by feeding a proportionate number of hogs, this business in connection with the DAIRY and other farming operations, may be considered profitable. There is no doubt but that the business is much better understood now than it was formerly; but whatever is worth doing is worth doing as well as it can be done. It is unnecessary to dwell long upon the choice of breeds of hogs. This is of the highest importance. The lank, lean, gaunt, miserable creatures such as, we may suppose, were driven into the sea and perished in the waters, are neither good for food, pleasant to look upon, or profitable. In short, the pig should be of a thin skin, sleek and chubby, always in a thriving condition from infancy to the end of his short life, when his usefulness, his only virtue, commences. This can be accomplished only by care and attention.

H. A. DYER, Esq, Secretary State Agricultural Society.

REPORT ON THE SEASON OF 1846,

WITH A TABLE SHOWING THE FLOWERING OF FRUIT-TREES, THE FIRST OPENING, FULL FLOWERING AND ENDING OF EACH, FROM 1837 TO 1854, INCLUSIVE: ALSO TABLES OF LATE

SPRING AND EARLY FALL FROSTS, AND OBSERVATIONS ON THE CULTIVATION OF THE GOOSEBERRY, TO SECURE IT FROM THE SCAB OR FUNGUS.

By JOSEPH BARRATT, M. D.,

Member of several learned societies.

Every season has much to engage the attention of the observer of nature, especially as relates to the productions of the field, the orchard and the garden. Last year with a dry and hot summer, there was an abundant yield of grapes. The past season there has been a general failure of this fruit: in place of the grape, we had a fair supply of late peaches, remarkable for size and fine flavor.

The orchards and gardens have been greatly troubled with insects. The red currant, which generally yields a full crop of fruit, was attacked by Aphides or lice, which did it much injury, when in flower, and caused a shortening of the bunches of fruit. The leaves also perished early, consequently the fruit was soon dried up. The wet season proved highly congenial to the gooseberry, that is, where it was grown in places best suited to its nature.

A Table has been prepared by me to demonstrate the injurious effects of heavy rain during the flowering period of the fruit-trees; as this subject may not be generally understood, it has been deemed advisable to print it. In a former report on gardens for 1844, I presented a table to show the period and continuance of flowering of the apricot, peach, cherry and apple, from the year 1837 to 1844; this has been continued to the present year, and will be given in the appendix. I would here take occasion to remark, that in this table it will be seen, that the spring of 1837 was very late; that of 1844 was unusually early and dry. These two

seasons present perhaps, the greatest extremes ever experienced at this place. The year 1839 may be regarded as the mean for this latitude, and the flowering time for this spring may be safely assumed as a standard for regularity, perhaps as near as we may obtain after many years' further observations, and taking the average.

Mr. Oakes, of Ipswich, Massachusetts, has directed much attention to the seasons, and published some highly valuable observations in a paper entitled "Remarks on the advance of Spring in the eastern part of Massachusetts." He says the season of 1839 was rather early, but was the most regular throughout of any season he had ever known. (Hovey's Magazine, Boston, for 1841, p. 7.) In many respects the summer of 1846 has resembled that of 1839; there has, however, been more rain the past summer than fell in 1839.

On a careful comparison of observations for several years past, kept in this place, I have been struck with the value of the register for 1839, to which I have had frequent occasion to refer. Some extracts from that diary will be given, and may be useful for reference hereafter; the narrow limits of this report will not admit of its being given at large. The seasons have much to do with the scarcity or abundance of insects, these also do much injury to the growing crops. The study of insects has been greatly neglected with us. Entomology as a study is neither fashionable nor profitable, and yet it is almost indispensable to the agriculturist.

Some notes on the caterpillar which feeds on the appletree will be given; these it is believed will be interesting to the orchardist, and may perhaps lead him to direct more attention to the habits of the insect tribes, especially those troublesome to the orchard and garden.

RAIN,-These Notes on the season would be incomplete without a definite knowledge of the quantity of rain, which has fallen during the summer months in this place. For this document, I am indebted to Mr. S. F. JARVIS, Jr., who took charge of the rain gauge at my request.

TABLE OF RAIN IN THE CITY OF MIDDLETOWN, CONN., 1846. June, 4 inches 59 hundredths.

To show the injurious effects of rain and partial or general blight to the crop of fruits, while the trees were in blossom.

Explanations of the Table, and Illustrative Remarks, The lines represent the time, with corresponding dates, when the blossoms first opened, and also finished flowering or the petals had fallen. The cipher is meant to represent when

each was in full flower, and most liable to be injured by rain, which was especially the case with the apple blossom. The pollen of the plum, of all the fruits, appears to be most injured by rains. The flowers of the common garden currant, on the contrary, do not appear to be sensibly affected by it; I have not noticed any marked difference in its fruitfulness, whether it was dry or wet during the continuance of its flowering. The grape when in flower, is injured by dashing showers or much rain. It seems designed or fitted for a fine, dry climate.

The embryo grains of wheat are securely closed in valves. (chaffy scales or glumes) which effectually resist the rain and moisture. The maize in this respect, is less perfectly closed; after heavy or driving showers, it is found, that the grains or kernels, are not all filled out; in other words, some are abortive. Maize, it will be recollected, is a native of a dry climate, and was first derived from Mexico. Wheat is better fitted for a dripping climate, when in flower. With an open corolla like the plum, or loose like the vine, it would be ill adapted for the staff of life. We can imagine the failures and famines which would ensue, if its flowers were subject to be injured like the plum, or apple, or grape.

The rains, fortunately, however, do not generally fall over a great extent of country at the same time; and April is a month proverbial for its showers of limited extent, so that one section may have its fruit blossoms injured or destroyed, and at no great distance exemption from rain may cause a full crop of fruit. This will account for the differences observable at the close of the season.

The table will show the flowering of the fruit-trees last spring, which may be summed up as follows. The apricot opened its blossoms April 18th, and had a fine dry time, with only a sprinkling of rain. It fruited well. The peach came next, and had as fine a period as could be desired. The plum was drenched with rain, when its blossoms were fully expanded, and had its pollen diluted and washed away. Some of the early cherries were out of the way of the rain. The later flowering fared worse.