The wheat crop of 1857 has been variously estimated by competent persons to be from 25,000,000 to 28,000,000 bushels. The crop was greater in area and more prolific than that of the preceding year. From the preceding statistical table, it will be seen that the wheat crop has gradually been decreasing, not only in the area devoted to it, but in the quantity produced per acre. The crop of 1850 was sown on 1,658,106 acres, yielding upward of seventeen bushels per acre, on an average, throughout the State. In 1855, there were more than 250,000 acres less in wheat, producing less than fourteen bushels per acre. In 1854, the average production was less than eight and a half bushels per acre, owing to the depredations committed by the red weevil, or midge (Cecidomyia tritici) in some portions of the State, and to freezing out, or winter-killing in other portions. The next year, (1855) however, almost 70,000 acres less (than in 1854) produced about seven and a half million bushels more of wheat. The farmers of Ohio are seriously asking the question: "Shall we continue the culture of wheat, or shall we abandon it, and if it is abandoned, what shall be substituted for it?

If the wheat cultivators of Ohio had practised a general system of underdraining their clayey soils, and had thoroughly understood the

natural history of the midge, a loss of nearly ten million bushels of wheat in 1854 could have been avoided. Owing to the depredations of the midge and other insects, and owing, also, to "winter-killing," or "freezing out," the farmers of Ohio have lost nearly twenty million bushels of wheat during the five years last past. From 1850 to 1853, both inclusive, the crops averaged 14.6 bushels per acre; the crop of 1854 then should have been 21,548,651 bushels, instead of which, it was 11,819,110 bushels only, being a decrease from the average aggregete of 9,729,541. The crop of 1856 was less than the average from 1850 to 1853 by 6,247,357; the losses attributable to destructive insects, want of underdraining, &c., may be stated as follows:

Or about 14 per cent. of the entire amount produced from 1850 to 1856, both inclusive, or 30 per cent. of the amount produced during the four years from 1853 to 1856.

There is no industrial pursuit in the State other than that of agriculture which could sustain such extensive lossess without seriously embarrassing, not only those immediately concerned, but the entire industrial community. Notwithstanding the average as well as the aggregate of the corn crop varies considerable, yet such extreme variations are not as observable in it as in the wheat crop. Wheat is liable to be winter-killed, then to be attacked by the Hessian fly, then by the Vibrio tritici, then by the midge, the thrips, and a host of other insects, then by rust, and last, though perhaps not least, it is liable to be smutted, whilst the only cause to which a short crop of corn, can, as a general thing, be traced, is the unfavorableness of the

season.

Were losses of similar amounts to occur in any other department of life, there is no doubt that legislative aid would be invoked to prevent a similar recurrence. Are the ravages and depredations of the "midge" and "fly" beyond legislative control? It is the conviction of the writer that as much may be done, and as happy a result consummated from legislative action, with regard to destructive insects, as in former days with regard to the depredations of bears and wolves. These insects just referred to, are as much, and no more, beyond legislative control than is ignorance. By a judicious system of common schools, the legislature of Ohio has very much improved the mental condition of society, and equally so may it modify or entirely prevent, the ravages of the weevil or midge.

The French Bureau of Agriculture appointed a Mons. BAZIN to study the Natural History of the Midge, and report to the Bureau the best method of avoiding the effects or entirely annihilating the insect. After several years of close observation and diligent investigation, he made a report, in which he details his observations and in which he demonstrates that the ravages of the insect may be avoided. The writer has translated this report from the French into English, and has made it a part of this report. The weevil is, however, very much decreasing throughout the State, The cause of this disappearance is fully explained in Mons. BAZIN's report. The State of New York has appointed a State Entomologist, (Dr. Asa FITCH), who has already published two invaluable reports, which have proved to be of inestimable value to the agriculturists and horticulturists of that State. Were the insects of Ohio identical with those of New York, the reports of the entomologist of that State would answer for this latitude and longitude as well as for those where the observations and investigations were conducted; but, unfortunately, the insects differ, not only in species, but in genera also; and thus are we deprived of enjoying the benefit of the labors of our sister State in this direction to more than a very limited extent.

The appointment of a State Entomologist, although equally as important and fully as desirable as the office of School Commissioner, is, after all, perhaps not the most advisable method of eradicating the evils consequent upon the ravages of insects injurious to vegetation. The evils, inconveniences and disadvantages arising from ignorance, are so manifest and palpable that no argument is required to direct public attention to the cause of education; in fact, in rural districts, the acquirement of anything more than a district school education is regarded as a sure relief from the toil and drudgery of farm work; not unfrequently, however, is this relief secured at the expense of the morality, usefulness and happiness of the individual. But arguments and an intimate knowledge of entomology are required to convince the agricultural public of the extent, metamorphoses, fecundity, as well as the most effectual methods of destroying those insects whose existence is obtained and continued at a sacrifice of the farmer's hopes. Entomology should be taught as a branch of popular education in every rural district throughout the State, and the young agriculturist should be as familliar, not with the names only, but the insects themselves, in all their various stages of metamorphoses as eggs, larvæ, crysalis, imago and fully developed male and female, as he is with the horses or cows on the farm. The most happy consequences would result, were it possible to induce every teacher of a common school in the rural districts to collect a

cabinet of insects in the immediate neighborhood of the school, and teach the pupils their names, habits, metamorphoses, qualities, &c. This, although not an immediate remedy, is one which certainly will embrace a large field, and when put into operation cannot fail of being eminently successful. The crop next in importance to wheat is that of corn-next in importance, so far as exports are concerned, but in all probability first in importance for domestic consumption. The spring of 1857 was exceedingly backward, and at one time it was supposed that the crop of corn would scarcely be worth the expense of gathering in the fields, such a crop as there might be. It is exceedingly unfortunate that this supposition should prove true-not, however, with respect to quantity, as was predicted in the spring time, but with regard to the quality.

The summer and early autumn were very favorable to the growth and maturity of corn, but an excess of moisture prevailed at a later period in the autumn, at a time when the heat of the sun was requisite to mature the corn properly. In consequence of this humidity, a great proportion has not matured, and being unfit for use, is therefore lost to the cultivator. Many persons supposed that notwithstanding the corn had not matured, yet that it might with impunity be fed to stock. In almost every instance where it has been fed, although cattle and hogs at first refused to eat it, but finding no alternative other than starvation, they ate it, sickened and died. The digestive organs of hogs and cattle are as delicately constructed, and just as susceptible of derangement, or liable to have their functions arrested or impaired from improper food, as are those of man.

Annexed is a statement compiled from authentic sources exhibiting the number of acres in corn, the bushels gathered, and the average per acre in every county in the State for the years 1850, '51, '52, '53, '54, '55, and '56. From this compilation it will be observed that none of the counties in the Northern half of the State, nor any out of Miami or Scioto Valleys produced 1,000,000 bushels of corn in 1856. The counties each of which produced 2,000,000 bushels and upwards, are Butler, Fayette, Pickaway, and Ross. In 1855, Ross and Pickaway counties, embracing a territory somewhat less than 1,200 square miles, or about three-fourths of a million of acres, produced 7,500,000 bushels of corn. There are several States in the Union which do not produce as much corn as these two counties did in 1855. In 1856, Clinton and Franklin counties, each produced between one and a half, and two million bushels. The following eleven counties. produced between one, and one and a half million bushels, viz: Champaign, Fairfield, Greene, Hamilton, Highland, Licking, Madison, Miami, Montgomery, Preble and Warren. Geauga produced 126,259 bushels only, being the smallest amount produced by any one county in the State.