The average yield per acre of the two Carolinas, in 1870, was, of wheat, 7.8 bushels; in 1877, 9.1 bushels. Of Minnesota, in 1870, 15.2 bushels; in 1877, 18.5 bushels. Virginia, 1870, 9.6 bushels; 1877, 10.4 bushels. Pennsylvania, 1870, 12 bushels; 1877, 13 bushels. Georgia, 1870, S bushels; 1877, 9.5 bushels. Showing an increased average product in the States named ranging from 1 to 3 bushels per acre, adding millions of dollars to our annual values. Of purchases and of distributions which have been made and not hitherto reported, I would remark that in the summer of 1877 I purchased in Hungary, and imported to this country, some of the celebrated wheat called Sandomirka, the flour of which has long commanded the highest price throughout all Europe, and is also imported into the United States for certain special purposes. This wheat had the reputation for very many years of being the best grown in that country. This importation was distributed with great care in the fall of the same year. With the exception of two or three localities in Tennessee and one in North Carolina, the results have been unfavorable; but whether, after being acclimated in this country, it will not prove to be a profitable and valuable grain, can only be determined after further experiment. Other new varieties of winter wheat, such as the Golden Straw, Arnold's Gold Medal, Sandford and Silver Chaff, were also distributed in the fall of 1877; in all about eleven hundred bushels. Extracts from the returns made regarding these varieties will be appended. For the spring sowing the present year, there were distributed the following varieties: Golden Globe, Defiance, Champlain, and Sherman, a total of 420 bushels, the Golden Globe largely preponderating; the result of this distribution of spring wheat will likewise appear in appended extracts. Twelve hundred bushels of other varieties of winter wheat, viz., Mold's White, Mold's Red, Yellow Missouri, Victor, Swamp, and Midge-proof, with three hundred bushels of the previously tried Silver Chaff, have been distributed during the fall of the present year. These will all be reported upon after the next summer's harvest. A variety of oats, named (from some circumstance attending their importation and purchase) "The Board of Trade," and probably of Norwegian origin, distributed in a small way last season (spring, 1878), has proven to be of great value to the country, and wherever tried has uniformly produced large crops, the grain weighing from 35 to 40 pounds per bushel. It has been a very decided success. There were also distributed of winter oats, obtained mainly from Tennessee, about 470 bushels. Of rye there were sent out in the fall of 1877 about 350 bushels, known as White Winter Rye; of barley, at the same period, 400 bushels of a six-rowed variety; and 100 bushels of a spring variety, the past season, called Mensury, distinguished for its early ripening and excellent malt ing qualities; of Silver Hull buckwheat, 164 bushels. Tabular statement showing the quantity and kind of seeds distributed by the seed division, Department of Agriculture, from July 1, 1877, to June 30, 1878, inclusive. Description of seeds. Tabular statement of seeds distributed by the seed division, Department of Agriculture, from July 1, 1878, to November 30, 1878. Total. Reports of these, as of many other seeds enumerated in the preceding tabular statement, will likewise be found in the appendix, and are well worthy the attention of the agriculturist, who, as a rule, is more interested in detailed operations and special results than in general theories and deductions. IMMEDIATE NECESSITIES OF THE DEPARTMENT. The immediate necessities of this department, beyond the appropria tions usually made for its ordinary working, may be stated: 1. A laboratory of proper size and fully equipped, to cost not less than $30,000, with a sufficient appropriation to meet the expenses of the additional force that will be necessary to carry forward investigations on a larger scale than the present laboratory and appliances will permit; an increased appropriation for the salary of the chemist, and the further sum of $5,000, made available immediately, to pay for labor and material necessary in the pressing work of this division. 2. An experimental farm of one thousand acres of ground, in the neighborhood of this city, and five experimental stations in different sections of the country, viz., one in California; one in the interior of the continent (to be devoted to the introduction and preservation of the best breeds of domesticated animals and to the domestication of some of the native wild animals of the country, among them the buffalo); one in Texas; one in Florida, and one in New York above the latitude of Albany. To inaugurate these farms a large sum will not be necessary, and after the first year the expense will be more than paid by the results of the cultivation at each station. 3. An increased appropriation for the gardens and grounds of the department, which embraces experimental cultivation and propagation of trees, plants, &c., for distribution. This appropriation should be increased to at least $15,000. 4. An increased appropriation of $3,000 for obtaining new material, employing labor, and otherwise extending the benefits arising from the museum and botanical divisions of this department. 5. A renewal of the appropriation of $10,000 for the examination of the diseases of domesticated animals-a work already partially accomplished. 6. A renewal of the appropriation of $5,000 for continuing the investigation of the history and habits of insects injurious to agriculture, especially those injurious to the cotton-plant-a work already partially completed; and the further sum of $5,000 to pay the necessary salaries and contingent and traveling expenses of observers employed in such duty, and also such additional compensation, not exceeding one thousand dollars per annum, to the entomologist of the department.. 7. An additional appropriation of $6,000 to continue the work on forestry. S. An appropriation of $5,000 to erect a stable suitable for the housing and protection of the stock used on the department grounds. Very respectfully, your obedient servant, WILLIAM G. LEDUC. 60 Ab Commissioner of Agriculture. INDEX. A. Academy, Military, report of the beard of visitors to.... superintendent of the..... statement of the Secretary of the Navy concerning. Agriculture, remarks of President Hayes concerning.... Alaska, statements concerning, by the Secretary of the Treasury... Apothecaries, Naval.... Architect of the Capitol, report of.. Army, report of the General of the..... suggestion of the Secretary of War concerning the. 451 301 516 516 500 18 904 52 550 368 562 826 303 281 374 360 234 199 203 207 219 224 224 731 B. Baker, Charles H., chief engineer, report of, on the naval cadet-engineers.... Beaumont, J. C., Commodore, chief signal officer of the Navy 359 334 577 540 373 Benner, Lieut. II. H., recommendation of a pension to the widow of..... 11, 284 705 Blunt, A. P., Brevet Colonel, report on the Leavenworth military prison 478 828 Brady, Thomas J., Second Assistant Postmaster-General, report of 866 469 Bureau of Construction and Repair, report of the chief of the 575 |