Algeria is the finest and best on the face of the earth. We believe that this statement must be received with considerable allowance. It has been held, that the finest tobacco is a mixture of the United States article and tobacco the produce of a country within the tropics, or near the tropics; for while the former has too much essential oil, the latter has too little, and that, by combination, the peculiar qualities of each are brought out without being impaired.

But it appears passing strange, that while we have in the British colonies, in almost every part of the world, every imaginable kind of climate, where tobacco could be produced in great abundance, we are almost exclusively dependant upon America for the supply of the article. Of the tobacco imported into England, about seven-eighths, we believe, comes from the United States. Considering the highly remunerative character of the article, this is surprising. The plant is easy of cultivation, does not require much labor, and might be rendered, without difficulty, a staple article of commerce. We are not amongst the number of those who advocate a complete independence of foreign countries by producing everything within ourselves. There are countries formed by nature for producing better and cheaper articles for the food or the enjoyment of man, and with those countries, unable to produce articles which we supply more readily and cheaply in a manufactured state, the reciprocity is mutual. But tobacco does not come under this category, and while we hear so much of the distress amongst British colonists in the West Indies and elsewhere, we ask, have these colonists, while calling for help, done all they can to help themselves?

We have alluded to the facilities which Ireland presents for the growth of tobacco. A special act of Parliament was passed years ago making the growth illegal in that country. This had reference, we presume, to the temptation which the cultivation would present for the evasion of the duty. But if Ireland be really adapted for the cultivation of tobacco, no more difficulty need be found, we presume, in levying the duty than exists in such of the counties of England as grow hops. With all the care which the government officers exercise in the ports of the three kingdoms, a large amount of imported tobacco finds its way to the consumer without payment of toll to the Queen's Exchequer, and means might easily be devised, we conceive, for making the law even more stringent than it is. At all events, no good reason, that we are aware of, can be assigned why people at home, like those abroad, should not devote their attention to the produce of an article so remunerative and in such general demand.

THE COST AND MANNER OF USING GUANO IN AREQUIPA.

Under date Arequipa, March 20th, 1856, Mr. THOMAS REUNCY writes to a friend, asking for information relative to the manner of using guano in that district, as follows :—

Guano brought from Chincha Islands to Islay is there sold to the chacreros (farmers) round Arequipa at from 4 to 6 reals the fanega; the fanega weighs five arrobas, or about 125 lbs. The price varies from 4 to 6 reals; at present the latter price is asked. This would make the English ton worth about $13, or say £2 10s. in Islay.

It is applied to two crops only, maize (Indian corn) and potatoes, carefully by the hand. To maize, when the plant is about two months old and about threefourths vara high, one-half handfull is applied near each root. A large quantity is said to be prejudicial, by "burning the plant." The guano is then covered with earth, and a small quantity of water (by irrigation) is applied "to fix the guano." If the state of the soil does not absolutely require it, no more water is applied until after six or eight days.

The quantity required for each "topo" of 500 varas (about 14 acres) is four fanegas, or say 500 lbs. For potatoes the quantity required is the same, and is applied much in the same manner as regards the age of the plant, and a small quantity of water" to fix the guano." The stalk of the potato is then about one

fourth vara in height, and the earth heaped up in ridges the same as in Britain. A person inserts a spade in the top of the ridge beside each plant, whilst a woman follows pouring about half a handfull of guano into the hole thus made and covering it with earth, so that the ridge remains the same as before the application of the guano.

To wheat, the application of guano is not approved, principally, we believe, on account of the rankness it produces in the stalk, thereby delaying the ripening of the grain- -a point of great importance in lands where they count on obtaining two crops a year.

RAILROAD, CANAL, AND STEAMBOAT STATISTICS.

SHORTEST ROUTE BETWEEN EUROPE AND AMERICA.

Under the contract recently concluded with Messrs. Allen & Co., of Montreal, it is proposed to run a line of first-class steamers forthwith, during the summer months, between Liverpool and Quebec; and to sustain this line the province pays a bonus of £24,000 a year. Mr. Young, of the Canadian parliament, has presented to that body a memorial from the Montreal Board of Trade, which proposes that advantage be taken of this route to secure the speedy transmission of news between the two continents, by establishing a line of telegraphic communication between Quebec and Forteau Bay, a point on the north shore of the Straits of Belisle, some seven hundred miles east of Quebec. The Toronto Leader says :—

"It is distant from Liverpool only 1,878 miles, while from Liverpool to Halifax the distance is 2,466 miles: so that by the Canadian route there would be effected a saving of 600 miles to the point where the news from England could be telegraphed over the continent. It is manifest, therefore, that no other point presents the same advantages for the early transmission of news as that which Mr. Young wishes to connect with Quebec by telegraph. Forteau Bay is 122 miles nearer Liverpool than Cape Race in Newfoundland, and compared with New York— which is reached by the best Collins' boat in ten days-it shortens the distance between the two continents no less than 1,135 miles, or about four days' sailing; so that a first-class boat can with ease make the voyage from Liverpool to the Canadian Land's End-the telegraphic terminus proposed by Mr. Young-in six days."

THE UNITED STATES RAILROAD DIRECTORY.

This is the title of a handsome ocatvo volume of 212 pages, compiled and published by B. HOMANS, at the office of the Banker's Magazine, New York. It contains the names of the officers of nearly all the railroads in the Union, besides a recapitulation of the roads in each State, and the most complete alphabetical list that has yet appeared. This work must be indispensable to every railroad officer and company, as it conveys information not accessible elsewhere in so small and convenient a compass. If suitably encouraged in this, the first volume, the compiler promises improvements in the succeeding ones, that, when carried out, cannot fail to create a large demand. It will be, in short, a vade mecum, or compendium of the railroads of the country, in which every man, woman, and child, possesses an interest in some shape, either as stockholder, bondholder, or traveler, or as the means of facilitating intercourse between families and friends. The Railroad Directory has our best wishes for its success.

EXPENSES.-

OPERATIONS OF THE RAILWAYS OF MASSACHUSETTS FROM 1846 TO 1855.

The following tables exhibit the number of miles in operation at the commencement, and the receipts and expenses during each year. In the
return for 1851, nine of the companies exhibit their operations for eleven months only, (January to November.)

RECEIPTS.-

Net income per cent on cost.......

$27,034,927 $2,018,163 $1,467,969 $119,217 $3,642,171 $313,798 $331,562 $1,059,604 $1,696,576 $1,945,595 $7.20
32,796,363 2,509,784 2,205,840 196,721 4,964,532 480,040 438,088 1,434,790 2,372,432 2,592,079 7.95
41,392,632 2,849,722 2,335,407 220,725 5,405,845 484,009 498,556 1,754,419 2,741,604 2,666,411 6.51
45,125,768 3,033,701 2,411,307 252,991 5,741,799 579,430 530,949 1,679,618 2,890,818 2,850,981 6.32
50,959,452 3,404,948 2,608,766 296,537 6,419,533 578,673 485,762 1,995,619 3,112,795 3,306,738 6.49
52,595,888 3,525,128 2,650,465 280,248 6,599,576 652,666 591,360 2,083,411 3,338,905 3,259,671 6.20
53,076,013 3,641,790 2,819,409 273,801 6,885,517 751,701 594,144 2,288,296 3,673,410 3,212,107 6.05
54,914,506 4,171,964 3,330,369 217,627 7,977,527 912,856 728,301 2,674,558 4,324,013 3,658,514 6.64
57,095,498 4,495,836 3,725,186 346,441 8,696,251 1,233,076 1,008,041 3,151,117 5,451,047 3,245,204 5.68
60,339,391 4,600,877 8,904,075 451,504 9,077,529 1,867,102 886,356 3,395,647 5,650,600 3,426,929 5.68

Year.

OPERATIONS OF THE RAILWAYS OF MASSACHUSETTS-( (CONTINUED.)

JOURNAL OF MINING AND MANUFACTURES.

THE GOLD PRODUCT OF AUSTRALIA AND CALIFORNIA COMPARED. From a series of elaborate statistical tables prepared by Mr. Khull-for the last four years a bullion broker in Melbourne-and published with editorial indorsement in the latest copy of the Melbourne Herald received, the San Fran‍ cisco Herald gives the total yield of the Victoria gold mines for the year 1855. An analysis of these tables shows :—

The quantity of gold dust brought to Melbourne and Geelong by escort

PRODUCTS OF THE GOLD FIELDS, AS SHOWN BY ESCORT RECEIPTS.

Besides the amount above specified, Mr. Khull estimates that there were taken, by private hand, to Adelaide, 7,500 ounces; to Sydney, 35,900 ounces; to Tasmania, 3,278 ounces. These tables show ::