and sometimes sugar tree and hickory. Nearly all the lands in this county of this quality have been cleared for the last fifty years, and have since been cultivated almost continuously in corn. Portions of these lands have been occasionally subject to inundation from backwater, and have thereby become greatly enriched; while other portions have been injured by the displacement of the soil, or the covering of the same with gravel. The same quality of rich alluvial lands is to be found along our larger creeks, and are liable to like overflows, and subject to like casualties. Such lands do not constitute either our most valuable or our most desirable farms. They subject their owners sometimes to great inconvenience and loss, and are not so suitable for the production of the various grains, grasses and other crops raised, as are lands of essentially different quality. Nevertheless these "bottom lands" are highly prized by many, and greatly preferred by a few of our farmers. Lands known as "second bottom," whether near the Miami river or in the vicinity of our largest creeks, constitute a larger proportion of our good choice lands. Farms composed of such soil, are more highly valued, and are regarded as decidedly superior in quality. Such lands usuually abound in about the following varieties of timber, to-wit: hackberry, cherry, walnut, buckeye, blue ash, grey ash, pin oak, white oak, burr oak and sugar tree. Sometimes sycamores grow on such soils, in connexion with elms, and the several varieties of haw trees. It is not intended to say that all these several varieties of trees are found in the same locality; sometimes particular varieties would prevail in one neighborhood, while other varieties would predominate in another. The surface of such soils not only furnish exceedingly eligible sites for the location of farm buildings, but it is very favorable for farming operations. The soil is composed of a dark sandy loam, which originally abounded in vegetable mould. The land is therefore almost uniformly friable and easy of cultivation; sometimes it is based upon a gravelly sub-soil, and at other times upon a clay substratum. This quality of soil is not confined to the immediate vicinity of either the Miami river or our largest creeks, but is to be found in great extent throughout many parts of the county. Farms consisting of lands of this quality have maintained their fertility surprisingly, even under improvident cultivation. They are easily recuperated with clover, which takes readily and grows with vigorous luxuriance. Our "up lands" are very variable in quality. In one portion of the county where the hills are unusually high for this part of Ohio, the land is of exceeding richness. The soil is adapted to the production of every variety of grain grown in the county. It is based upon a clay sub-soil, and was originally covered with a rich, dark colored vegetable mould. These hills which have an altitude above the Miami river of about three hundred feet, were originally covered with a very thick growth of timber, indicating the very best quality of soil, entirely dissimilar from that which usually grows upon our uplands. On the very highest points on these hills, sycamore, black walnut, white walnut, black locust, (trees between two and three feet in diameter), box alder, grey ash, blue ash, papaw, &c., &c., grew to an unusual size. And notwithstanding the irregularities in the surface of this region, and the rich and friable character of the soil, yet there is no excessive gullying or washing away of the surface of the fields. The rich and favorable character of these lands, and their high elevation, make them especially valuable for the cultivation of fruit of every variety. Our other uplands, although somewhat different, are nevertheless similar in quality to most of the uplands in the Miami valley. In some places they have incorporated with the surface soil a good proportion of vegetable material; while in other localities the soil is purely argillaceous. The farms on these uplands, usually denominated "clay farms," have for the last thirty-five years continuously grown upon public favor. By judicious culture they have regularly improved in productiveness. Clover usually takes readily; and all the labor and means applied in renovating these soils have been successful in producing good and enduring effects. Farms located upon these uplands are generally favorable for fruit growing, for the production of small grain and grasses, and for general farming purposes. Indeed, farmers occupying such lands, are already competing in large crops of corn, with those who reside upon purely bottom lands. The prevailing timber is white oak, pigeon oak, hickory, ash, red bud, dogwood and elm. Intermixed with these, we generally find more or less of walnut and sugar tree. THE CLIMATOLOGY AND METEOROLOGY OF BUTLER COUNTY vary immaterially from that which prevail in south-western Ohio. The most important characteristic of our climate is its uniformity. By this we do not mean to say that we are exempt from the usual changes and fluctuations of temperature-of wind and of rain, which are found to exist in other localities. What is claimed, is great uniformity for a series of years, of mean temperature-of mean precipitation of rain, and of mean force and frequency of winds. Consequently, although in common with others, we have occasionally suffered from the effects of drouths, from an excess of rain, and slightly from severe winds, yet our farmers have not encountered such privations, and sustained such losses, from the above causes, as are common in other localities in the country. Our mean temperature, for many years, has been about fifty-three degrees; and the mean fall of water, varies but little from forty-eight inches. Although the surface of Butler county, sixty years ago, was thickly covered with a heavy and vigorous growth of timber, eight-tenths of which has been removed, yet there are now no perceptible changes, in either the mean temperature, the mean quantity of rain precipitated, the frequency or duration of showers, or in the character or direction of the prevailing winds. Neither is it believed that our atmosphere is less humid than it was fifty years ago. Some slight modifications of our climate may have taken place. They are, however, not so marked as to be appreciable, even by those who have been careful observers of the weather, and its influence upon the vegetation of the county. The thorough clearing up of farms, however, has produced very decided effects upon our streams. They now rise more rapidly, attain to a great height, and subside consequently in much less time than heretofore. Obstructions have been removed off of low lands, from runs and streamlets and from creeks, and water now flows speedily off, instead of remaining spread over large tracts of land, to the great detriment and loss to our farmers. In view, therefore, of the foregoing, we believe that it will not be unsafe to say, that if a favorable geographical and commercial position-a climate singularly favorable for the production of the great agricultural staples, and for the cultivation of fruits; and a soil variable in character, yet highly rich in all essential elements, necessary to constitute a good farming region, then the farmers of Butler county are in the possession of that rich boon. In fertility of soil, in her temperate climate, in her favorable geographical position, her numerous streams of water, her timber, her exhaustless quarries of blue limestone, and her abundance of water power, Butler county may be equaled-she cannot be excelled. THE CULTIVATION of the lands of this county is by no means what it ought to be. Our farmers are not sufficiently alive to the importance of a very complete knowledge of the general principles of such branches of learning as relate to agriculture. They hesitate, in many cases, to adopt, and in other cases they reject, not only the teachings of science, but refuse to profit by the practical demonstrations of our more intelligent and experienced cultivators. Notwithstanding the existence of this state of feeling among some of our farmers, we have the gratification of being able to say with truth, that the husbandry of the county has, in many important regards, attained a commendable thoroughness, and is now rapidly improving. Farmers are becoming less and less unwilling to learn from others, and are more ambitious to investigate and consider the reasons assigned for the various systems or modes of culture. In due season, we do not question, but what an improved state of husbandry will generally prevail, and that the annual product of this county will be quadrupled. Our success in agriculture is greatly owing to the prevalence of a system of mixed husbandry, which is universally adopted. Specialities find no favor with our farmers. The prevailing practice is to cultivate the various kinds of grain and grasses-to raise, keep and fatten domestic animals, and with all the means at command, to increase the supply of manure, so as to maintain, and, if possible, to increase the productions of the soil. The aim of our shrewdest and most successful farmers is to sell their surplus products, in such form, as will be most profitable, and as will take from the land the smallest amount of its fertility. BARN-YARD MANURE is the only fertilizer that has been used in this county. The making, preservation and proper application of barn-yard manure is esteemed to be the most reliable, and the most economical means of sustaining and increasing the productiveness of our lands. Stable manures are generally husbanded with care, and pains are taken to preserve their value and to increase their quantity by combining them with other fertilizing materials. The prevailing mode of using our barn-yard manure is that which is most common throughout the country. The accumulations of the winter, are applied to lands intended for spring crops; and that made during the summer, is generally used upon grounds intended for fall wheat or barley. When manure has been composted with other articles, and has become thoroughly rotted, then it is generally applied to the top dressing of meadows, or used upon lots or fields cultivated in fruits-in roots or other garden vegetables. The top dressing of meadow lands, with long manure, which has been so highly commended, has never been practiced by our farmers. They believe it to be a very wasteful and consequently extrav agant way of using manure. Whenever lands have lost their friability, from any cause whatever, and have become compact and difficult to cultivate, our farmers believe that the most efficient and economical way to restore the same to good tilth and productiveness, is to put the same in clover, and in due time to plow under a full crop. The teachings of science and the experience of farmers of every grade of intelligence, unite in bearing testimony to the value of this mode of renovating lands. Thus far, as before stated, the farmers of the county have relied almost exclusively upon barnyard manure and clover for the improvement of the condition of their farms. Muck, to a very limited extent, has been used. It is especially valuable for composting, and its more general use would greatly add to the quantity and quality of manures. The extent to which clover is used for enriching farms, may be judged of by the returns of the amount which has been plowed under in each year. The returns show that, It appears from the foregoing that there has been a gradual reduction of the quantity plowed under during the three years named. That reduc tion, doubtless, arises from the fact that the proportion of clover to timothy was greatly reduced during the war. The high price that timothy hay brought greatly stimulated the sowing of meadows. Timothy, therefore, was sown where clover would otherwise have been used. Hence, there were fewer clover fields, in 1865, to plow up. THE MICHIGAN DOUBLE PLOW has been but little used in this county. In almost all situations where used good results have followed. In a deep alluvial soil, which has been cultivated for many years to the depth of only a few inches, the use of the double plow would be highly beneficial. On a stiff clay soil the result would be altogether different. Turning up to the surface a stiff, compact subsoil, might ultimately result in some improvement of the soil, but would surely render it less productive for a while. In soils of such a quality the use of the subsoil plow would be decidedly preferable. Indeed, subsoiling is never injurious. In gravelly soils it may be wholly unnecessary, but never hurtful. The subsoil plow is not much used. By some it has been used to a very limited extent;-chiefly in the preparation of land for gardens, and for planting in vines and fruit trees. UNDERDRAINING was practiced in this county, in a very limited and unprofitable way, many years ago. Underdrains were made in every variety of way, and were constructed of timber, boards, sawed and split, and of stones. The good effects of these underdrains were but temporary. They soon became obstructed, and required continual repair. Underdraining with tile has been in use some fifteen years, with almost uniform good results. The underdrains have been made almost exclusively for the purpose of relieving strips of land, or particular localities, from such an excess of water as precluded the proper cultivation of the fields in which they were situated. Our farmers, generally, appreciate the great value of underdraining, and are disposed, to increase their underdrains rapidly, if they were enabled to procure drain tile at anything like a fair price. There are |