TOCACCO is the last of the four articles named in the preceding list. How great a curse it has been to the soil unwisely prostituted to its cultivation, we have no time to consider at length. It is enough for the intelligent and consciencious husbandmau to know, that every district of country devoted to the raising of Tobacco for a series of years, has been almost irreparably injured in its productive capacity. Small and particular localities, which have been cultivated in tobacco, may have had their fertility maintained for a while by robbing other portions of the farm of their due proportion of manure. Yet, sooner or later, the exhaustive process will ultimately work the deterioration of any neighborhood or farming district where tobacco-raising is a prominent part of the farming operations.

As the very choicest land of a farm has to be used for growing To bacco as it is an exacting crop, not only upon the land, but upon those who work it, and who worm the plants-as the product has to be housed and handled, stemmed, and prepared for market in a most careful manner, by those who have practical experience in its management;-as the crop is precarious and uncertain, and the price which it commands is exceedingly fluctuating, we are happy to know that many of tlfe farmers of this county, who were beguiled by its tempting but false promise of gain, have entirely abandoned its cultivation. The losses which some of our farmers have sustained by reason of their devotion to the weed, have sadly modified their admiration of its money producing qualities. We have no commiseration for those who have sustained losses. On the contrary, we rather rejoice that something has occurred to induce them to withdraw from the pursuit of a business which, at no time and in no manner, has promoted the happiness or well-being of a single consumer, but which, on the contrary, has strongly tended to injure, mentally and physically, all who permitted themselves to be brought within its baneful and destructive influence.

The following table will show the quantity of POTATOES, of FLAX, of SORGHUM, and TOBACCO raised in the years stated:

POTATOES.

FLAX

SORGI M.

TOBACCO.

Acres Bushels Acres Bushels Pounds Acres cul-Gallons of Years. planted produced. sowed. of seed. of fibre. tivated.molasses

Pounds

MISCELLANEOUS PRODUCTIONS.

In addition to the foregoing statements relating to the past and present condition of many important branches connected with the agriculture of Butler county, it will not be inappropriate briefly to make reference to other products which deserve attention, and which constitute a part of our productive wealth.

With us, as yet, fruit culture has not received merited attention. As a substantial element of food for many-as a valuable agent in preserving and promoting good health, and as a luxury which all classes may enjoy with a zest and a relish unknown to the non-producer, good fruit upon the farm or in the garden, may be justly regarded as the best indication that the agriculturist or horticulturist has been mindful of his duty to his family and himself, while he has been considerate in looking to the sure and liberal pecuniary reward which will follow the labors of the careful industrious and intelligent cultivator. The growing of fruits is not only an attractive pursuit in which men become intensely enthusiastic, but it is profitable employment. Hence, under favorable circumstances, every desirable point for raising fruit should be speedily and thoroughly improved.

The orchard culture of APPLES is improving regularly; while the orchard culture of PEACHES and PEARS is making rapid progress. Some exceedingly eligible localities in various parts of the county have already been well improved by the establishment of large peach orchards. One of these localities on the west side of the Miami river, near Middletown, has attained a creditable notoriety as a valuable fruit producing point, from which extensive crops of peaches have been profitably shipped. Its location is exceedingly favorable as a shipping point. Fruit designed for the North may be taken in the morning from the trees, and properly boxed and delivered at the depot in time for the morning express train from Cincinnati. Thus fresh fruit may be landed in Toledo, Detroit, Chi cago, Cleveland or Buffalo and intermediate points within from six to twelve hours of the time the fruit was taken from the tree.

The cultivation of all the esteemed varieties of small fruits is receiving increased attention. Blackberries, strawberries, raspberries, currants and gooseberries are being desseminated more thoroughly throughout the county. Amateurs, gardeners and farmers are vieing with each other for prominence in their cultivation.

Grapes are receiving increased attention. All the more modern and all the esteemed varieties are receiving proper culture in the vineyard as well as in the garden of the amateur.

Vegetable gardening for the supply of the market has increased with unusual rapidity. The same is true in the county. Farmers everywhere are giving more time and labor to the cultivation of their own fruit and

vegetable gardens. They are manifesting a becoming and an increasing regard for the comforts of their family, by supplying them with the fruits and garden products that constitute to so great an extent the substantials and luxuries of life.

Superadded to these productions, our farmers are giving more and more attention to the cultivation of sweet potatoes, and the field culture of pumpkins, turnips, beans, &c. All these things concerning which we have no statistics, constitute in the aggregate a valuable item in making up a full statement of the entire agricultural products of this county.

THE DOMESTIC ANIMALS

of the county now claim special attention that their qualities, their numbers, their value, and the state of improvement which they have undergone or are now undergoing, may be fully given and understood. And first of the

HORSES. For their general good qualities they are not surpassed In size, symmetry, fine by those of any other county in the State. style, &c.; in adaptation to the wants and tastes of our people who take a pride in having fine horses, they are deserving of high commendation. Good judgment and fine taste have secured to us our present stock of horses, which is the result of judicious and long continued crossings, with the best thoroughbred horses to be found among us. Horses either thoroughbred or of esteemed high blood, have been so long used for the improvement of our stock of horses, as to justify one of the most experienced and best informed breeders of Ohio to say that "there is a large infusion of thoroughbred blood in our stock of horses." improvements in horses will verify the truth of his statement.

The history of our

As early as about 1816, a very superior horse, called "Shakespear," was brought into the county from New Jersey. He was a horse of fine size and appearance, and proved to be a horse of high quality as a breeder. He was extensively insed as a breeding horse, and the improvement in the size and substantial character of his descendants was very marked. No higher commendation for a horse, thirty years ago, could be given, than to say he was a "Shakespear."

This horse was sired by Valerius, a colt of Col. Smock's Badger, of Maryland. The dam of Shakespear was a descendant of the famous high bred horse of Somerset, New Jersey, called "Don Carlos."

About the same time, a horse which acquired a great notoriety in the county, called" Badger," was introduced to the attention of our farmers. This horse was also a colt of Valerius, and consequently a half brother of Shakespear. Both had more than one-half thoroughbred blood in their veins, and both were extensively used as breeders, and the result was a marked and decided improvement in the size and general good

rance.

qualities of our stock of horses. The Badger stock stood pre-eminent, as spirited, active and fleet travelers, with surprising powers of enduThe writer recollects most marvelous stories which were told forty years ago of the facility with which this strain of horses could carry men eight and ten miles per hour, under the saddle, without exhibiting signs of distress. These horses, and the numerous "Young Shakespears" and "Young Badgers," which did not discredit their illustrious sires, prepared the way for further improvements, which were made through the introduction of other horses of good quality and high blood. Among these we are enabled to name "Kirkland" and "Miami Chief," both thoroughbred horses, "Flag of Truce," "Defiance," and other horses of other like good qualities.

About 1831 a fresh impetus was given to the improvement of our horse stock by the introduction into our county of the fine horse "CadHe was a colt of "American Eclipse," out of Die-Vernon, by "Ball's Florizel," and consequently a horse of unsurpassed breeding qualities. He became the sire of a large number of popular stallions, and of many fine breeding mares. Among the number of his colts was a stallion called "Sheppard's Cadmus," the sire of the unequaled "Pocahontas," who is described by Frank Forester as "one of the most superb, most sumptuous of animals, as well as the fastest of the day."

Subsequently a horse called "American Boy" was brought from Monmouth county, New Jersey. He had a large infusion of good blood in his veins from such noted horses as Seagull, Imported Expedition, and Imported Royalist. This horse produced much valuable stock, among which may be mentioned "Belmont," American Boy, jr.," and these in turn had their descendants, also much esteemed.

The original stock of our improved horses, which were at an early day brought into this part of the State, came from New Jersey, Long Island, Virginia and Maryland. Their get constituted the base upon which subsequent improvements have been made. And in addition to the strains of horses, and particular horses above given, it is proper to state that many other horses of good qualities have been used by our breeders. Among these we can give the names of "Orphan Boy," "Comet," "Miami Chief," " Friendly Tiger," "Top Gallant," "Young Cadmus," by Cadmus, and dam by Sumpter, Bell Founder, Archie, Lightfoot, Membrino, Victor, Highlander and Perfection. Others of equal merit, whose names are not readily called to mind, have had their part in the improvement of our stock.

We have not relied alone upon our own stock. That which has been introduced into neighboring counties has been used, and its improving influence is manifest. One thing we have carefully avoided: We have not deteriorated our stock by using what Dr. Clemens styles the "Morgans

of to-day," and what he describes as stock "not suited for anything, badly gotten up, and bogus."

Statement of the number and value of horses for the years named.

It will be seen, by reference to the foregoing table, that the number of horses in this county, for the last twenty years, has undergone but a very slight change. Their average price, however, has undergone very decided fluctuations. The average value of horses, as returned for taxation in 1847, was $38.04. The average value in 1866 was $83.39, an increase of about one hundred and nine per cent., a decided change in twenty years. The decrease in the value of horses, as returned in 1862, was violent and excessive, resulting from the apprehensions of all classes that the effects of the infamous rebellion would be to destroy the value of all of our property. The mistaken views of all were soon made apparent, and the result is, that in 1866, the value of horses per head had increased in four years from $51.04 to $83.39, being an increase of sixty-three per cent.

The average value for 1865 and 1866, of the horses of Butler county, is $83.50 per head. That is a higher average than has been attained in the two last years by any county in the State, save the county of Hamilton. Notwithstanding the many fine single horses, and fancy matched horses of great values, owned in the cities of Dayton, Columbus Toledo and Cleveland, the averages in their respective counties, for the last two years, do not equal the average value of the horses in this county. This fact conclusively sustains the assertion that we very confidently made, that in the blood, size, fine style, symmetry of form and enduring qualities of the horses of this county, that we are not excelled. With this confident expression of our opinion, we conclude what we have deemed it proper to say upon this division of our report.

MULES, by consanguinity, and the uses to which they are applied, rather than by numbers or value, next claim our attention. They have never been received with favor by our farmers. Their appearance was