Annual report of the Board of agriculture of the State of Ohio

institutions designed to teach the innumerable applications of science to agriculture, and to elevate and throw a charm around this noble employment.

Periodicals. The number and excellence of agricultural and horticultural periodicals leave little to be desired except that some of them were in the hands of every farmer. Forty papers and magazines, devoted almost exclusively to topics pertinent to farming and gardening, are published in the country.

Diseases of animals.-Among the embarrassments which still interfere seriously with farming operations are the diseases of domestic animals. Two forms of disease have more especially attracted attention-the pleuro-pneumonia of neat cattle in Massachusetts, and what is known as hog-cholera in the Western States. In reference to the former, the people of the whole Union have incurred a heavy debt of gratitude to the State in which it first appeared, for the prompt and energetic measures adopted to prevent its diffusion. The disease which prevailed among swine caused great destruction, and unfortunately but small success attended efforts devised to arrest its progress.

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These visitations, with others of more common occurrence, cannot fail to suggest the necessity of a class of well-educated veterinary surgeons. In this particular most European countries are greatly in advance of the United States. It is believed there is nothing about the rural economy of the Old World from which we may so profitably learn a lesson as in securing skillful medical and surgical treatment for domestic animals. This necessity has been made still more apparent by recent losses of army horses. We are of the opinion that the country, in the purchase and loss of horses during the insurrection, has incurred expenses already which, under other circumstances, could have been avoided, to an amount greater than would have been required to maintain a national veterinary school or college on an extended scale for half a century. In truth, we are not sure that the interest on the amount lost would not permanently support such an institution. The multiplication and cost of insurances on live stock furnishes proof of the little reliance placed on the skill of the professed cattle and horse doctor.

Destructive insects -In many instances whole armies of destructive insects have rendered the labors of the husbandman unprofitable or fruitless. The wheat midge, the chinch bug, and the army worm, besides those that have for years preyed on the products of the orchard and garden, occasion the loss of millions of dollars annually. By the labors of entomologists we have been taught to know these enemies more fully, and led to cherish the hope that we shall yet learn how to protect our crops from their ravages.

Meteorological observations.-The want of meteorological knowledge, and consequent want of adaptation of our industry to the laws of climate, both general and local, is a frequent source of loss to the farmer.

Through the system of meteorology inaugurated by the Surgeon-General of the United States army, and that now efficiently carried on by the Smithsonian Institution, the climate of the United States will soon be as well understood as its geology or geography. When the knowledge thus obtained is thoroughly popularized, we may expe ot to see it beneficially applied.

For information respecting agricultural products, not referred to in the foregoing notes, the reader is referred to the tables of agriculture appended to the report. The great labor required in the preparation of tables involving such vast interests and varied details has precluded their completion prior to the moment when it becomes necessary to submit them to the printer, a circumstance which is sufficiently explanatory of what some may be disposed to consider a meagre commentary upon a matter of so great importance.

It is not improbable that some inconsiderable errors may be detected in the foregoing notes, attributable to the tables having in some cases been slightly varied after their adoption as the text for comment. It is confidently believed, however, that no material error or discrepancy will be found to exist in any part of the report.

The following tables are from an advance copy of a Preliminary Report of the census for 1860, kindly furnished me by J. C. G. KENNEDY, the Superintendent of that Bureau.

Productions of Agriculture for 1850 and 1860.

KLIPPART.