or value of this property in the State. The profit received from it annually is, however, sufficient to make it a matter of importance that statistics be gathered yearly in regard to the number and value of hens, turkeys and geese. Along the lines of our principal railroads there is reason to believe that there has been an increase in the number of hens and turkeys kept within the last five years. In no instance, however, has it become a leading branch of business. The real profit from poultry will always be most where they are kept in small quantities by a large number of people, rather than the reverse. They are important to the farmer from the large number of insects they destroy, and might be made so for the value of the manure which could be saved from them, were it not usually allowed to go to waste. Within a few years the Bronze Turkey has been introduced into the State, and very favorable reports are given of their value. Of hens no new breeds have recently been introduced, but there has been a general dissemination of the most valuable old breeds. Rearing geese is on the decline, and has been since the substitution of mattresses for feather beds in so many families.

BEES.

Bee culture has received a very decided impetus within the last five years. Previous to that time it had been on the decline. The ravages of the bee-moth (Galleria cereana), which in the caterpillar state feeds upon the comb of the bee, the loss from wintering them, and the great number of patent hives, which were either so many moth traps, or which, in construction, made wintering bees more uncertain than ever, all tended to this result.

HIVES. Since the introduction of the Langstroth hive, which gives the beekeeper such control of his bees that he may at any time ascertain their condition and wants, the difficulties of keeping them have been so materially diminished, that hundreds who before kept them only that they might enjoy the luxury of honey, now have so increased their swarms as to make them a source of profit. Especially is this the case "ith those persons who live near towns and own but little land, and with professional men, who find in their care not only profit, but that relaxation from their labors so necessary to health. It may safely be said that the Langstroth hive has to a great extent supplanted all others in this State, and is producing a revolution in this department of industry. Without it, or some hive that gives perfect control of the bees, much of that vast amount of sweet found in so many of our trees and flowers would never be gathered. Bee keeping is not confined, however, to professional men or those who live near cities; many farmers throughout the State keep large apiaries, from which they derive considerable income.

WINTERING BEES -There has always been great loss in wintering bees. Even with the present improvements in keeping them, about one-fourth of the number of colonies k pt perish during the winter. Those which are lost, however, are commonly the least valuable swarms, and it will not be understood that one-fourth of the value of our bees is lost in this way. One important principle in wintering

them has been settled, and that is, the hive must have sufficient ventilation. Bees take in oxygen from the air, and give out carbonic acid gas; and unless this is allowed to pass off, and fresh air to take its place, they are poisoned by it, and perish. So, too, if the moisture which accumulates in a hive during certain states of the atmosphere be confined when it becomes sufficiently cold to freeze it, the bees suffer greatly.

Burying bees during winter has been tried by a few apiarians, and, if done properly, it has been successful. If not done with the greatest care, however, the result is just the reverse. Removing them to a dry cellar, where the temperature is above the freezing point, has been highly recommended by some apiarians, who have derived good results from the practice. The advantage of these methods is that less honey is required in wintering them than when exposed to the cold, and less liability to loss. They also produce earlier swarms.

AMOUNT OF HONEY PER COLONY.-Some seasons, as that of the present year, bees produce little surplus honey. Other years the amount laid up beyond their own wants is very great. Occasionally from 75 to 100 pounds have been taken from a single hive. The average amount, however, as given by leading beekeepers, is about 35 pounds. The price of honey varies with the locality and the supply, and ranges from ten to twenty cents. The most common and average price for good honey is from fourteen to eighteen cents. To the question, "Is bee keeping in Ohio considered profitable?" the answer is, "With proper care,

"Has the apple crop been successful in your county within the past five years? "What are the causes of the failure of the apple crop?

"Have any new varieties of apples been introduced within the past five years; and if so, what are they, and how do they succeed?

"What varieties are most generally grown in your county?

"What are considered the best six autumn varieties?

"What are considered the best six winter varieties?

"In planting a new orchard in your county, what ten varieties of winter apples would you recommend? What ten varieties of autumn apples?"

If the counties in the State in which the apple crop has been a successful on for the last five years were numbered, they would not exceed fifteen. The number in which the crop has been partially successful, however, is large, and in but a small number has there been a total failure.

CAUSES OF FAILURE.-The most frequent cause of the failure of the fruit crop in Ohio is spring frosts. On the lake shore this evil is not frequent, on account of the modifying influence of the water upon the atmosphere. Our most successful counties for apples are those bordering Lake Erie. There are portions, however, of almost every county-where the land is elevated-in which fruit is almost as secure from frost as in this region. As frosts are beyond our control, we can do little to prevent injury, further than to plant our orchards in such situations as are

as little liable to them as possible. In a few instances farmers have tried to prevent them in the immediate vicinity of their orchards by building fires, but these attempts have usually failed. A better way would be to construct small furnaces from which a current of heated air could be sent among the branches of the trees. It would take but little warm air to keep the fruit from freezing, if properly applied. A cow lying under an apple-tree, where her breath ascended among the branches, has saved the fruit when all the other trees of the orchard have had theirs killed; a single hog sleeping under a pear-tree has produced a like result; and yet the amount of heat generated from these animals has been no more than could be produced from a few pounds of wood.

Another cause of great injury to the apple crop throughout every part of the State is the apple-worm. The eggs from which these worms are hatched are laid by the codling-moth (Carpocapsa pomonella) during the months of June and July. The windfalls, or worm-eaten apples, that drop in the stillest weather, have each one of these worms in the core. The eggs of the moth are laid in the eye or blossom end of the fruit when quite tender, in thin-skinned and early rather than late apples. The eggs hatch in a few days, and the worm works its way to the core. The round hole through the side of the apple is not the place of its entrance, but where refuse and voidings are thrown out. The most effectual method of waging war against them is by gathering and feeding to hogs the apples which fall early, and by keeping the bark of the tree clean and healthy, so no place will be found on it for them to undergo their transformations. The worms conceal themselves under loose pieces of bark on the tree; and if these be scraped ff, and the trunk washed with lye in early spring, many of them will be destroyed.

Until within a few years the canker worm (Phalana vernata) had not been common in Ohio, but now in very many counties considerable injury has been done from them. The eggs are laid in winter and spring, on the twigs of the apple-tree, in clusters of from fifty to one hundred in number. In May they hatch, and the young worms feed upon the leaves and fruit of the tree; and frequently they exist in such multitudes that the entire foliage is destroyed, when the tree looks as if it had been severely scorched with fire. We have not heard of any successful attempts to prevent their ravages in Ohio, but from the nature of the insect, the most effectual means will be found in preventing the female moth-which is wingless-from crawling up the body of the tree to deposit her eggs. The best method of doing this is to place around the tree a circular leaden trough containing oil, over which they cannot pass The trough should be fitted upon a mat made of fine straw, with the ends cut squarely off, so as to prevent a ragged front to them.

Still another cause of a partial failure of the apple crop may be found in the excessive bearing of trees in years of abundance. If from any cause the fruit crop fails one year, the succeeding season is likely to be followed with overbearing, which so uses up the energies of the tree that little growth of wood is made. The year following overbearing will be followed by a failure of the crop, the life of the tree going to promote its growth.

Thousands of the old apple orchards of the State, from neglect and other causes, are going to decay. Large numbers of young trees have been planted to take their places. As a general thing, these young trees are not growing so vigorously as the first plantations. There are two reasons for this. First, Orchards set out when the country was new, had an unexhausted virgin soil full of vegetable mold, from the decay of leaves and forest trees for centuries. Such a soil produced a thrifty, healthy growth. Now they are too often planted in a soil exhausted of this virgin richness by the production of grain, and before the tree can get a start it dies from starvation. Second, The trees planted then were raised from seed planted in similar soil, on the farmer's own land, or in his own neighborhood, and received a healthy growth. None were transplanted unless they were thrifty; now too often they are improperly grown in some nursery where the main object is to sell trees, rather than to sell only such as will produce vigorous orchards. But little of the blame, however, belongs to nurserymen; for if they were always well cared for by proper planting and after care, even if not well grown, most of them would live and produce well. The largest share of the fruit trees planted within the last ten years in Ohio, have died for want of proper lanting and protection during their first few years' growth.

CROPPING ORCHARDS.-The practice of cropping orchards is quite a common one in Ohio, not every year, but at intervals of five or six years. Sometimes wheat, sometimes oats or corn are grown. During these in ervals they lie in pasture, or perhaps are mown. There is great difference of opinion as to the advantages or disadvantages of the practice. Those in favor of it, argue that it does not exhaust the soil more to remove a crop of grain than of grass, or allow it to be fed with cattle or sheep; and it is claimed that plowing loosens the soil, and allows the free penetration of the roots, moisture and air. There is a growing disposition, however, to abandon the practice, or resort to it less frequently. The great injury done to the roots, and the large amount of food for the tree removed by the crop, being considered arguments against it. Young orchards, however, are commo ly cultivated until they are well established.

PRUING ORCHARDS.-One of the worst practices farmers have been led into throughout the State, has been of removing the large lower limbs of trees fully grown. Such trees never recover from such surgery. The practice is, however, being discontinued by all intelligent farmers, and trees are being cultivated with much lower heads than formerly. It has been observed that very many trees with long stems unprotected from the sun in hot weather, that the truck became so unnaturally heated as to kill the bark and wood in these exposed parts. Trees pruned with low heals are protected by their own shade from this injury.

HOGS IN THE ORCHARD -The practice of allowing swine to run in the orchard is still continued by a few farmers in different parts of the State. The arguments advanced in favor of it are, that they destroy the worms that exist in the windfall fruit, and thus prevent their increase. Well-bred swine do not root sufficient to do injury, nor hurt the trees. A very few hogs are sufficient for the purpose, and they are removed when the apples begin to ripen. The principal objection

to the practice is the uncleanliness they occasion. Swine kept in this way grow well, and are much more healthy than when kept in confined, uncleanly pens, with neither exercise nor pure air.

Notwithstanding the apple crop in the State is not always a sure one, with care in selecting locali ies, and varieties adapted to the soil, and proper care of trees after they are planted, it is a source both of wealth and of pleasure to the farmer, and their growth is gradually on the increase. As an article of food, they are becoming more highly prized every year, and contribute largely to the health of the people. When abundant almost every one, in either city or country, lays by a store of them for winter as surely as he does of potatoes; and when scarce they command so high a price that persons owning land in places where the crop is a sure one, cannot do better than to plant largely of trees. At such times they are a source of great profit.

APPLES.

The following answers have been received from the several counties named below, to the questions:

1st. Which are considered the best six varieties of winter apples? 2d. Which are considered the best six varieties of autumn apples? 3d. Which are considered the best ten varieties of winter apples ? 4th. Which are considered the best ten varieties of autumn apples? 5th. What varieties are generally grown

BEST TEN VARIETIES OF WINTER APPLES.

ATHENS.-Roxberry Russet, Romanite, Pearmain, Pippin.

BROWN.-Milam, Pryor's Red, Wagoner, Rawle's Janet, Newtown Pippin. CARROLL.-Rambo, R. I. Greening, Roxberry Russet, Milam, Northern Spy, Baldwin, Newtown Pippin.

COLUMBIANA.-Fallawalder, Nonpareil, King of Tompkins Co.. Blue Rambo, Northern Spy, Roxberry Russet, Canada Red.

DEFIANCE - Spitzenberg, R. I. Greening, Peck's Pleasant, Northern Spy. HANCOCK-Paradise, Winter Sweet, King, Culp, Ladies' Sweet, Rambo, R. I. Greening, Baldwin, Golden Pippin.

HURON. Baldwin, R. I. Greening, Red Canada, Peck's Pleasant, Detroit Red, Seeknoturther, King of Tompkins Co.

KNOX.-Winter Rambo, Spitzenberg, Fallawalder, R. I. Greening, Pennock, Tulpahocken Russet.

LUCAS.-R. I. Greening, Baldwin, Spitzenberg, Roxberry Russet, Seeknofurther, Northern Spy, Talman Sweeting, Tulpahocken.

LAKE-R. I. Greening, Roxberry Russet, Baldwin, Northern Spy, Peck's Pleasant, Mammoth Pippin, Danver's Sweet.

LAWRENCE.-Pound Royal, Rawle's Janet, Pryor's Red.

MORROW.-Pearmain, Ladies' Sweet, Vandever, Swaar, Rambo, Northern Spy, R. I. Greening.