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to examine soft coal, as the bitumen swells and obscures the vegetable forms. The principal forms observed are thin layers of elongated cells, scutariform ducts, flattened tubes, arranged in spiral lines, large rectangular cells, the charcoal-like

masses.

IMPROVED JACQUARD LOOM.

In an improved construction of the Jacquard loom which has been introduced, the object had been to substitute for the heavy cards a sheet of prepared paper, punched with given apertures, like the cards of the old machines; but, instead of being a series of pieces two-and-one-half inches wide laced together, the punctured paper formed a continuous band only three-quarters of an inch wide; thus so diminishing the bulk that the weight of the new band, as compared with that of the old cards, was in the proportion of one to eleven. The method by which this desirable result has been attained is chiefly by an arrangement which permits the four hundred spiral springs on the needles used in the old machine to be dispensed with, when, as a consequence, the force, and the wear and tear due to their resistance is done away with, and the important advantage gained of making fine and light wires do the work of strong and heavy ones.

STATISTICS OF AGRICULTURE, &c.

AGRICULTURAL EXHIBITION IN FRANCE.

The Paris Moniteur of the 2d October has an ample report of the Minister of Agriculture on the regional agricultural exhibitions in France. The number of them this year was ten, at central places in the great territorial divisions. The report embraces the names of the exhibitors to whom the chief prizes were awarded, and the main results of the convocations and the competitive system. Formerly those divisions of the country entertained mischievous prejudices and antipathies against each other; the peasantry refused to employ new implements of tillage, or to admit any changes in their antiquated husbandry. This evil has nearly disappeared under the influences of the assemblages and the means of comparison. France, says the minister, has at length learned to know herself and her resources; the rural progress, in every particular, surpasses all expectation. Many thousands of people of different provinces have been drawn together; they have parted with mutual cordiality; their only solicitude is how to make the best figure in the shows and intercourse of the next year. The railroads afford them facilities for every purpose, of which their forefathers could have no conception. The departments and the large cities contribute sums of twenty-five and thirty-five thousand francs towards the accommodation and arrangement of the animals and machinery brought to each of the rendezvous. From year to year the numbers of the frequenters and the objects for exhibition and rivalry have signally advanced. The report adduces the statistics. In 1846 wheat was grown on not more than 5,936,908 hectares, (the hectare is two-and-a-half acres ;) in 1856 it occupied 6,468,236 hectares; the increase in the yield is larger in proportion. Special attention will henceforth be paid to the classification of the animals

according to localities, and breeds, and qualities, and of the farming implements in reference to origin and usefulness. From 1860 the number of agricultural regions will be ten or twelve; each will comprise seven departments or provinces, and an exhibition will be annually held in each by turns. The central government and the authorities of the several circumscriptions or demarkations will appoint inspectors, juries to award the premiums, surveyors of the farms in competition, and scientific and practical instructors. The emperor has created five model farms in the neighborhood of the Camp of Chalons, on which the soldiery and corps of engineers are occasionally employed. His chief object is to fertilize for pasture the arid and nearly barren plains; and considerable sums are appropriated from the civil list to carry out his plans. Each of the new establishments has stables for a hundred cows, stables for twenty horses, and folds for twelve hundred sheep. Four hundred cows of the race of Brittany, more than three thousand sheep, rams of the English stock, and thirty choice brood mares are already collected. Five similar establishments are to be undertaken and completed next year.

IRISH AGRICULTURAL STATISTICS.

The Registrar-General's annual returns of the extent of land under crops for the year 1858, and of the numbers of live stock for the same period, have been issued, and are of no little interest at the present time. In our September No., page 387, we gave the crop statistics; the following are the live stock:—

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The following is the total value of live stock in each year from 1855 to 1858, calculated according to the rates assumed by the census commissioners of 1841 -viz. -For horses, £8 each; cattle, £6 10s.; sheep, 22s.; and pigs, 25s. each:

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From the Volksblatt, published at the German settlement of Hermann, in Missouri, we learn that this year's vintage in the vicinity of Hermann, in spite of the poor prospects in the early part of the season, has been an average one. The quantity of wine produced will reach 25,000 gallons, which is highly satisfactory in view of the fact that last year's yield was enormous, and that the vines seldom yield two consecutive heavy crops. The yield per acre of the different vinyards is variable-three and four hundred gallons per acre being secured in some, while others afforded only fifty gallons per acre. In general, however, the vintners are well pleased with the result, and have no cause to complain of hard times.

WHEAT CROPS OF CALIFORNIA.

The San Francisco Price Current remarks:-We have received returns from the county assessors in relation to the wheat crops. The indications, we think, are fair that the wheat crop of the present year will prove larger than that of any preceding year. The statistics, we think, are more reliable. Formerly, agriculturists were less informed as to the quantity of land they might have under cultivation, and their conjectures were often very extravagant. This probably led to the excessive returns of 1856. Since then, lands have more generally been surveyed, and assessors have become more careful in their estimates. We may also allude to the extravagant ideas in vogue in regard to the productiveness of the soil. Few farmers would admit that their crop would be less than thirty bushels to the acre, and we have seen statements, apparently on good authority, of from sixty-five to eighty bushels. It is true that in exceptional cases, such large yields might have been afforded; but perhaps the average yield of this, as of most of the best grain-growing States, would not be over twenty bushels, even in favorable seasons. By the subjoined table, it will be perceived that in those counties where wheat has heretofore proven an uncertain crop, the number of acres harvested this year is greatly reduced, showing that the farmers are turning their attention to other branches of agriculture; while in Napa, and in various other counties in different portions of the State, the area of land devoted to wheat has been greatly extended during the past year. The following table gives a comparative statement of the wheat crop in twenty connties for the past three years :

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It will be perceived that Contra Costa has largely increased her area of wheat crop over the two preceding years, while she has apparently fallen below 1856 in productiveness. Perhaps this can be best accounted for by the allusions before made to the unreliable character of the statistics of former years.

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THE CATAWBA VINTAGE OF 1858.

The yield of vinyards in Hamilton County for 1858 is 14,000 gallons; Brown County, 17.000; and Clermont, 2,500--a total of 33,500 gallons in the three counties. Mr. Fourmier, the director of W. Longworth's wine house, states that the wine of 1858 is of a superior quality, being as good as the celebrated vintage of 1853, and the yield is considerably greater than that of 1857. The price per gallon ranges from $1 to $1 20, the latter being the current quotation. The The entire crop is valued at $40,000. Mr. F. has purchased 25,000 gallons of the new wine. The Commercial makes the following note of the yield of several of the vinyards

"The largest quantity produced in any township in this county is Storrs. T. H. Yeatman, Esq., who produced 1,400 gallons last year upon eight acres, made but 800 gallons this year. His neighbor-Mr. John Brent, reputed one of the best vintners in Ohio, produced 513 gallons, against 1,200 last year--on five acres. In 1853 his vinyard yielded 1,100 gallons per acre! and during several successive years the crop was very small. Mr. Rentz likewise made 1,100 gallons per acre that year, and during several years after his vines failed. It is obvious, therefore, that heavy crops are injurious.

Near Ripley, (Brown County,) many vintners realize a full crop this year. Mr. Brumback, near that town, made 1,500 gallons from eight acres, and his neighbor, Mr. Hoffman, made 1,700 gallons on a similar area. An evidence of the difference in crops resulting from careful and careless culture, is exhibited in the cases of Mr. Fee, near Moscow, Clermont County, who made but 300 gallons from a vinyard of 22 acres, end of Mr. Tattman, who made 400 gallons from two acres. Both vinyards have a south-westerly slope; and are close together. Mr. Fourmier esteems Brown County the best vine-growing district in Ohio."

HOG STATISTICS OF KENTUCKY.

We have already, in previous numbers of our magazine, published the Assessors' returns of hogs in Kentucky, so far as they had been received at the Auditor's Office. Having now received the returns from the remaining counties not before reported, we are enabled to lay the total aggregate before our readers :—

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STATISTICS OF POPULATION, &c.

POPULATION OF THE GLOBE.

:-

The population of the globe has been estimated variously by different authors :

Malte Brun, (the geographer) gives....

Balbi, (a French statistician)..

Hopel, (German).

M'Gregor, (English) on the basis of the Almanac Von Weimer....

M. de Reden.

633,000,000

737,000,000

938,421,000

812,533,742

1,135,488,000

Most of these great differences are founded-1st. On the degree of credibility given to the Chinese Emperor; 2d. On ignorance of America; and 3d. On ignorance of Africa. But our recent travelers and geographical discoveries have enabled us to correct much of this speculation and error.

1st. The recent knowledge acquired by the English in China, assures us that the Chinese censuses are authentic, and as reliable as such documents generally are. 2d. African travelers, such as Drs. Livingstone and Barth, have ascertained that the interior of Africa is much more populous than was supposed.

3d. The population of America we have almost exactly-it is 64,417,677. The population of America, as estimated by statisticians, is as follows :-

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Now, at this time, we can arrive tolerably near the population of America, allowing for the slow progress of Spanish America, and the rapid progress of the Anglo-American. The result is as follows:

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We believe the above is rather an over-estimate. It will be seen that we have allowed but little more than twenty millions for South America. Is there any evidence that there is more? For each country specified we have allowed more than authentic returns will justify.

Let us now look at Asia. The last authentic Chinese census, recently taken, makes China and its dependencies over 400,000,000.

Fair estimates for India and dependencies, with those for Persia, Turkey in Asia, and some minor countries, make 763,000,000, and we have a full estimate for Asia.

From Africa, according to M. de Reden, the recent travelers have found millions of people where, it was supposed, there were none; and the estimates of M. de Reden is 46,000,000.

Europe, as censuses are taken in every country, may be taken at what it is estimated above at. The result, then, is as follows, giving the superficies and population according to M. de Reden :

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