sugar, at the present price--say two hundred pounds, at 3 weighing one hundred and ninety-six pounds, sells at $8. West can exchange a pound of flour for a pound of sugar, I of complaint. cents-is $7, while flour, While the East and the do not see any great cause EFFECT OF THE SEASONS ON THE PRICE OF WHEAT. In the Merchants' Magazine for July, 1854, (vol. xxxi., page 108,) we published a table showing the average price of wheat, oats, &c., per quarter in England and Wales, for twenty-six years. We now give from the same reliable source the yearly average price of wheat, from 1816 to 1828 inclusive, and from 1829 to the present time, 1854, with the harvest weather, and the highest and lowest average price of wheat in each year :— 1816-Cold and wet all through; corn sprouted, black loaves.. 1817-July and August cold; September fine; corn soft.. 1821-Rains during harvest; sprouted corn.. 1822-Splendid weather; abundant harvest.. 1823-Showery and cold summer; rained every day in July. 1824-Intensely hot; good harvest 1825-Hot throughout; good harvest.. 1826-Hottest and dryest on record; abundant harvest.. 1827-Hot, but not as 1826; good harvest...... General yearly average. S. d. 76 2 94 0 83 0 72 3 67 11 56 2 44 53 64 0 68 7 18 9 56 9 00 0 1828-Immense rain; floods began in July; harvest bad.. 1834-Hot summer; rain end of July; abundant harvest... 1841-Warm May and June; cold July and August; fine har vest in September.. 1842-Fine spring; delicious summer; good grain, but scarce.. harvest plentiful, but bad corn...... 1846-Spring fine; June half wet, half dry and hot; thunder; loss of potatoes 1847-Cold, wet, bitter spring; fine summer; cold and wet September; beans and potatoes blighted... 1848-Winter and spring mild; showery harvest 1849-Bitter spring; in summer, rain at nights, day hot; good harvest. 1850-Cold to May; harvest good. 1851-Winter mild; spring wet; harvest precarious.... 1853-Immensely wet winter; cold summer; wet July; autumn VOL. XXXI.-NO. V. 41 ..... 45 0 61 45 0 60 0 45 0 64 0 37 0 44 35 0 43 37 0 46 8 43 0 73 0 78 0 82 0 GRAPE CULTURE AND WINE MANUFACTURE IN OHIO. The Cincinnati Gazette contains a long and interesting article on the grape culture and wine manufacture in that vicinity. It appears that in 1846 there were 83 vineyards in the neighborhood of Cincinnati, containing 248 acres under cultivation, and 114 bearing, and although the crop the preceding year was but a partial one, 24,000 gallons was the yield. In 1852, 1,200 acres were in cultivation, 750 bearing; the annual yield was supposed to be 500,000 gallons, and the value of sparkling wine alone $175,000. A bushel of grapes will make from 3 to 3 gallons of juice. Mr. Buchanan commenced planting his vineyard in 1843; in 1850 from three acres he realized, besides the cuttings, 1,640 gallons wine. In 1853 he obtained from five acres 4,326 gallons, or 847 gallons per acre. In particular spots there have been obtained 800 gallons from an acre, but 650 gallons is considered a large yield. The demand for Catawba wine is far ahead of the supply, and the quality is constantly being improved, both by the cultivators and those who prepare it for market. PRODUCTION OF TOBACCO IN THE AFRICAN POSSESSIONS OF FRANCE. The cultivation of tobacco continues to increase in a remarkable manner in the African possessions of France. It results from the report of the Special Inspector of the tobacco manufactory to the Minister of War, that the delivery of the crop of 1853 amounted to 1,637,523 kilogrammes, valued at 1,436,926f., being an average of 87f. 78c. the 100 kilos. The importance of these returns will be seen by comparing them with those of the preceding year, which had already exceeded that of 1851 by 500,000 kilos., and was only 904,000 kilos.; so that there was an increase in 1853 of 733,000 kilos., nearly 100 per cent. The quality has, moreover, improved almost as much as the quantity has increased. In addition to the quantity above mentioned, received on account of the State, there have been consumed in the country 317,690 kilos., and exported 107,787 kilos., making the total production amount to 2,063,000 kilos. PRODUCTION OF HOGS IN INDIANA. The Cincinnati Price Current publishes a table, prepared by the auditor of the State of Indiana, showing the number of hogs in sixty-four counties as returned by the assessors of that State. From twenty-seven counties the returns have not yet been received. According to this statement the number of hogs in the sixty-four counties in 1854, given in the Price Current, amounted to 2,168,883 against 1,580,456, showing an increase of 588,377 in 1854 over 1853. BRIEF HISTORY OF SHEEP, AND EXPORT OF SHEEP AND WOOL. The first sheep introduced into any part of the present territory of the United States were brought from England to Jamestown, in Virginia, by the "London Company," in 1609. In 1648, the number of sheep in that colony had increased to 3,000. In 1657, sheep, as well as mares, were forbidden to be exported. In the early part of the last century they throve well and bore good fleeces, but wool raising was suffered to decline owing to the losses sustained by tearing off the wool by bushes and briers. The first sheep imported into New Netherland were brought from Holland by the "Dutch West India Company," in 1625; others were brought from Zealand and Texel to Rensselaer's Wick in 1630. But little progress was made in sheep raising on the Hudson for many years, in consequence of the ravages committed by dogs and wolves. In 1643 there were not over sixteen sheep in the colony; in 1650 they were so scarce that an animal bearing a ewe was worth from $8 to $10. Sheep were introduced into the plantations on Massachusetts Bay prior to 1633, as mention is made of keeping them on the islands in the harbor to protect them from the Indians and wolves. By the inventory of Piscataqua and Norridgewock, in 1885, that settlement contained nine-two sheep. In 1652 the increase had been so great in the vicinity of Boston, that Charleston numbered four hundred alone. Sheep were introduced into Nantucket in 1660, at the time of its first settlement by the proprietors. A prosperous business has ever since been carried on there in wool raising. The average number of sheep sustained on the island is about 7,000. Before the Revolution considerable quantities of wool were exported to France. In 1790 the number of sheep exported from Piscataqua was 261. Although the honor of first introducing Merino sheep into the United States from Spain has generally been accredited to Hon. David Humphreys, late Minister to the Court of Madrid, it will appear from the following extract of a letter from William Foster, dated at Boston, November 23, 1853, that they were brought to this country nine years before. "In April, 1793, on returning from Cadiz, where I had been passing several years, I brought out an original painting by Murillo, and three Merino sheep-two ewes and a ram; the export of which at that time was severely prohibited, and attended with much difficulty and risk. We had a long passage, (seventy-five days,) and the sheep were in a dying condition. Fortunately there was on board a Frenchman that had been with the Spanish shepherds, who cured them by administering injections. Being about to leave this country for France, soon after my arrival in Boston I presented these sheep to Mr. Andrew Craigie, of Cambridge, who, not knowing their value at that time, 'simply ate them,' as he told me years after, when I met him at auction buying a Merino ram for $1,000.” The following table shows the number, quantity, and valuation of sheep and wool exported from the United States within the last thirty three years: According to the census of 1840, there were in the United States 19,311,374 sheep; of 1850, 21,723,220, one year old or older. The present number of sheep in the Union, exclusive of lambs, may be estimated at 23,000,000, which at $2 each would amount to $46,000,000. JOURNAL OF MINING AND MANUFACTURES. THE MINING DISTRICTS OF CALIFORNIA. According to the Alta California, the great body of the gold mines now wrought in California lies at the eastern rim of the Sacramento basin, extending from the Mariposa to the Feather river, and embracing a district a degree and a half in width, commencing about twenty miles of the general course of the Sacramento and San Joaquin rivers, and reaching high into the mountains. This tract of land, about 180 miles long from northwest to southeast, and 60 miles wide, contains, so far as is known, about four-fifths of the mining wealth of the State, and has produced at least four-fifths of the gold exported heretofore. It is one continuous field, intersected by the Merced, Tuolumne, Stanislaus, Calaveras, Mokelumne, Cosumnes, American, Bear, and Yuba rivers, which run nearly west in general course, and are on an average 20 miles apart. The whole country in this district is impregnated with gold, and the miner may be almost certain of finding particles of gold in every square yard of ground where he will take the trouble to examine closely. The gravel bars, the sand and clay banks of the rivers, and the bottoms of the ravines, furnish the greater portions of the gold, but rich diggings are frequently found on the extensive flats, on the mountain sides, in the depths of the hills, and in quarry. This whole district may be said to have been opened in 1848. The first gold was discovered in February, 1848, in the center of the district where Coloma now is; and before the end of the year, miners had sought and discovered the precious metal, from the Merced to the Yuba. All the quarry mines wrought in the State at the present time are in this district, and are principally in the vicinity of Mariposa, in Mariposa county; Sonoma, in Tuolumne county; Amador and Campo Seco, in Calaveras county; Ophir, in Placer county; and Nevada and Grass Valley, in Nevada county. These quartz mines are nearly in a line, about thirty miles east of the Sacramento and San Joaquin. The gold field next in importance is in the Klamath Valley, on the Klamath, Shasta, Scott, and Trinity rivers. The first mining in this district was done on the Trinity in the spring of 1849; and the next year gold was discovered on the Scott River and the Shasta. A great portion of the Klamath Valley is but little known, on account of the distance from the centers of trade, the mountainous character of the country, and the hostility of the Indians. The Klamath Valley will have produced probably one-tenth of the gold exported this year. The third important mining district is that of the Upper Sacramento, including the diggings on Con Creek and Pitt River on the east, and Cottonwood and Clear creeks on the west of Sacramento, and yields about one-tenth of the entire gold produce of the State. The most productive diggings in this district are in the vicinity of Shasta City, One-horse Town, Olney's Creek, and French Gulch; and their vicinity contains the only profitable gold mines yet found on the western rim of the Sacramento basin. The diggings near Shasta City were opened in the Spring of 1848; those on Cottonwood and Clear creeks in 1850. These three districts comprise all the profitable mines now wrought in California, except a small tract on Smith's River, near the Oregon line. Diggings have been discovered and opened, but found unprofitable and deserted, on Russian River, in Sonoma county; on Eel River, in Mendocino county; on San Lorenzo Creek, in Santa Cruz county; at Santa Anita, in Los Angeles county; and on the beach at Gold Bluff, in Klamath county. GOLD, AND OTHER MINERALS OF CANADA. The Toronto Leader gives the following statement, based upon the report of Mr. Logan, the geologist, of mineral resources of Canada: If Canada produces no coal, it has an abundance of the precious metals, and especially gold. Of this fact there is no sort of doubt. At the present moment perhaps no greater calamity could befal the Province than the visitation of the gold fever Nevertheless, the infection is here; and however much the fever may disturb the labor market, already submitted to very violent action, there is no reason to fear that the passion for hunting gold upon the surface and within the bowels of the earth will become as great here as it is in California and Australia. Mr. Logan showed me some ten pounds weight of pure gold, picked from the surface on the River du Loup, some sixty-five miles southeast of Quebec. The only alloy it contains is from eleven to thirteen per cent of silver. It is therefore found in far too pure a state to be used in the arts, or coined without being alloyed with copper to make it of sufficient hardness. Of the gold in Mr. Logan's possession-which is not his property, however-eight pounds' weight was in a bottle. The pieces were of various sizes, some of them very small, and many of them as large as an English horse-bean. But in addition to this bottle of gold, there were several nuggets in a box, one of them weighing over half a pound. It is all surface gold that is in Mr. Logan's possession, having been picked up without the aid of any scientific process. Gold-bearing quartz, however, exists in abundance; but it is Mr. Logan's opinion, that, with unskilled labor, our gold fields cannot be rendered profitable. Mr. Logan has already stated in one of his public reports, that the gold country of Lower Canada extends over three thousand square miles. He has since discovered, and will state in his next annual report, that it extends over ten thousand square miles. It is proper to state that the ten pounds' weight of gold in the custody of Mr. Logan, cost as much if not more to obtain it than it is worth. Associated with the gold is found iridium, or white metal, nearly as hard as diamond, used for the points of gold pens. It exists, however, in very insignificant quantities. A rumor has been in circulation that Mr. Logan had some pecuniary interest in our gold regions. Discrediting the statement, I mentioned it to him, and was informed that he had not a farthing's interest in any metal or mine in the country. In the geological collection are some excellent specimens of slate found in the Eastern Townships. A specimen of French slate, which has been a century in use on the roof of a building, is also in the collection. It is now as good as the day it was first dug out of the bowels of the earth. An analysis of the two kinds shows their composition to be nearly identical. There are various kinds of Canadian marble in the collection; the handsomest of which is the serpentine. It is found in the Eastern Townships and is identical with the verde antique of Italy. There are some specimens of soap-stone also found in the Eastern Townships. The soap-stone resists fire, and is for that reason used to line furnaces. It is soft, and can be cut as easily as wood. It possesses great economic value. The lithographic stone of Canada, of which specimens are in the collection, is of a superior kind. An impression of the Crystal Palace, done in London, in this stone, is very fine. MANUFACTURE OF FELT CLOTH. The Journal of Commerce notices a public sale of felt cloths, a portion of which were made in the old style, with the wool laid but one way, and were of course liable to be torn lengthwise, besides being less serviceable in other respects, than those made under the recent patents. In connection with this explanation, a few words with regard to the method of manufacturing these goods may not be void of interest. Suppose a wool carder nine feet wide, delivering a thin layer of carded wool upon an endless sheet of cotton of the same width. It is made nine feet wide, that when filled up it may still measure a yard and a half, or the same as common broadcloth. As often as this cotton sheet, which runs upon a drum like an endless belt, returns its burden to the carder, it receives an additional layer of wool, until the proper thickness is reached, when the whole is matted together into cloth. This was the old process, but it was soon found that the wool being laid only lengthwise, there was nothing to bind it like the filling in woven fabrics, and also that when made into garments, wherever it was stretched, as at the elbow of a coat, it left the mark of the indentation, there being no mechanical cohesion in its parts, answering to the threads in ordinary fabrics, by which its original shape might be recovered. This was remedied by a new invention. While the carder is delivering the layer of wool upon the cotton sheet as above described two small carders, four feet wide, placed at right angles with the one first mentioned, spread a thin layer of wool across the sheet as it passes in its revolution, so that for every layer lengthwise, answering to the warp, there is a layer crosswise, answering to the filling of woven fabrics. This process is |