so that there may still be all the stock, and consequently all the manure that can possibly be wanted. This is a direct and natural consequence of the free importation of grain, by which the price will always be kept moderate. So, at least, the farmers in our wheat-growing districts say, and we have no doubt they are quite right. If, together with this, we learn to make such use of our clay soils as is made at Lois Weedon, while by commerce we command the surplus of all the lands of the globe, we may feel assured that in coming generations there will always be food enough for man and beast.

THE LACTOMETER.

An instrument called the lactometer, says the Boston Courier, is used, it is said, by the milk inspector of Boston to determine, when the question is raised, whether or not a specific quantity of milk has been adulterated. In order to show the utter worthlessness of this instrument, it is only necessary to present the following facts:

The milk of 42 cows was tested by this instrument, which showed a variation from 1008 to 1031; of these 42 cows, several gave milk of 1023, as shown by the lactometer, and but three as high as 1031.

Fourteen other cows' milk was tested by the lactometer, with the following results:

No. of

:

Milk, Skim milk, specific specific Cream,

Milk, Skim milk,

specific

specific Cream, No. of

gravity. gravity. pr cent.

1029

1030

8

From an examination of this table, it appears that milk may be of a high specific gravity and poor in cream, as see 1; or it may be of low specific gravity and produce a large quantity of cream, as see 4, above. It will also be noticed that the removal of cream increases the density of the milk in every case. It will be further noticed that none of the samples of a low specific gravity show a deficiency of cream. The specific gravity of the serum of milk is due mainly to the sugar contained in it.

Another test was made by taking the first milk drawn and the last of the same milking, with the following results :

An examination of the tables show that the second milks are of a much lower specific gravity than the first, and had the lactometer test above been relied on, they would have been pronounced inferior in richness to the first, a conclusion the reverse of what is shown to be the fact; as the first eight samples amounted to 61 per cent of cream, while that of the last amounted to 1414, that is to say,

more than double the percentage of cream. This fact shows how little can be known by the lactometer.

A similar test was made of ten samples of morning and evening milk, with the percentage of cream and curd. The average specific gravity of the morning milk was 1029; total of cream, 774; of curd, 693. Of the evening milk, average specific gravity, 1027; total of cream, 964; curd, 810. It appears from the above that the ordinary specific gravity of milk varies from 1031 to 1008.

Mr. FLINT, in his book on "Dairy Farming," says: "No reliable (trustwor thy) conclusion, as to whether a particular specimen of milk has been adulterated or not, can be drawn from the difference in specific gravity alone. But knowing the specific gravity, at the outset, (just what the milk inspector does not know,) of any specimen of milk, the hydrometer (lactometer) would show the amount of water added. This cheap and simple instrument is of frequent service." Not, however, for detecting adulteration in any case where the specific gravity is unknown when milked.

It is hoped, therefore, that Boston will not much longer tolerate this miserable lactometrical interference with the milk business. If it be necessary to have a milk inspector, appoint a chemist that understands organic chemistry, and how to apply it.

It is seen from the above table that skim milk is of a higher specific gravity than unskimmed milk. What then prevents the dealer from reducing skim milk to the average test of good milk by adding water, whose specific gravity is 1000, and then selling it for pure milk, according to the inspector's lactometer? Again, milk varies in its composition, as seen by the following table of ingredients in 100 parts:—

Of these analyses the first three are woman's milk; 4th and 5th, cow's; 6th and 7th, ass's; 8th, goat's; 9th, ewe's; and 10th, mare's. Of these, 1 and 4 are by Dr. LYON PLAYFAIR; 3 is the average of two analyses by HAIDLEN; 5 is the average of five analyses by PELIGOT; and 2, 5, 7, 8 and 9 are by HENRY and CHEVALLIER.

The following table gives the results of numerous analyses of cow's milk-ingredients in 100 parts:

Of these, 1 is the average of ten analyses by BOUSSINGAULT, from cows about two hundred days after calving, and fed on rather poor feed; Nos. 2 and 3 are the averages of eight analyses by PLAYFAIR, of autumn milk; all the others are by celebrated chemists. These tables will convince any one that it is no easy matter to convict a person of adulterating milk, when done by water in an ordinary degree, either by chemistry or the lactometer.

STATISTICS OF POPULATION, &c.

POPULATION OF OHIO.

The National Democrat gives a table of the census returns of the Northern District of Ohio, by counties, contrasted with the census returns of 1850, and the Cincinnati Enquirer publishes a table of the population of the Southern District, as taken by the Marshal, with the single exception of Hamilton County. This is not given, as the returns for Cincinnati are not yet fully revised, and there will be probably several thousand names from the more thickly-settled wards to add to the enumeration of 162,000, which was the last footing ascertained. The following is a table of the population of Ohio, by counties, arranged alphabetically:--

POPULATION OF MICHIGAN.

The United States Marshal has furnished the Detroit Free Press the results of the census recently taken by his deputies in this State. In two districts the population has been estimated. The figures in the others are reported as official. The table we subjoin shows the results of the census of 1850, and that of 1854, (taken under State authority,) as well as the late returns, and we take it entire from the paper referred to:

The above figures are all taken from the official returns, excepting one district of Washtenaw County and two of Calhoun, in which the census is not yet completed. The estimates of these districts are based upon the proportionate increase of the other districts in the same counties from which returns have been received, and the variation will not probably be one hundred from correct.

These figures make the increase of population in the State since the census of 1850, 352,315. The increase since the State census of 1854 has been 240,595.

*And twenty-one unorganized counties.

+ Included in Michilimackinae and twenty-one unorganized counties in the census of 1850.

Partly estimated.

Otherwise enumerated.

No returns.

§ Included in Saginaw at the last census. ** Included in Ottawa at the last census.

CENSUS OF BROOKLYN AND KINGS COUNTY.

The following are the official returns of the census of the city of Brooklyn and county of Kings, as prepared by Mr. THOMAS P. MORRIS, Superintendent of Kings County Census. The population of 1855 is also given, in order to show the difference as compared with the census of 1860:

The increase in the city of Brooklyn over 1855 is 60,473. The 19th ward having been set off from the old 7th ward, accounts for the apparent decrease in the latter ward; but it is certainly strange that the returns should show a decrease of population in the 4th ward.

POPULATION OF KANSAS.

We publish below the census of the territory, as taken by the United States Marshal, by counties. This does not include the census of any portion of the territory west of the 6th principal meridian, but only of the counties included within the limits of the State of Kansas as prescribed in the Wyandotte Constitution. The population of the Pike's Peak region amounts to about 75,000 in addition :

POPULATION OF LOUISVILLE, KENTUCKY.

The population of the city of Louisville, as returned by the Assistant Marshal for taking the eighth census, is as follows:

Total.... 16,319 8,105 6,200 5,166 5,231 7,593 6,835 14,777 70,226