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Emperor forms a good large firm head, but the best of the five was Carter's Matchless, having the largest and best formed head of any of those experimented with. Several of the others are very good, but later, especially Robinson's Champion Drumhead, which grows to an immense size.

SAVOYS.

The following kinds have been tested :

Feather Stem Savoy, Dwarf Ulm, Dwarf Green Curled, Drumhead. The Dwarf Ulm Savoy is the earliest and decidedly the best. The Drumhead is also very good.

LETTUCE.

Fourteen varieties of lettuce have been tested.

Snow's Matchless, Hardy Hammersmith, Moor Park, and Neapolitan are the best, and much deserving of further experiment. Wheeler's Tom Thumb is very good, said to be, by the raiser of the seed imported, the smallest, prettiest, and finest flavored lettuce in cultivation. It has proved itself to be so bere. Some of the others are tolerably good, but not equal to those men

tioned.

ONIONS.

Thirteen sorts of onions have been grown, viz:

James Keeping, White Globe, Brown Globe, Brown Portugal, White Portugal, White Spanish, Giant Madeira, Nuneham Park, White Lisbon, Danvers New Yellow, Silver Skinned, Red Italian Tripoli, Blood Red.

The onions were sown on the 29th of March, the seed being drilled in three feet apart. They were kept clear of weeds, and the earth constantly stirred with horse hoes and cultivators all summer. The Giant Madeira, White Lisbon, and Red Italian Tripoli have yielded immensely; the others have turned out tolerably well, but are not so large in size. Specimens of the Giant Madeira weigh 14 pound, White Lisbon 12 ounces, and Red Italian Tripoli 14 ounces, respectively. All of the different kinds of seeds not enumerated in any of the above lots, but tested here, have turned out, with few exceptions, to be very good. Some of them require to be harvested before much can be said regarding their merits. About thirty-six varieties of seeds were received from Japan. They were all put into the ground, but scarcely one-half of the different kinds came up. There is something very peculiar in the most of those which have grown, and all are evidently new varieties unknown in this country.

There is a cucumber which beats anything grown on the grounds here, for size and productiveness; all the seeds of this kind are being carefully preserved for distribution. Some of the beans promise to be good, but they are not far enough advanced to judge of them sufficiently. There were several varieties of seeds sown which came from Vienna; among them is a white curled endive, which is one of the finest grown. It seems to do well here, and is much superior to the others. There are also six varieties of radishes growing, and there is a white variety called the white monthly radish which is very fine, and pronounced by those who have tested its qualities to be superior to anything they have ever tasted. There are four varieties of Kohl rabi, which are quite distinct from the common English kinds, seeming to be of much finer quality, and likely to be better adapted for domestic purposes.

TOMATOES.

Several varieties of tomatoes have been tested, but the Tilden, and Carter's Yellow tomato from London, England, are the best. The Tilden merits all

that has been said about it by those who have recommended it to public notice; but Carter's Yellow far surpasses it in richness and quality of flesh. Seed of this kind is being carefully saved for further experiment.

POTATOES.

Forty-three varieties of potatoes are being tested. Eight of them are directly from the celebrated growers of seedling potatoes, viz., Messrs. Paterson & Son, Dundee, Scotland, and are named, respectively, Paterson's Early, Paterson's Blue, Paterson's Victoria, Paterson's Scotch Blue, Paterson's Alexandra, Paterson's Regent, Paterson's Napoleon, Paterson's Red. These all have great reputations in their native country, but time will develop what they will do here. They look very well and appear to yield good crops here also. The other varieties are very promising and are likely to turn out well. When they are gathered, the ground will be measured, and the quantity produced of each particular kind will be weighed, so that an estimate of their produce per acre may be ascertained. The Goodrich Early keeps ahead of any of the varieties tested, for earliness, although the Samaritan is not far behind it, but does not yield as largely.

MELONS.

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Upwards of thirty kinds of cantaloupes and watermelons have been tested. Among the cantaloupes and muskmelons, particularly, there is one from Spain, which has been very much regarded as superior to anything hitherto grown in this country. There is also one called Michies's netted muskmelon, a very superior variety. Several of those from Buenos Ayres and Port Mahon are very good also. The watermelons were late planted, but notwithstanding the coolness of the season they have grown amazingly. There is a watermelon from China which puts all the others in the shade for sweetness, firmness of flesh, and general good qualities; the seed of this kind is perfectly white. There are also some from Russia which have grown well and are very good, having a very thin rind, and the flesh firm and solid.

Several kinds of pumpkins and squashes have also been planted, but at this time have not sufficiently matured to speak of them definitely.

One kind of tobacco was grown which was sent to you from Turkey, without any name, but which, from its appearance while growing, resembles the Latakia tobacco. It is quite different from any of the known varieties of tobacco grown in this country. It does not produce such an amount of leaves as some of the others the leaves being wider apart on the stem-but they are much thinner and finer in quality. All the seed has been carefully saved off this lot, and will be distributed from the department.

On a place like this, where so many varieties of seeds have been tested, it is almost impossible to arrive at a fair conclusion with one year's experiments; but by carefully comparing the different qualities of each separate variety, and experimenting in succeeding years with those known to be good, and compar ing them with new varieties, a more reliable opinion will be arrived at, and also better methods of managing and securing the different kinds of seeds, so that only those which can be relied on will be secured; as it is almost impossible on so limited a space to keep some kinds from hybridizing.

Hon. I. NEWTON,

GEORGE REID.

REPORT OF THE ENTOMOLOGIST.

SIR: During the past year most of my time and attention have been given to the agricultural and economic museum under my charge. This museum or cabinet, illustrating, as it does, in the most practical way, the relations existing between the farmer's insect enemies and his feathered friends, will, when thoroughly established and systematized, form the foundation for a most complete course of instruction in entomology and ornithology as connected with agriculture and horticulture.

Entomology, as a useful science, and to be practicable where most needed, must be placed before those whom it is to benefit in a language which they can understand, and in intimate connexion with the objects of their daily interest and care. Hence the great importance attached to perfecting this system of ocular instruction, and hence, also, as far as possible in this report, terms recognized as peculiar to pure science are avoided; the aim being to come at once to facts in plain words to talk with the farmer where he lives, and show him by the results of actual investigation wherein his safety lies. Since the opening of this museum every effort has been made, and much private capital spent, to add to it everything desirable that came within reach, besides giving the free use of my own library and collection of birds, insects, insect-plates and model fruits, for the benefit of all coming here for information.

The voluntary contributions for the year, as will be seen by the list appended, though not as numerous as might have been wished, have still added much to the interest of the collection. As no funds have been appropriated for the purpose, many of the skins of birds and animals sent by correspondents from the west have not yet been mounted, and therefore do not appear on exhibition. One of the most successful collectors of specimens, and one to whom the department owes many thanks, is Mr. Allen Crocker, of Kansas. A like attention from others would soon enrich the museum with all that is desirable in the way of natural history.

The insects sent for identification have been almost countless, though comprising few that are new; many, however, are interesting from facts and observations connected with them, as mentioned by correspondents.

Letters of inquiry in regard to insects, their depredations, and the best methods of prevention, have been very numerous from all parts of the country. These have all been answered promptly, and with the request repeated from last year's report, that farmers who try the remedies there proposed for the destruction of noxious insects would report to this department the results of those trials, so that the successful ones may be registered for future use, and the useless ones be thrown out of print as soon as may be. As yet this request has scarcely been heeded, owing, probably, to the fact that the limited number of reports allowed to the department for distribution did not permit of its being put into the hands of multitudes who would have taken deep interest in helping on this work. Hundreds of disappointed applicants, both personally and by letter, from the working and experimenting classes of farmers, attest the truth of this. It is among them that the documents of this department should be most freely distributed, as it is from them we are to obtain the facts most needed to guide science in her mission of usefulness.

The cereals received since last report have been very few, and, with one or two exceptions, not of extraordinary quality. California, Oregon, and Colorado have sent some small samples of very beautiful wheat, and some fine oats, barley, and rye.

The interest in fibres has continued unabated. Specimens have come in from nearly every section of the country, but only in small parcels, simply to show the variety of fibre-producing plants at our command. Fine cottons have been sent from California and the Sandwich Islands, where large quantities were raised in 1865.

Several of our consuls at foreign ports have interested themselves in collecting and forwarding to this department articles of value, among which may be mentioned the fine case of China grass, (Bohmeria nivea,) and the dressed fibre, yarns and fabrics of the same, from the manufactory of Messrs. Ward & Sons, Bradford, England, through G.D. Abbott, esq., United States consul at Sheffield. The fineness and toughness of this fibre, together with its beautiful lustre, promise to make it a valuable addition to manufacturing materials. A correspondent writing from London, England, says of it: "The experiments in the cultivation and manufacture of the plants, made by Colonel Nicolle, in the island of Jersey, enable him to state with entire certainty that the yield of China grass per acre is as great as lucerne, or about forty tons of green matter, of which eighteen tons yield one ton of fibre. The plants attain great perfection in the climate of Jersey, which is very similar to that of Maryland."

The Phormium tenax, or New Zealand flax, is also highly spoken of by the same correspondent, successful experiments having been made in the manufac ture of cloth and rope therefrom. Small samples of these have been received, and are now in the museum.

Some fine specimens of Spanish merino pure and graded wools have been received from California. From other States very little has come in, and, indeed, it is at present quite as well so, as, in the crowded condition of our rooms there is no place in which they could be safely kept. Nearly all the parcels of wool that were on hand at the organization of the museum, with many since received, have been destroyed by moths, which it has been impossible to prevent for want of air-tight cases and proper fumigating apparatus. Until such safeguards are provided, it will be with the greatest difficulty, even with the constant use of benzine, that the mounted specimens now in the collection can be preserved; and wool in parcels being peculiarly liable to the depredations of the moth, cannot be kept any length of time without proper protection, such as the means now at command do not afford.

The museum is indebted to J. H. McNall, esq., of North Star, Pennsylvania, for a skin of a pure-bred Angora goat, and also to B. K. Tully, esq., of Rus sellville, Kentucky, for one seven-eighths Angora, both of which have been mounted and are on exhibition, together with some fine samples of Angora wools of various grades.

Through V. D. Collins, esq., now in China, we have received a number of cases of insects peculiar to that country, with a variety of papers, fibres, models of farming implements, irrigating machinery, and other articles, many of which, however, are mere matters of curiosity.

The department is under obligations to Messrs. Vilmorin, Andrieux & Co., celebrated florists of Paris, France, for a full set of the beautiful colored plates of flowers and vegetables, comprising the "Album Vilmorin," and also for a variety of seeds of rare flowers for propagation in the department garden.

Our collection of silk in cocoons and reeled samples has been increased by valuable contributions from the Bohemian Agricultural Society, through the Austrian minister of commerce, and also from M. Guerin Meneville, of Paris, who presented a choice variety to me for that purpose during my late visit to France.

In regard to experiments made in this country with the Attacus cynthia, or Chinese Ailanthus silk-worm, there seems very little to be said that is encouraging. The eggs and cocoons of the insect were widely distributed throughout the country, but the reports from them have been very meagre. Some who have written state that the worms when hatched were totally neglected, and so perished. From only one correspondent have we a satisfactory account. Mr. John Akhurst, of Brooklyn, New York, writes under date of November 21, 1865, as follows:

"I received last spring thirty-six cocoons of the Cynthia, with the request that I would report to you my success at the close of the season. I am pleased to say that, so far, all is extremely favorable. From the thirty-six cocoons I have reared upwards of 10,000 cocoons. The greater number were reared in the open air, many in the most exposed situations. Still I found them to thrive remarkably well.

"One fact is proved beyond a doubt, that two broods can be reared with certainty within one season. The second brood of this season proved stronger, and the cocoons much larger than those of the spring brood.

"The Rev. Dr. Morris, of Baltimore, in his paper of 1861, says, 'about ten per cent. of the first brood hatch during the summer.' In this there is a great mistake. I find from seventy-five to seventy-eight per cent. made their appear-ance, although I had them in a very cool place.

"There remains no doubt in my mind of the success of the experiment, and I believe that with very little care and expense great quantities of silk can be raised in this country. I shall continue to rear the Cynthia next season, and will report my success, whatever it may be."

The cocoons of the Cynthia which I kept for myself produced fine, healthy moths, which, after pairing, laid their eggs upon the inside of the box in which they were kept. The eggs hatched well, and in due time the cocoons were spun, losing only about eight or ten per cent. of the caterpillars. Unfortunately for the next brood, I was obliged to go to Paris, and had to leave the cocoons in care of another person, who reported that several moths came out and laid eggs,. but the worms when hatched proved sickly, refused to eat, and so died without. making cocoons.

The simple question as to whether the Cynthia can be acclimated here, and: will make silk from the ailanthus, no longer admits of doubt. Mr. Gallaher, of this city, has succeeded in reeling the cocoons, and finds the silk even, of fine texture, and good strength. A specimen reeled may be seen in the museum. The utility of the Cynthia here, or, indeed, the practicability of silk-raising at all to any extent in this country, with labor at its present price, is the real question of doubt, and that is not left with individuals to settle, but with the laws which control commerce and regulate demand and supply.

In perfecting the system of instruction upon which this museum is based,. small cases covered with glass have been procured, in each of which are arranged the various fibres, silks, &c., beginning with the seed and going through. the different stages of growth and manufacture, so that the whole process may be seen at a single glance. This is found peculiarly advantageous in giving explanations, and is very satisfactory to those seeking to inform themselves in regard to any product and its uses. In short, the entire collection is intended as an object library of reference for all time; the design being, if permitted and encouraged to go on with it, to have all the economic products of our country represented here and so arranged, and to make the collection such a centre of useful information, that the department cannot afford to do without it. A national museum of this kind is demanded by the needs of the people; and the system, at once minute in detail and comprehensive in scope and aim, upon which the nucleus is based, is capable of being extended through every branch of husbandry and

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