TOWN SHIP OF RIGA.

25

part of the State of New York, which is perhaps the mostproductive region for wheat in North America. No cleanfallows nor any expensive fallow crops, such as turnips, arenecessary to keep the land in good condition and free fromweeds.

On one of the Riga farms which we visited, extending to230 acres, we found 80 acres in wheat, 11^ in barley, 14 Indiancorn, 25 woods, the rest pasture and clover. In 1853, thecrops of wheat averaged 40 bushels to the acre; in 1854,only 25 bushels. As indicating the natural capabilities of theland, we were shown a field on which a heavy crop of Indiancorn had grown in 1852, it was sown next spring withbarley, which produced 50 bushels to the acre, then sown withwheat in autumn, and this year it had yielded 40 bushels peracre. On this farm a field of clover was in course of beingploughed up and sown with wheat; it had been in wheatthis year, but the farmer was complaining that the plant ofclover was bad, while in our opinion it was a most excellentone. Mr. Harris remarked that this was surely a mereexcuse for getting a little more sown with wheat, while theprices were good : 100 sheep are kept on this farm, besides 10or 15 cattle, which are reared and sold when two years old.

On another farm of 208 acres there were 40 in woods,12 permanent pasture, 7 Indian corn, 12 oats, 10 pease, 65wheat, the rest in clover. About 1000 bushels of wheatwere thrashed this year, 500 last, and 2000 the year before.The seasons appear to influence the yield of wheat far morethan they do in Britain. The flock of sheep yielded 400dollars last year. Leicester sheep do not seem to thrivewell where so much of the land is cleared, for frequently thewhole flock are seen during the heat of the day standingcrowded together with their heads all down.

It is almost the universal practice to sow clover amongthe wheat in spring, and at the same time to give the field adressing of 100 lbs. of gypsum, which has a wonderful effecton some crops. The clover is benefited more than any otherplant; though pease, potatoes, and Indian corn have often newlife imparted to them by a light dressing of this substance,which is almost the only artificial manure used in the Western