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The observations have been made as last year, at the hours required by the Smithsonian Institute, viz.: Sunrise, 9 A.M., 3 P.M., and 9 P.M.

The amount of rain and melted snow for the year is 55.90 inches; being 4.66 inches more than in the year 1850, though the amount for that year was more than is thought to be the annual average. This amount, as will be seen by the table above, was not very equally distributed through the year--being for the month of May, 15.46 inches; and for the month of August, 9.85 inches; while for the month of March, it was only .55 of an inch; and for the month of November, 1.63 inches.

The rains in the month of May occurring mostly in the latter part of the month; amounting on the last day of the month to 4.5 inches, raised the Rock River to a great height, causing a flood which did great damage, carrying off animals, bridges, and dams.

The amount of snow which fell in the winter of 1850-51, was greater than in the winter previous, being about 15 inches; but was so equally distributed through the winter, as to afford but little sleighing.

The past year is considered usually productive, though some of the crops were greatly injured. The spring was very backward, more so even than the year before, though the temperature was a little higher. The heavy rains of May greatly delayed the planting of the corn, on which account it was at first feared that there would be but a small crop; but the mild fall, and the delay of hard frost, gave time for the corn to ripen, and become a good crop.

The yield of grass was very heavy. The wheat was comparatively a failure; much of the spring wheat, especially the hedge-row, being greatly injured by the blight. Hundreds of acres were not harvested. The winter wheat, and some kinds of spring wheat, however, did usually well, furnishing a great abundance beyond what is necessarily consumed. The crop of oats was very heavy. The potatoe was very light, not being injured so much by the rot as by the blight; a kind of indefinite term, by-the-by, given to some cause which seems to elude the search of the agriculturalist. Some portions of the State, it is understood, being almost destitute of this important vegetable.

Some farmers in this region have commenced the raising of flax, which gives a profitable yield, and is destined to be a crop of much importance, both on account of the seed and stalk.

The fact can but be fully impressed upon the mind of every observant person, that most, if not all, of the difficulties which attend the labors of the husbandman in our State would be entirely removed, were a better, a more thorough and faithful system of culture introduced.

No farmer in New England, or even in the fruitful State of New York, would have the temerity to expect a crop from so lax a system of culture. The con-