POPULATION OF IRELAND FROM 1805 TO 1853.

EDWARD SINGLETON, Esq., the Secretary, Census Commissioners, gives, under date Census Office, Dublin, August, 1854, the subjoined return, showing the population of Ireland, from 1805 to 1853, as far as the same has been ascertained:

The number of persons returned for 1805 is the result of a computation made in that year by Major Newenham, based upon the returns furnished by the collectors of hearth money. The population for 1813 is partly the result of an enumeration and partly of computation, no returns having been made for the following places, namely, the cities of Limerick and Kilkenny, and the counties of Meath, Westmeath, Wexford, Cavan, Donegal, and Sligo. The population for 1821, 1831, 1841, and 1851 is taken from the census returns made in these years under specific acts of Parliament.

The population as shown in this return for the intermediate years has been computed from the increases which took place between the periods from 1805 to 1813, from 1813 to 1821, from 1821 to 1881, from 1831 to 1841, and at the same rate from 1841 to 1846. In 1847, and the succeeding years, a considerable decrease is known to have taken place, but the annual amount is not known.

FIGURES ABOUT THE POPULATION OF THE WORLD.

We find the following statements in one of our exchanges. We cannot vouch for the entire accuracy of all the figures. Some of the statements are undoubtedly correct; others we have not found time to investigate. Perhaps some mathematical student of the Merchants' Magazine-and there are many such—will enlighten us and our readers on the subject:

The number of languages spoken in the world amounts to 8,064; 587 in Europe, 896 in Asia, 276 in Africa, and 1,264 in America. The inhabitants of the globe profess more than 1,000 different religions. The number of men is about equal to the number of women. The average of human life is about 28 years. One quarter die previous to the age of 7 years; one-half before reaching 17; and those who pass this age, enjoy a facility refused to one-half the human species. To every 1,000 persons, only one reaches 100 years of life; to every 100, only six reach the age of 65; and not more than one in 500 lives to see 80 years of age. There are on earth 1,000,000,000 inhabitants; and of these 33,333,333 die every year, 91,334 every day, 3,780 every hour, and 60 every minute, or 1 every second. These losses are about balanced by an equal number of births. The married are longer-lived than the single, and, above all, those who observe a sober and industrious conduct. Tall men live longer than short ones. Women have more chances of life in their favor previous to being 50 years of age than men have, but fewer afterwards. The number of marriages is in proportion of 75 to every 1,000 individuals. Marriages are more frequent after the equinoxes-that is, during the months of June and December. Those born in the spring are the most robust. Births and deaths are most frequent by night. The number of men capable of bearing arms is calculated at one-fourth of the population.

STATISTICS OF AGRICULTURE, &c.

DIVISION OF LABOR-IMPROVED AND UNIMPROVED LANDS.

[FROM THE CINCINNATI GAZETTE.]

For four or five years past, it must have been apparent to every careful observer of current events, that labor in the United States has not been distributed in a manner calculated to promote the best interests of the laborer or the country at large. This is attributable mainly to the progressive spirit of the age, under the influence of which people became restless in their respective positions, and too anxious to accumulate wealth. The various modes under which people had previously acquired property were unadapted to the times. Everybody wanted to get rich, and to get rich at once. Views on this point were likewise expanded, and what would previously have been regarded as a competency, was looked upon as a very moderate capital to start upon. Then the country was converted into a field for speculative operations; and the attention of the great majority of the population was turned from the prosecution of interests that underlie all others, to merchandising, stock speculations, money dealing, etc. People did not stop to reflect that only a certain amount of money was in the country; and that all supposed profits were realized by having them transfered from one party to another; that this sudden transfer, and the general inflation in the value of everything purchasable, would, in accordance with the settled laws of trade, react; and that under this reaction capital would take to itself wings, and depart. The days of supposed prosperity were experienced. Men counted their riches by thousands, tens of thousands, and hundreds of thousands. The effect of a reaction is now to be seen, as it is felt, on every hand. The riches, which consisted of stocks, bonds, houses, lands, &c., are not available, except at greatly reduced prices; and even at low figures, sales cannot be made to any great extent. Parties who have money are disposed to hold it.

This state of things has brought matters to a point, from which parties can readily discover the great and fatal errors into which the country at large has fallen. It is now evident that all other than agricultural pursuits receive too much attention, and that the latter was greatly neglected; thus labor was improperly divided, and although this for a time secured for the latter a high nominal compensation, it has really operated against the interests of that class. What advantage has a man who receives two dollars per day, and pays one dollar and fifty cents for a living, over a man who receives the latter amount and pays one dollar? The profits in both cases are alike. When labor and living advance in proportion, neither the laborer nor the producer can be benefited. Such advances result from inflation; and secure imaginary, not real wealth. Actual wealth can only result from Production. Yet we have been estimating a large increase of wealth, while our productions have, if anything, diminished, and our imports from foreign countries largely increased. Our population instead of mining, manufacturing, or cultivating the soil, have been heavy consumers of foreign manufactures; and a large portion of our people have been laying down foreign iron over the richest coal and iron beds in the world. Thus, while supporting the manufacturing interests of Europe, we have been producing hardly sufficient to feed ourselves. Millions of acres of lands have not been cultivated, and millions more have been only half or quarter tilled. But even with the heavy foreign imports, had our agricultural interests been properly attended to, the effects of the extravagance and imprudence that have been practiced, would not be felt to any serious extent. Last year the English and French markets would have taken from us three or four times the amount of breadstuffs that we furnished, had we been able to supply such a demand; and we would have been able, had a portion of the forces that were otherwise employed been engaged in agricultural pursuits; and not only so, but supplies would have been furnished to home consumers at reasonable prices. Instead of the latter, the most exorbitant rates prevailed for every article of breadstuffs and provisions. This is also the case now. The leading articles of food are everywhere scarce. There is a demand for cereals abroad, but we have not the supply to meet it. Our current rates, which are based on meagre receipts, prohibit shipments. It is true that the season was an unfavorable one, but the difficulties arising from this cause would have been measurably obviated by an increased cultivation. In the latter respect, the

United States has the advantage of all other countries. The question with us is not how much we can produce, but how much we will produce. The extent of the production depends on the amount of labor bestowed. This is evident from the large amount of unimproved land in the country. In five of the Western States we find over fifty two million acres of land, only twenty-three million of which are improved. These lands are distributed as follows:

Supposing the forces that have been employed in the construction of railroads that are now unfinished and almost worthless, with those who have been engaged in other unfortunate enterprises, had been distributed through the country, and had devoted their labor, enterprise, and money to the cultivation of lands, the State of Ohio would to-day be millions of dollars richer than she is. Now, food is scarce and dear, while labor is plenty and depreciating. This is a condition of things that must operate with terrible severity upon a large class of our people.

It is a great evil, however, that does not produce some good. Though our present difficulties are of fearful magnitude, changes that will prove permanently beneficial are likely to grow out of them. The movements that are going on in all the leading cities of the United States at this time promise to lead to a more equal distribution of labor. Thousands will remove from this city next spring to engage in agricultural pursuits, and tens of thousands who have been crowding every avenue to employment in other cities, will do likewise. Thus, forces will be transferred from places where there is a large surplus to fields where they are in demand. Men of some means will also remove. Tired of the uncertainties and harassments of business life, they will give their attention to agricultural pursuits. Thus this great interest will receive an impetus that will very soon add hundreds of millions to the real wealth of the country.

THE CULTURE OF HEMP AND FLAX.

Mr. W. D. Porter, in a communication to the National Intelligencer, presents some interesting facts in relation to the export and demand for hemp and flax, and the inducements to their increased culture in this country. According to the statistics he has gathered, the import of hemp and flax into Great Britain was as follows: In 1820, 28,238,000 pounds; in 1839, 122,374,000 pounds; being an increase during these years of 94,136,000 pounds. In 1840, there were imported into Great Britain, 127,830,480 pounds of flax, and 69,744,936 pounds of hemp. In 1849, the amount had risen to 184,292,000 pounds of flax, and 108,250,000 pounds hemp; the average import during these two years being 139,379,848 pounds flax, and 82,665,556 pounds hemp. Russia exported to Great Britain in 1847, 55,000,000 lbs. hemp, and the United States only 127,806 lbs., making a difference in favor of Russia of 54,875,000 lbs. England also requires an annual supply of 650,000 quarters of linseed to be used as seed for crushing purposes; this requires an outlay of $600,000, which goes principally to Russian northern ports. Besides this, Austria produces about 3,000,000 lbs. hemp; Denmark, 1,788,000 lbs. These countries will be the most affected by the war, and the above great commercial staple will for a while at least be cut off from a market, so far as most of the above-mentioned nations are concerned. Russia exported to the United States in 1853 about 2,000 tons. There is now on hand about 1,500 tons; the price of which is in cash $400, and on time $500 per ton. There will be required for 1854, for the navy and commercial marine, 33,500,000 lbs., and for other domestic purposes 5,000 tons. No Russiau hemp will be imported into this country this year; the demand will therefore be for all purposes of home consumption, and to meet the demand abroad, 113,400,000 lbs. of hemp, which amount must be raised by the American agriculturist; the value of which is in round numbers about $24,000,000. These few facts are thrown out that our Western hemp growers may take the hint.

HISTORY AND STATISTICS OF RICE.

Rice, the chief food, perhaps, of one-third of the human race, possesses advantages over wheat, maize, and other grains, of preserving plenty during the fluctuations of trade, caused by war, famine, or short crops, and is also susceptible of cultivation on land too low and moist for the production of most other useful plants. Like several other bread-plants in common use, it is never found wild,* nor is its native country known, unless we except the statement of the Danish missionary, Klein, that he found it growing spontaneously in India, which is doubted by some. Linnæus considered it as a native of Ethiopia, while others regard it of Asiatic origin.

Rice was first introduced into Virginia by Sir William Berkeley, in 1647, who received half a bushel of seed, from which he raised sixteen bushels of an excellent quality, most or all of which was sown the following year.

This grain is stated to have been first brought into Charleston, South Carolina, by a Dutch brig from Madagascar, in 1694, the captain of which left about a peck of paddy (rice in the husk) with Governor Thomas Smith, who distributed it among his friends for cultivation. Another account of its introduction into Carolina is, that Ashby was encouraged to send a bag containing 100 pounds of seed rice to that province, from the crops of which 60 tons were shipped to England in 1698; while Darymaple maintains that rice in Carolina is the result of a small bag of paddy sent as a present from Dubois, Treasurer of the "East India Company," to a Charleston trader. Upland or mountain rice was introduced into Charleston from Canton, by John Bradby Blake, in 1772.

The culture of rice was introduced into Louisiana by the "Company of the West," in 1718.

The amount of rice exported from Charleston, South Carolina, in 1724, was 18,000 barrels ; in 1731, 41,957 barrels; in 1740, 90,110 barrels; in 1747-48, 55,000 barrels; in 1754, 104,682 barrels; in 1760-61, 100,000 barrels.

From Savannah, in 1755, 3,299 barrels, besides 237 bushels of rough rice; in 1760, 8,283 barrels, and 208 bushels of rough rice; in 1770, 22,120 barrels, besides 7,064 bushels of rough rice.

From Philadelphia, in 1771, 258,375 pounds.

The amount of rice exported from this country in 1770, was 150,529 barrels; in 1791, 96,980 tierces of 600 pounds each; in 1800, 112,056 tierces; in 1810, 131,341 tierces.

The following table shows the quantity of domestic rice, and its valuation, exported from the United States for the last thirty-three years:—

According to the census of 1840, the rice crop of the United States amounted to 80,841,422 pounds; of 1850, 215,313,497 pounds; showing an increase of 134,472,075 pounds. The amount of rice cultivated in the Union in 1853, may be estimated at 250,000,000 pounds, which, at 34 cents, would be worth $8,750,000.

It is to be understood that the wild rice, or water-oat, (Zizania aquatica,) which grows along the muddy shores of our tidal and inland waters, is a distinct plant from the commen rice, and should not be confounded with it.

THE PRODUCTION OF BARLEY.

It is a remarkable fact that we are still in uncertainty whether barley grows wild in the Old World; and if so, in what region this occurs. Even the authors of antiquity were at variance as to whence barley, as well as wheat, the grains chiefly used at that time, had been derived. It has been cultivated in Syria and Egypt for more than three thousand years, and it was not until after the Romans adopted the use of wheat bread that they fed this grain to their stock, as is practiced by the Spaniards and Italians at the present day. It is evidently a native of a warm climate, as it is known to be the most productive in a mild season; still its flexibility is so remarkable, that it will grow on the Himalayas at an elevation of from 10,000 to 13,000 feet above the level of the sea, and mature in favorable seasons and situations on the Eastern Continent as far north as 72°.

The introduction of barley into the North American colonies may be traced back to the periods of their settlements. It was sown by Gosnold, together with other English grains, on Martha's Vineyard and the Elizabeth Islands, in 1602, and by the colonists of the "London Company," in Virginia, in 1611. By the year 1648, it was raised in abundance in that colony; but soon after its culture was suffered to decline in consequence of the more profitable and increased production of tobacco.

Barley appears to have been cultivated in New Netherland as early as the year 1626, as samples of the harvest of that year, raised by the colonists of Manhattan island, were sent to Holland, with other grains, as an evidence of their prosperity.

According to the records of the "Governor and Company of the Massachusetts Bay in New England," barley was introduced into that colony in 1629. In 1633 good crops were raised in Lynn.

In 1796 the chief agricultural product of the isle of Rhode Island was barley, considerable quantities of which were raised.

Barley has never been cultivated much in the United States, nor has it entered extensively into our foreign commerce, as we have been consumers rather than producers of this grain. It has been chiefly employed for malting and distillation, and also in considerable quantities as a substitute for sago or rice, after being hulled.

According to the census returns of 1840, the amount of barley raised in the United States, the year preceding, was 4,161,504 bushels; of 1850, 5,167,015 bushels; showing an increase of 1,005,511 bushels. The amount of the barley crop of the United States in 1853, may be estimated at 6,590,000 bushels; which, at 75 cents per bushel, would be worth $4,875,000.

PRODUCTION OF BROOM CORN.

In the Mohawk Valley, New York, vast quantities of this crop are annually grown' Pennsylvania, Ohio and Connecticut are the next largest producers of it. Its origin, as a cultivated plant in this country, is attributed to Dr. Franklin. It is a native of India. Franklin saw an imported whisk of corn in the possession of a lady in Philadelphia, and while examining it, as a curiosity, found a seed which he planted, and from this small beginning arose this valuable product of industry in the United States. In the same manner, England and America are indebted for the weeping willow, to the poet Pope, who finding a green stick in a basket of figs sent to him, as a present, from Turkey, stuck it in his garden at Twickenham, and thence propagated this beautiful tree.

Broom corn is of a different genus from Indian corn. They will not mix. In the Mohawk flats the best cultivators of it sow with a drill as early in spring as the ground will admit, in rows, three and a half feet apart. As soon as it is above ground it is hoed, and soon after thinned to three inches apart. It is only hoed in the row to remove the weeds near the plants; the harrow and cultivator are then run through to keep down the weeds, and a small double mouldboard plow is run shallow between the rows. It is not left to ripen, but cut green. It is not lopped till ready to cut. One set of hands goes forward and lops or bends the tops on one side; another follows and cuts them off when bent; a third gathers them in carts or wagons. At the factory they are sorted over and put into bunches, each bunch of brush of equal length. The seed is then taken off by a sort of hatchel, worked by six horses. It is then spread thin to dry on racks in a building for the purpose. In about a week it can be packed away closely. The brooms are made in winter, about 75,000 dozen to each 100 acres of land. The stalks are left on the ground to be plowed in the next spring. For the handles a peculiar lathe, turned by horse power, is used, which manufactures them with great rapidity.-Farmer's Companion and Horticultural Gazette.