However, after all the necessities of the country have been satisfied there generally remains an important surplus of agricultural and rural products, when the crop is good, that may be calculated over $1,200,000.00. The wheat grown in Uruguay is reputed to be the best in all South America, and effectively got the gold medal in the Universal Paris Exhibition in the year 1878. In this country one _fanega_ of wheat (the fanega is equivalent to 105 or 113 kilogs more or less) produces sometimes from 20 to 30 fanegas; one of maize produces from 150 to 200, one of barley from 18 to 30. Besides wheat and maize, the sowing of which is most important, the grape vine, the olive, tobacco, flax, canary-seed, hemp, chick-pea, beans of all kinds, potatoes, (two crops a year,) peas, lentils, Spanish potatoes, beet-roots, etc., etc., are also cultivated with very good results. As we have said, the vegetables are produced in a great variety and abundance. The tobacco culture is also a new source of wealth opened to the economical movement of the country. Although this industry still goes rather slowly, there are already many establishments in the interior where it has been undertaken with very good results. Agricultural Centres. Many are the agricultural centres, generally known by the name of _colonies_, established all over the Republic, that, owing to the special conditions of the land which is fit for all cultures, have notably improved. Among the principal colonies, or agricultural settlements, there are: 1st. The _Valdense Colony_, founded in 1858. It has an area of 19,432 square cuadras (14,338 hectares 5,035 metres). Its population in 1884 was 306 families, forming a total of 1,681 inhabitants. To-day, there are more than 2,200 inhabitants. It possesses the best agricultural machinery, steam-mills, and steam and water mills, good carpenters, blacksmiths, and in a word all the establishments necessary to the unceasing progress of such agricultural centres. It has two Evangelical churches, a public library with over a thousand books, eight schools, a postoffice, a municipal commission and a police office. 2d. _Swiss_, _Quevedo_ and _Spanish Colonies_. The _Swiss Colony_ was founded in 1863. It has an area of 8,782 square cuadras, or 6,480 hectares, 709 metres. The _Quevedo Colony_ has an area of 5,091 square cuadras, or 3,756 hectares and 5,521 metres, and the _Spanish Colony_ 9,600 square cuadras, or 7,083 hectares, 6,576 metres. These three agricultural centres form a total of 17,320 hectares, over which live more than 420 families. They possess steam-mills, schools, many commercial establishments. In the Swiss Colony there are two churches--a Catholic and Protestant. The public administration of these settlements consist of a municipal commission, a justice of peace and an attorney. They also have a postoffice.