The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1847-04-29

containing so large an amount OF valuable information
upon the subject as the report from this office. The IN
duslry oil this office in collecting information IN reference
TO this subject enabled TO the inquiries OF many
OF the governments OF Europe.
II is unnecessary to refer to other subjects connected
with agriculture which were embraced in the reports OF
this office 1t is believed that the value of the services
OF this office in relation 10 the interests Of agriculture
appreciated by that great and intelligent class OF the peo
pie engaged in agricultural pursuits, would APP
pear from the expressions OF numerous letters and public
journals received al this office.
II Congress had deemed il expedent to continue the
report, several valuable improvements and additions il
were contemplated larger field OF inquiry bad been
marked out than had been previously investigated 1t
was designed to embrace within the scope of fu
ture investigation additional crops and products, the
amount of cultivated land in the Union, the statistics
of the movements of agricultural products from the interior
to the commercial marts and their export to foreign
tries, the prices OF agricultural products, the wages of
labor, &c, &c which. connected with the information
previously furnished in condensed form, would
not have failed to add to and increase the value of the
report
am aware that il has been objected against the agri-
cultural report OF the Patent Office, that it unauthor
lied by the constitution, and that If permitted to be
tnued, il would endanger the Liberties OF the people
If collecting and laying before the country valuable
statistical information Is unconstitutional | have
gument with which TO meet the objection and am
equally unable TO comprehend how the operations of this
Office connected with agriculture, endanger the gov
eminent the people, II has its thousand agents
scattered through the country TO impress its influence
duly upon the public mind it has but little money to
pend and patronage to besow; its operations
lent and unseen, and they as harmless they
silent Its whole expenditure in this branch OF its duties
amounts TO but few hundred dollars, and most OF that
small amount goes IN payment OF clerks the purchase OF
seeds, and in subscriptions to agricultural publications
but these objections require no further answer.
Nor should it be forgotten that the Patent Office has
been instrumental within the last few years, in ntrodu
cling into the country many varieties OF grains and veget
ables and has aided much in introducing into the new
| ly settled portions of the Union valuable varieties OF
grains and vegetables well known those portions of the
Union which have been longer settled, and are more
highly cultivated; and, although the popular names OF
the varieties of seeds has distributed have given
sion for ingenious irony and dgned ridcue, from sour
ces evidently but little acquainted with such humble yet
important matters seeds have received names at this
office Tor the purpose oil imposition deception, and
none have been distributed which have borne names not
Familiarity known to every intelligent farmer and horticu
| turist in the country.
All the varieties of grains and vegetable seeds distrib
uted from this office may not have been valuable Many
from want OF adaptation soil climate may not have
liable variety OF either is introduced from abroad dis
semnated in parts of the Union in which not be-
fore known, the trf1ing cost of the operation mil
lion times repaid, and the cause OF agriculture is pro-
NOTED.
1t has also been objected that the agricultural duties of
this office have been assumed without authority of law,
and were therefore grave abuse and usurpaton of pow
er 1t is not proper, perhaps for me TO vindcate the
conduct of my predecessor under whose administration
OF the ofhce was introduced twill not however be
irrelevant to remark that the subject had been matter
of serious consideration by the committee of the House of
Representatives upon the Patent Office during the session
of ls3g--lO, and the Commissioner was then requested
by the able chairman of that committee, to communicate
to the committee "any information relative TO the colec
ton and distribution OF seeds and plants also, the prac
ticabty Of obtaining agricultural statistics with the adj
don any suggestions deemed important in relation to
| those subjects"
That inquiry was answered by the Commissioner in
the liberal and enlightened spirit in which made
and the collection of agricultural statistics and the dlsr
button of seeds and plants by the Patent Office
toned and provided for by Congress, by small approp-
atoms made each year, with one or two exceptions,
since.
That department or bureau of government should de-
Tho innpr in of
agriculture thing in the history OF nations
Most, if all of the leading governments OF Europe
have departments charged with these responsible duties
under the supervision Of officers called ministers OF the
interior And such department seems to have been
contemplated by President Washington and the earlier
statesmen of the republic.
In the message Of General Washington Congress in
December, 1896, agricultural or home department is
recommended by that revered and llustrious statesman
and patriot In 1912 At was again recommended in a
most able and enlightened report, drawn up and present
ed to the House OF Representatives by the Hon. Adam
Seybcrt, chairman of the select committee appointed to
inquire into the state of the Patent office And again. in
1917 the subject considered by select committee of
the House OF Representatives, which, through one Of lis
members, the Hon M. Hubert reported in favor of the
establishment by Congress OF National Board OF Agr
culture
The views of the committee were expressed in the fol-
| lowing brief and emphatic language;
The of territory and the richness and consequent
productiveness Of the soil of our country fail 10
invite and employ in the cultivation OF the earth far the
greater portion OF American industry
rhe interests of agriculture must therefore be primarily
ali tines deserve The warm support and liberal patrOnage
of government The committee observe, with pleasure
that President Washington in his speech to Congress of the
7th of December, 1896 recommended to That body the in
terests OF agriculture and the establishment OF national
board TO promote the
SIN different parts Of Europe, well in several States
of this Union, such boards have been instituted under the
auspices of government and have didused much e
formation, and contributed largely as the committee be
leve, 10 the public welfare
'Aiter due consideration the subject the committee
OF the opinion that it is advisable to establish at the seat
of government national board of agriculture, and report
bill for that purpose"
1t is not recommended nor is it esred by the under
signed, that any such department, national board of
agriculture, should be instituted by this government
The practices of other enlightened governments re-
ferred to only TO show that the exercise of such unc
tons by government is not without precedent, without
utility.
The concurring testimony of very large number of
intelligent citizens from every State and district in the
Union, received at this Office, furnishes convincing proof
of the beneficial influences of the agricultural reports of
the Patent Office They have been distributed, through
the agency of Congress, to every district IN the
Union; they have penetrated every neighborhood
and been read in almost every family; and they
have awakened interest upon the subject Of
agriculture among the intelligent farming classes
OF population not before exhibited nor felt If they
duced in the mind even of the humber agrculturst
conviction of the dignity of his noble avocaton and
of its first and anscenden Importance among the great
interests of his country If they had produced other
effect, the money which they have cost would not have
been idly expended.
Nor should it be forgotten that is the only expendi-
ure which has been made by Congress for the especial
benefit of the agricultural classes the only expenditure
for interest in the pursuits OF which tenfod the
amount of capital is invested that is invested any other
pursuit many times the amount of value annually pro-
duced that produced by any other interests and many
ft.a