The Mississippi Creole. [volume] (Canton, Miss.) 1841-1851, 1849-09-15
LAlIre ID AeRIcuLrURE.

IM.L 10 UNfAN
LAlIaG no AGRICULTURE.
This interesting document concerns
large 4 porlion Of The community that
/ cannot fail 10 attract tile public alten-
lion, aud will, j, may be hoped, be the
Of concentrating much valuable
Information, 10 be again more generally
distributed for the common benefit.
We understand that this circular has
been, OF is designed to be, sent through
out he country, BY the obliging agency
Of membsfs Of Congress, and through
other channels but, as it would be I'M
possible for The commissioner TO address
himself directly 10 all whose partlatlly
and interest ia the subjects Of his inquiry
might lead them 70 respond, each accord
ing 10 his knowledge, bis obvious Pur-
pose is, that the circular should be re-
garded as a general invitation 10 the
friends Of agriculture % communicate
the reSulls DC their observation and ex-
perience. What he appears to be par
ticularIy 6esirous Of arriving ct is, not
mere meteorological facts Statements Of
The weather, &c.,A III particular neigh
bOrhOodss at particular times, (which
will have long passed when the state
Inents shall BE- published nor vague est,
mates of particular crops here and there,
but ID procure, Us far a. practicable, OBJ
seryatiors of the actual mean tempera.
lure. and The fall Of rain monthly, and
fof the year, in as many Of the States as
he can, as such authentic daia would help
10 indicate the fitness Of particular re-
Qions To- The growth Of particular crops
would assist in accounting for ascer-
tanned products, and would, IN short, con-
Ell ute IN themselves items Of intorma-
ton OF enduring value for other sciences
and interests besides those Of agricul-
ture, such deductions being only 70 be
drawn from a series Of exact obserya.
tions iii various attitudes and Al differ
emit elevations. 1t would appear, TOO,
from this circular, that to enable him 70
meet the requirements of congress, the
commissioner wishes to ascertain, as
nearly as practicable, the average pro-
duct per acre Of the several States 10
their principal staples, and 70 learn, on
the authority Of experienced observers;
where the general course Of agriculture
i some Of average Improvement Or 81 DE-
lerioratiOn.
AL the FIRST view Of the subject, the
magnitude Of the industry involved Il
seen 10 Be such, its notifications 90 nu
meFous, and the facts needed to illustrate
II 10 diversified and multiEariOus, as to
leave an impression uponlhe mind that
nothing short Of an especial bureau cf
agriculture, with adequate clerical force
and other facilities, can be relied on ia
procure and systematic the statistics
that belong 10 Il in such detail and Re
thod as 10 ensure for that most imPor
liant source Of our national wealth en-
lighiened and just legislation. All tina
has been hitherto attempted, or that cal
BE- done under existing provisions Of Law
serves but 10 make more clear how mucI
thai interest has been postponed Er 9th
ers, and how much IS needed for its ne
Iteration; giving u.s.. 10 this case anothe
season for admIring the wise forecast Q
President Washington, who, at the open
ing of Congress, more than fifty year
AGO, iii his last annual mes ge, said:
Mt will not b doubted that with re
ference either 10 individual or nationa
welfare, agriculture is Of primary i'm
p0rlance. lii proportion as nations ad
vance in population and other circurl
stances Of maturity, this truth become
more apparent, and renders the cultiva
ton Of ths soil more and more Gn Oljet
of public patronage. institutions 70
promoting | .grow up, supported by th
public purse and 70 what object can
10 dedicated with greater propristy 7
In lieu Of q board Of agriculture,
at that time contemplated, On the pla
Of the one then existing Ia England,
would now only bs necessary TO crea
and attach IN agricultural bureau to Il
newly created department OF the int
srior, IS in France; and without whic
indeed, such a department is palpab
deEactive. Ia TACT, the very first i'd
tt.atiprssenis itself TO the mind, in ass
citation with a department Of The intefit
lie the benefit 10 be derived from
agency ID collecting and arranging, [
the use OF the legislator and student
political economy, the statistics that
long 10 that great occupation which 81
plies Tie elements of . national q
rsisIenca and alI u industrial pursui
Nay, would II not Be 9 gEosa mockeFy
thia paramount concern 70 presume 4
The meanso NJ calculating the cOnditi
and wants of lss various branches can
collected hid put III order for use BY
mere incidental appropriation Of . cpl
desk, in q great department dedicated
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