Anti-slavery bugle. [volume] (New-Lisbon, Ohio) 1845-1861, 1849-06-08
The Home Department,

appeared Ill lllG - w OfNlIS ulllCls VI
which he is the editor and proprietor:
We have schools for the Army and
for the Navy. We send commissioners
abroad, continually, to colIate the tactics
and improvements of other nations; and
every collateral branch of science con-
nected with military engineering, is ios-
tered by government patronage. Eminent
foreigners have often been placed in high
office that we might profit by their ac-
quiremcnts as connected with these va
rious sub-departments. The pupils al
our military schools are taught many
branches of even a simply ornamental
character, 10 fit them more completely to
fill the character of gentlemen, as well as
that of soldiers, and SO it should bo.-
/ Formers do not complain at this, although
they pay four.fiflhs Of the expense. But
when has q commission existed under
government for collecting information
either at home or abroad, for the use Of
the ag~riculturist What organization
has ever been made TO difTuse informa-
ton on this a%ll-important subject? In
what bureau at Washington do we find
an account Of the organization of the
Agricultural Colleges of Europe? What
proportion Of the public purse (four-fifIhs
of which is furnished by furmers) has
been expended for their benefit
What part of the four or five millions
of dollars that has been paid for foster
ing inventions in the form of premiums
and experiments, at the expense OF gov
eminent, has been applied to inducing
improvements in the construction Of ag-
ricultural implements, or improved modes
of culture Where are our agricultural
colleges? What other civilized country
is without them (!
Why is not a portion of the public do
main given to the States for the purpose
of establishing and endowing Agriculm-
raj Schools and Colleges! Why have
not our foreign ministers, consuIs, &C.,
been instructed 10 collect the seeds and
plants Of other countries, for distribution
through Members Of Congress TO their
constituents?
Why is it that within twenty miles Of
New York, hundreds Of farmers have
never seen n globe arIichoke, or cauii-
fover, while the markets of Europe and
even those Of our W country contain
them? Why should not these whole
some Injuries be disseminated through
out the land
How long has the iron ploughshare
been introduced into our country, ana
how long since its general adoption p
Has lis use moi increased the amount of
agricultural product Of our country fifty
per cent? and as the value Of agricullu-
raj products was $500, 900 900 value
in 1913, have we not been the gamers Of
a larger moun by its use, than by any
other Invention Of modern times, not
even excepting the improvements in cot
ION machinery Does not England, III
this time, by the use of subsoil pIoughs,
and other agricultural Improvements, get
an average Of more than double the
amount Of product from a similar area of
land And why is this state Of things
suffered TO exist
Would not a properly organized Home
Department be able to suggest TO Con-
greSs methods for rcmedying these evils?
What would be the probable effect, if
the mechanical ingenuity of The country
could be engaged in improving farmers
Implements! Suppose that each year,
for the last ten years, Il premium Of ten
thousand dollars had been offered for
'he best Improvement in the plough can
any one doubt that a machine would
have been invented that would have in
creased the amount Of products one per
cent! And if so, would not this have
added to our permanent wealth fliy-four
millions Of dollars per annum? Would
not such an increase Of production lead
10 an increase Of mercantile activity, and
thus TO national wealth! Apart from mo-
notary considerations, we live under a
government Of written law and we call
upon our citizens to obey that law. We
know, that with the exception of such
States and Districts as have improved
modes Of agriculture, the plodding farmer
cannot afford 10 educate his children =
and that until he is enabled 10 advantage
by the improved processes 0 fmorc fortu-
nate localities, he cannot do so. The
few States where education is easily OBJ
tanned, must not forge. that a number
nearly or quite equal TO one.quarter Of
our whole population ann read the very
law which they are called upon TO obey.
To remedy this evil is part of the
legitimate duty of a Home Department.
"a prosperous agricultural district is
never without patriots to defend it" Let
our whole country be in this position,
and a small but experienced standing ar
my would supply us with officers in ca
ses of emergency while an educated
agricultural community would find apt
fecruiIs, who would be good soldiers, if
so differed, in one month.
We learn from the ploughing matches