The miners' express. (Dubuque, Iowa) 1849-1854, 1849-11-21
AGRICULTURAL BUREAU.

the prluCiPleS vi "HlCil oooo A'"'o"'J !
should be conducted, the Agricultural in.
terests Of the country have been hitherto
neglected. That want exists no longer.
An interior, or Home Department, is now
part Of the organization or machinery
Of the General Government; and to that
department belongs the task and duty Of
collecting such facts as may tend to de-
velop the agricultural riches of the coun-
try-such truths as, when once known to
the farmer, may enable him to produce
from the earth, with scientific skill, what
he now produces with physical labor
Agriculture, like all other sciences, must
have its truths and principles; and these
cannot be known or comprehended with
out practical research, profound study,
and investigation. From time to time
there have been individuals who have de-
voted their lives and fortunes to the in
vestigation Of the principles Of Agricutu-
raj Science, and to their labo:s is the
world indebted for the progress already
made-for the difficulties already over
come: but for want Of a combination or
union Of thought and purpose among
these individuals, their teachings have
not resulted in all the good to the Agri-
culturist which a united effort would
have secured.
The establishment Of an Agricultural
Bureau, in connection with the Depart
ment ofthe Interior at Washington, would
furnish means of combining and giving
direction TO these efforts.
The Legislature Of Vermont, have "a
ken up this subject, and have recommends
ed the establishment Of such Bureau.
The following is the report of Joint
committee Of the two Houses upon that
subject. 1t is written in a clear and for
chile stvle, and embodes SO much Of laci
and argument, as to induce US to give it
entire.
The Chairman Of the committee is q
brother Of the Rev. MIR. Ilolbrook, OF
this City. We commend it TO the a''en-
ton of our Agricultural readers, and hope
the voice of Iowa may be heard in favor
Of the object proposed.
REPORT
Of the Joint Committee raised 10 inquire
into the erpediency Of recommending The
establishment Of a "BUREAU OF AGRl
CULTURE" in the "Department Of the
Interior" at Washington.
To the Senate &. House Of Representatives.
The Joint Committee, appointed to in
quire into the expcdiency Of a Legisla
tive recommendation, on the part Of the
State, Of the establishment, in the Ma
tional Department Of the Interior, Of g
Bureau Of Agriculture for the promotion
Of the great interest Of Agricultural I'm.
provement in this Union, respectfully re
port:
The founders Of our government were
DESTROYS for the organization Of a Home
Department, devoted to the fostering and
encourag cement Of Agriculture, and othe!
Industrial Arts; but it seems that for want
of proper persons to organize and man.
age such Department, it was laid aside
! Al later period, Washington recon
mended an organization, entitled, "a
Home Department Of Agriculture" Hi:
conventions upon this subect,-like eve
rything else emanating from his practi
cal, far-seeing mind,-are exactly to the
purpose, compromising, more or less d.
rec;ly, about all that need be said in lis
favor. They are as follows:
SIT will not be doubted that with refer
ence either TO individual or national wei
fare, agriculture is Of primary import
ance. In proportion as nations advance
in population, and other circumstances o
maturity, this truth becomes more appa
rent, and renders the cultivation of the
soil more and more an object Of public pa
t7onage.-Institutions for promoting j
grow up, supported by the public purse
and to schat object can it be directed aoitl
greater propricty? Among the mean.
Which have been employed 70 this end
none have been attended with create
success than the establishment Of Boards
composed Of proper characters, charged
with collecting and diffuslng information
and enabled by premiums and small pc
cuniary aid, to encourage and assist spl
rit Of discovery and improvement, by
stimulating to enterprise ard experiment
and by drawing to a common centre, tn
results everywhere, Of individual skill
and observation, and by spreading then
thence over tie ,ohoze nation. Experienc
has accordingly shown, that they are We
nv cheap instruments Of immense nation
al benefits" s WV, ~.
Tho methods Of agriculture pursued b.
our fathers, in new country, with vii
gin soil and sparse population, were, per
Raps, necessarily rude and improvidenl
but.with a rapid, and unprecedented il
crease Of population, improvements j
tillagc have not advanced with CORES