Wisconsin tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1847-1854, 1851-01-16
AgGtCWU&0GIge


! The secretary of the interior treats the
subject at some length. We congratulate
the agricultural public that at last we
! have got hearing at Head quarters
( In surveying the various interests Of the
country. no one can fail to observe how lit
tie has been done by government to pro-
mote the cause of agriculture. 1t is true.
! the cultivator Of the soil, IN common with
! all other classes Of society. enjoys the pro
/ lection of the laws and the blessings mel
/ dent TO good government. But something
more seems to be due to branch Of IN
dustry which employs more than half our
population, and, to great extent susta.us
the other
/ The power of the General Government
over this subject is limited, bet this fur
nishes no good reason why it should not
be exercised SO far as it does legitimately
extend
The ordinary means adopted to afford
protection to the manufacturing and com
mercial interests are comparatively inop-
erative in regard to the agricultural 4
tariff can do but little directly to benefit
( the farmer or the planter The staple
/ productions of the south are peculiar to
1 that climate, and therefore are in no dan
/ ger Of competition from abroad Those
Of the north and west, in consequence of
the fertility Of the soil and the low prices
at which land can be bought are produced
at less cost there than in ether countries
and consequently, except under extraor-
dinary contingencies, need no protection
by imposts on the breadstufs Of foreign
nations.
But still much may be done by Gov
ernment. a a small cost to promote the in
terests of agriculture. The science is vet
in It's infancy. and great minds are now di-
rected to the study and development of
its true principles Experiments are in
progress to ascertain the qualities Of DIFF
ferent soils the comparative properties Of
different animal and vegetable productions:
and the utility and efficiency of various
manures IN fertilizing and renovating the
exhausted lands of the old states
4 Encouragement may be afforded to en-
. tarprises like these, and facilities furnish
ed for the collection of seeds, plants and
vegetables from all parts Of the earth. i
their distribution throughout the country
4 Premiums may be offered for the best
practical treatise on the different branch
+ es Of husbandry which can be published
and sent abroad among tue people By
means like these a s6irit If nbiIosonb-
;c inauirv NAV he stimulated PrJ graat
impulse GIVEN to the interests Of aoTlcnI-
/ trra Much has already haan doro IN tbis
res1oct tbrougb the acencv Of the Patent
Ofice but tile subject is too important n
he left IN this danendent condition The
last annual renort from the department
recommended the establishment Of an 40
ricu]turaI Bureau. to afford this great
bracb of American industry the enconr.
aoement il 50 well deserves This is no
novel suggestion. 1t had the sanction of
WasbinGt6n. Who IN his last animal mes
sage. referring TO the proDrietv of creating
an Agricultural board said This sDe-
cies Of establishment contributes doublv
II the increase If imnrovemep+ bv sim
ulatinp to enternr;se and exnerimeIt and
by dr5ying 10 \ common centre tLa re-
suits. everywhere of individual skin and
observation. and spreading them thence
over the whole nation F.xperience ae
cordinrlv has ssown that tUev are verv
claan Instruments of immense net;oral