Jeffersonian Republican. [volume] (Stroudsburg, Pa.) 1840-1853, 1852-02-12
From the n. Y. Daily Times.
Asriculture-.Ets Importance to
the Community

Commencing with the immortal Washing
ton, many of our Presidents have recommen
ded the formation of an Agricultural Depart
ment of our Government, and as often has
that part of the Presidents Mesa ge been re-
ferred to Committee who have never repor-
ted plan for its formation. While the far
mers have been busy at home, earning and
paying nine-tenths of the expenses of Govern
ment, the other interests have been busy in
securing Government protection in various
ways. s.e1s ser
The manufacturers, under the excuse of
their wares being required for the use of the
Army and Navy have had various Commits
sions organized for expensive experiments for
the settling of doubtful points of practice, and
thus millions have been appropriated for the
building of Steam Engines, Locomotives,
Telescopes, Chronometers and a thousand
other things said to be of general public util-
ty. Every orator in Congress has called
Agriculture noble art, the farmers compos-
ing more than four fifths Of the whole commu-
nifty are said to be bone and sinep ofthe Re
public, and yet the Agricultural Department
has not been organised, but the farmers have
been insulted by the placing the care of their
great interest in the hands of single Clerk
In celler room of the Patent Office, and un-
der the charge Of the Commissioner of Pat
ents.
While the governments of Europe have
been busily engaged in fostering ".this no.
bic art" and regarding it as science, en-
ploying the best talent for its advancement,
and doubling crops on old and apparently worn
out soils, we have continued on without
amendment, until the farmers of the Atlantic
States have been driven west for fresh and
unlmpoverished lands-and this too, in the
face of the fact that wherever the improved
methods of agriculture have been adopted,
the crops have readily been doubled.
In some States individuals have done much
to improve the modes of culture and to arrest
the continuous waste of fertilising material
thus in New Jersey, Professor ]. j. Mapes
has turned his attention to the subject, and
a consulting agriculturist, has visited over
two hundred farms, making analysis of the
soils and advising proper modes of culture, a.
and founded on these analysis.
The result has been that the products of these
two hundred farms have been much increased
and it is the opinion of many who have atten-
ded his lectures and have availed themselves
Of his advice that he has increased the income
of the State more than one hundred thousand
dollars per annum.
In all parts of the country we find spirited
individuals who have adopted improved meth
DDS, and thus we find occasional accounts of
crops entirely above the average OF the neigh
borhoods in which they are grown. One
hundred bushels of shelled corn have been
raised BY many farmers on soils which preyi-
ousiy gave less than twenty-bushels per acre;
fifty-seyen bushels of wheat have been raised
to the acre, while the average crop of the
State of New York is not more than l21
bushels. Massachusetts does not raise grain
enough for her own consumption, while a few
Of her farmers, by the use of improved pro-
cesses alone raise double the average crop per
acre.
President Fillmore has again called the
attention of Congress to the subject. The
President says:
In my last annual communication to Con- |
gress | recommended the establishment of an
Agricultural Bureau, and I take this OCCASION |
again to invoke your favorable consideration
Of the subject.
agriculture may justly be regarded as
the great interest Of our people. Four-ffths
Of our active population are employed in the
cultivation of the soil, and the rapid expansion
Of our settlements over new territory, is daily
adding to those engaged in that vocation
Justice and sound policy, therefore, alike re-
luire that the Government should use all the
means authorized by the Constitution to pro-
note the interests and the welfare of that
important class of our fellow citizens. And
pet it singular fact that, while the manu-
acturing and commercial interests have en-
gagged the attention of Congress during
arge portion Of every session, and statutes
abound in provisions for their protection and
encouragement, little has yet been done di-
ectly for the advancement of agriculture
t is time that this reproach to our Legisla-
ure should be removed and Isncerely hope
he present Congress viii not close their Ia
'ors without adopting efficient means to sup
'ly the omissions of those who have preceded
hem.
!" An Agricultural Bureau, charged with
he GutY of collectinp and disseminating cor