The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1852-05-12

/ experimental purposes seeds gathered from re-
mote parts Of the world. This is good work,
but one that, under existing circumstances,
cannot be done systematically, or with any but
slight advantage. The results, to be of SER
vice, require to be examined and classified by
thoroughly competent parties. The absence Of
this supervision is observable in the agriculiu
raj department of the Patent Office report,
which, though valuable now, would be inf
nitely more SO if digested and commented upon
with the light of enlarged experience and OBJ
servation. These features are, however, only
a small part of the comprehensive scale of du-
ties contemplated under an Agricultural Bureau.
The collection Of statistics, the distribution of
grains and seeds, and the publication of practical
statements, will be continued with valuable
amendments and additions; while the summa-
| ny of the section quoted shows that variety Of
duties Of equal. if not greater Importance, will
be undertaken for the first time. The chemi-
cal laboratory, for instance, will tend largely
to increase the products Of the country by
enabling farmers to ascertain the exact capa-
bilities Of their soil, and the means by which
its fertility may be increased. Professor JOHN
sroE is retained for this purpose by the farmers
Of Scotland, proverbial for their skill in this
branch Of industry, and his labors have been
spoken of with the highest satisfaction. In the
same manner, Professor MApEs, of New Jer.
sey, has been frequently noticed by our agri
cultural periodicals as having done much by
his analyses to improve the productive power
| Of the soil in that State. That which
these gentlemen have accomplished in lin
tied localities, and with means furnished
by private enterprise, affords fair criterion Of
the benefits that may be expected to accrue
| from national institution, embracing in its
operations the soils and products Of continent.
So, again, in regard to the feeding of animals,
the raising of fruit. and the culture of crops
strange to our soil although adapted to our eli
mate and to the labor at the command of GER
tain sections Of the country. Our farmers and
horticulturists need information especially on
the first and second points; and by bringing to-
gether the results of experience, and showing
how far they bear upon the circumstances of
different districts, Bureau will contribute
vastly to the individual comfort of citizens as
The system which it is proposed to inaugu
rate has nothing Qnixotic about it. It does
not propose to plunge the Government into a
labyrinth of difficulties, never touched by the
governments of other countries. Mr.. NEWTON
has shown that instead of being in advance of
less favorably circumstance peoples, we are
in this matter far in arrear of many of them. In
= a IS ~ L. -lrol.
Compare what America a nation has done
with what has been done by other nations can
but glance at it. Russia has in all sixty Eight
schools and colleges She has an agricultural in.
stitution with forty college buildings, occupying
three thousand acres of land, and attended by
several thousand students. The Agricultural
Society of st. Petersburg established by Queen
Catharine. There are under the patronage of the
French government seventy school farms, besides
five frst-class colleges, in which professors are
employed to lecture botany, zoology, chemistry,
agriculture and the treatment of diseases in cattle;
in the culture of woods, forests, &c. These are
supported throughout the country. National
establishments for the improvement Of breeds of
stock, and colleges for the education of veterinary
surgeons, and investigating the uses Of all dis
coveries contemplated for agricultural improve
ment. The government expend in three veterinary
instruction in agriculture, 2.73l .46s francs for
encouragement in agriculture, 700, 900 francs for
improvement in the breeds Of horses and science
connected with IL alone, 1,776, 400 france. The
requirements for admission into these veterinary
schools are as follows: The applicant must be not
less than seventeen years Of age, and not over
twenty five, and have the following qualifications:
to be able to forge horse shoe after two
heatings-pass an examination in the French
language. arithmetic, and geography, and after
four years study permitted to practice veter
nary surgery. and receive a diploma. In Bel.
GUM great attention is paid to the subject. There
are an hundred agricultural schools or colleges
established by the governments high school Of
veterinary surgery. The science OF agriculture il
the most fashionable in the kingdom. They have
their palaces furnished more or less with rare
specimens Of the product Of the land, and are
farmed like garden. These facts know, having
travelled over considerable part Of that country.
In saxony they have Eve schools; in Bavaria
thirty-fve; in Wurtemberg seven; in Austria
thirty three; in Prussia thirty two; in Italy two;
in Scotland two in Ireland sixty three. The one
at Glassncvin. near Dublin, ! visited. Il now
consists of one hundred and twenty eight acres of
good land, and convenient buildings, and about
to add TO their farm, and increase their buildings
90 as 10 accommodate one hundred or more stu
dents with the teacher, Mr. Donaghy, became
acquainted. He IL an intelligent, practical man.
With him viewed the farm, and their farming,
and buildings &C; and 1t IL carried on very sue
cessfoly. These schools are doing more for Ire
land than any other attention the government is
giving them. They have colleges and agricultu-
raj schools in England. sustained by the govern
ment-some four or FIVE with large farms attached
to them-where all the sciences connected with the
general business are taught with great perfection
and millions Of money each year invested in the |
general science Of agriculture by the nation II 10
an investment, and not an expenditure. Other |
countries are engaged in the same business, but
cannot go further into detail. Sufficient 10 said 10
draw n parallel between their views and ours. |
Abroad they invest millions each year, in coun.
try not larger than the average Of States. |
Here, in all country, for seventy five years,
for the general object We have expended 1000"
We think that Mr.. NEwroN has accorded |
10 England more praise than she is entitled to |