New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1856-03-05
FROM WASHING TON.
LFGIsLATING FOR AGRICULTURE
its people.
Correspondence of The N Y. Tribune

Editorial Correspondence Of The N. Y. Tribune
WASHINGTON, Monday, March 3, 1856.
Whoever has carefully studied the composition of
the COMMITTEES of the House will probably have
observed that that on Agriculture is cast more
strongly than usual. Mr.. HOLLOWAY Of Indiana
"a veteran editor and legislstor-flls its chair,
with Messrs l.. ID CAMPBELL, GROW and other
prominent Members following. This cast is UNI
dertood TO have relation to the project Of creating
a distinct Agricultural Bureau in the De-
partment of the IoteriOr, to be presided
over by some able and enlighted master Of
Agricultural Science, and TO mature and establish
q system of careful experiment and observation
throughout every portion of our country touching
the diverse capacities of soil, climate, &c, and the
most economic and effective means of increasing
Agricultural production. To such Bureau, the
various Meteorological Reports now made at the
several Military posts would doubtless be commu-
nicated while arrangements would be made to pro
cure similar reports from localities remote from
Military stations. The earliest and latest
occurrence of frOsts in each season of cold;
the adaptation of each locality to the Peach, the
Grape, the Apple and other fruits the success or
failure of Wheat and other grains, with the appa-
rent causes of failure when failure is experienced;
the northward boundaries of the successful growth
of the Cane Rice, Cotton and other tropical or
semi tropical plants; the capacity for acclimatiOn
of the various grains and fruits with its limits;
these, with thousand similar problems, are only
capable of perfect solution through many expert
ments, simultaneously prosecuted at widely sepa-
rated points, yet under the supervision and control
of single enlightened head. The transportation
of seeds ard trees from colder to warmer eli
mate and the reverse, requires to be prosecuted
more extensively and observed more carefully than
hitherto. Many fruit enjoys local reputation
which is elsewhere emphatically denied it, doubt
less because of its degeneration when removed
from the happily conspring influences of soil and
cline which insured it's perfection; why may not
the'same rule operating inversely, work ameliora-
ton as well as degeneracyl Then the whole sub
ject of improving grains by crossing or hybridiza-
ton has hardly begun TO be considered. At the
Worlds Fair in London, five years ago, specimens
of Wheat were exhibited wherein the product had
been increased it was stated, several bushels per
acre BY judicous or fortunate hybridizatiOn,
while in other instances, of course opposite results
had defeated the aim of the experimenter-the
Few variety being less prolific than either Of its
progenitors A vast field for improvement here
opens to view; but it can hardly be expected that
individuals will volunteer to devote their lives and
fortunes to its thorough exploration. Where great
common benefits are judicOusy sought, it is but
just that they should be sought at the expense Of the
community.
The failure Of the Potato is one ofthe mostimport-
ant events Of ourage. Itwould be hardly too much
toatribute TO the Potato Rot of 1885,, the storm
of Democratic revolution which cOnvalsed Europe
in IS46. And, whatever partial or temporary
resuscitation may have been or may hereafter be
attained. cannot doubt that the Potato has seen
liz beat dsys"-that it will never again yield so
beautifully, prove SO wholesome, nutritious and
palatabe, or afford secure reliance, as it did
thirty, fifty, or hundred years ago. And while
look with great disrust on most of the substitutes
recommended, and am slow of faith in the capacity
of any of them to fill che place so long and usefuly
held by the Potato, l would still urge those wh'
can afford it to give every plausible substitute
far aud patient trial. They can OF tbe worst ba