Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1856-04-11
,yTeRFsrINa TO AGRlcuLTuRIsTs.

W,,uls1Trs, April |, ls3''
Tic fo!,owin" vcry interesting letter, address" u
The Agricultural Committee IL III: l,"use "' f.rIn
scniniivc-. exhibits the scope, objects anu "Fcr"''"n
ri q burenu Of the government yet III lis ihin",y II
which is llsi becoming one OF the most prhcilcn,'
useful and important. II reaches lie interests .. ~
farmer, the grower, ''the bone and sine" VI NV
country, and it will be uurturcd by that interest w
til it grows to the full viG"r at manhood
uSIrEp STATES Patent OFFiCE,i
March 81, lS,t.
Arrccahly to request, herewith | furnish yo" WIZ
some Of the principal reasons why G"ns,.'' L 'n
increase the agricultural appropriations hcIea'
ter To be- expended by this uilce, win some I"
The benefits to the country which nave aIFe"ny re
suited from the appropriations mate years PaSi'
One Of the prime objects Of these appropriations
hss hccu the introduction OF new and useful vcgcia'
bile products hitherto unknown III the United States
nud the increase und dissemination of those of supe'
riur qualities which had already been cultivated oT
otherwise known. Measures have been taken tU
procure from every quarter Of the globe such seeds,
,lantl, roots and cuttings ~ would be likely 10 sue
ceetl in any part Of the country, and placing them III
the hands of persons who were the most likely tn
lest their adaptation to orr climate and soil. As Il
nultcr of course, many ui the experiments thus made
unuyoidably proved aboitivr; but in NUMEROUS cases,
they were attended with lie most signal success, md
Il single product, in the opinion oi COMPETENT Judges.
has aided millions to our resources. For Instance, n
variety of wheat known ~ the Mediterranean. -
W WHICH, W IL ~ w NbiH N''''N' - = " ' 'hiE uS't
ilas proved highly productive, hardy, aud maturing
several days earlier than other varieties, thereby Ca
Gaping the ravagca of irsccis and rnsi, besides be
in. snnncr renly for market.
Within he laSt year, no less than seventeen varieties
If wheat have been introduced from distant paris OF
the globe, and distributed in vnri"us sections oil the
Union, most Of which promise I" be- attended with
good success.
The "ludlan millet," or "D0urah corn" Of African
origin, has also been introduced, aud il constitutes Il
valuable CROP in tile South.
The Japan pea" unsurpassed by ell others in it,
yield, believed 10 be Of Eastern origin, has been cul-
tivutrd in various parts OF the country with remsrka-
bic results.
The "Chineac yarn," originally from China, but
more recent" from France, which promises Ia serve us
an excellent substitute, both ic the sweet and COM
mon potato. has been sufficiently tested 10 prove
ill., value in the Southern AZ we'll rs in the Middle
States.
The "rhufa," or 'rarth almonI,' a small tuberous
esrulrnr, from the s0mtl! of Spain, which has natural
iz-d itself 10 our soil and climate. hus proved prolific
in liz yield when grown in light sandy soils, AS wcll as
those which are rich, and bids TAR Ia become Il vaiua-
bic forage crop for cattle nml swine.
AT least thirty varieties OF tUrn!p seed, including
| The beet cultivate! in England, is wei. rs on the con.
tincmt ui Europe, have been Impuricd anu disse'ni!ll'
ted in every Stat. and Territory oi the Union. The
benefits are already apparent. Similar experiment,
are now being Instituted with MI the lending varieties
"t GRASSES, cabbHgcs and peas OF Europe, the results
Of which will soon hc mlic known.
Among the forage crops, it may be mentioned that
the Chimes" sugar Canr lSDrgliO SurEe.l II new gram
lncuus pl.ut nl Chinese origin, but more recently
from France, has been introduced, mud has proved
itself well adapted 10 the geographical range OF In
dian corn. The amount OF fodder which it will prn-
duce to the acre is estimated Ia be twenty-five tons,
the stalk. OF which are filled with n rich Saccharine
Juice, the whole plant being devOured with sviiity by
cattle, horses and swine. 1t IL Of easy ;d!tiva'ioa.,
being similar To that of maize ur broom corn; and il
the seeds are sowu early in May, i'll the middle States,
two crops OF fodder can be raised from tho same roots
in the season-one about the first of August, and the
other in October.
Another valuable forage crGp. the German millct"
t.uoAd he H0G@r~,j mas Dren introduced from France,
which is very productive, OF quick growth, resiSts
drought, aud tinurishcs well OH dry soils.
Anon. the cuttings and fruit trees ana vines which
have been introduced, may be mentioned the "Prunr
d'Agen.' the "pruue Sante Catharinc," and the
"Vigne COrinth.' The two former have been graft.
ri OF the common plum in all the States North of
PENNSYLVANIA, and on the mountainous districts ol
that Stale, Maryland aud Virginia. From the sue.
cess which has attended This experiment, there is ev-
cry reason to hope that there will soon be produced
sufficient dried prunes il those regions 10 supply the
wants of the whole Union. Among the seeds of in.
digerous growth, which have been selected and dis
tributed, in reference 10 their superior qualities, a..
well rs TO their probable adap;educss 10 certain pnr-
ailels and localities, and which have proved highly
productive, there may be noted several varieties OF
Indian corn.
Among these are the "lnpTovcl King Philip or
brown corn obtained from an Island III Il lake in
New Hampshire. which was extensively distributed
in I'll the States north of New Jersey, and the noun
tainnu5 districts OF renns ylvania, Maryland and Viz
.inia. tbs result has been tina; IL EatGred in less
than ninety days iroin lie time OF Planting, l"bout
the middle of June and yielded, i'll one instance, l3i
bushels of sleiled corn To the acre. Another supe-
rinr variety, from New Mexico, the New Mexican
White Flint" has been distributed, which appears 10
bs adapted 10 the entire corn region south Of Massa-
chusetls. For culinary USE, either green or dry, its
uu:lily of excellence Is unsurpassed.
Among :he products which il has been proposed 10
introduce from Gbrnni, with = view oi making spc.
cial experiments. Ia be conducted by agricultural So
ciciies, or by Individuals, i'll the several! S:a;eG and
Territories OF the Union, may be named considerable
quantities u! ali ihg best varieties oi wheat and Of
other cereals OF the globe. IL addition IN these there
inISnt be imported the seeds, roots Va Cuttings vi ali
the princi pal economical plants aud trees known, aud
eXpcrllncnlcd upon III a similar manner.
lnconnectiUn with this subject | would suggest the
exprdiency of Congress making annual apprp.
prlatpiis Tor the purpose OF agriculture sufficiently
early i'll the session 10 order most of the seeds 10 b.
grown the approaching season, 70 that they NAV be
received III time for distribution by the first January
or before. kOfI: has been found by experience that
when large orders tor seeds haze been mad. inter the
mouth Of April or May, il was .InpGac::crbie Tor the
sccdsIneu TO furnish III adequate supply without pro
curing them from various sources, and this too often
requiring several months. Hence most 81 the seeds
would arrive too iatu iqr the Southern ull middle
sections Of the Union; " II t!;ey were attempted 10
be kept over till the next fail, they gould he either
IcvUured by vcrmlu Or insects or !r!lduiG'. worthless
by age.
Another feature connected with these appropriate
tionn which appears IT, need simpiIiicattUn or reform,
is some more feasible and equitable plan OF diapos-
ing of these seeds than has been udopted heretofore.
! would, therefore, suggest that, lnstehi Of dlstrl-
butiug them pronIiscu"isly, through members OF
Congress, societies or individuals, who may apply
directly for them at the Patent Office, suitable ar.
rangelneEtg he made by said members for them to be-
cent, in bundles uGt exceeding four pounds weight,
frankcd by the COMMISSIONS. 49, Patents, 10 the STATE
Territorial and county agricultural soa:,.icS, nr to
the Secretaries OF States or Territories or County
CLERKS, where there are no ouch societies, To be dis.
tributed. by mail Or otherwise, 10 proper individuals
residing in eacl. State. Territory " county, for trial
or special experiment., with Il request that each reci'
pient shall report the result for The use %: tic Patent
Office.
To insure the free and speedy transport of each
small packet Of cuttings or sUeds, IN appropriate
stamp might be placed upon it, bearing the imprint
Of tie name of the member 81 Congress or Terrific
rial delegate in whose district or Territory any aach
society may be located, ar in which any Sacretny OF
State or Territory, or county Clerk may reside.
The epportionment OF the packets sent 10 the State
societies might bear u stamp containing The name oil
the Senators Of each Of Tie States respectively. This
change can only be effected b. an Amendment. in ilie
postal law, and necessarily would come before the
Committee on Post Offices.
Very respectfully, your obe'ilcnt servant,
ID. J. BROWNE.
Hon. DAVID i. Holloway, Chairman OF the Com.
mi,tee on Agriculture, House Ct Representatives
United States.