Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1858-10-19
U. S. PATENT OFFICE. Aug 2s 1s,,

tue United States, contained in his communi-
cation OF the 18th ultimo, which you have re-
lerred 10 me, relative to estimate of the
advantages resulting from the appropriation
oy congress Tor agricultural purposes, beg
leave to state that only an imperfect estimate
can be made
The labors Of this Office have been directed
Principally to the following objects: First, the
dissemination OF correct information upon the
subject OF agriculture, in general; secondly
the Introduction OF novel and improved plants
trees, DC, from abroad and thirdly, the in
teIchange and extension Of such as have hith
erto been only of local culture in our own
country. A knowledge of the benefits which
have been derived from these labors must
therefore be sought in all the good that has
proceeded and is yet to proceed from the src-
eessial prosecution of these purposes Within
period OF twenty years, including the present.
tne aggregate appropriations by Congress for
the encouragement of agriculture, except the
printing of Reports. has been less than the
tnird OF million of dollars; and il has been
only since the year 1858 that the annual an.
Pr9priatons have exceeded S. 500.
In q debate in Congress, on the 10Th of NAV.
fs29' It was stated by Hon. Albert G. Talbert,
OF hentucky, that said State had been profited
within the laIt three years to the amount of
sl,VOO, 200 by the distribution of the single ar
tlcle OF wheat from the Patent Oficc; and re-
marks OF an equally favorable tenor with re-
gard to the Mediterranean red wheat were
K, Indiana
Ihe information at that period in the posses
sIon OF the Patent Office, but more especially
tnat which has been received the present wear
from the officers Of agricultural societies and
other we'll informed and reliable sources, au-
tnoriIes the assumption Of far higher rate of
increase from the cause assigned, and renders
II itapparsnt that many of the objects introduced
are progressing IN a compound ratio
Vtner approved wheats have also been intro
unced, aud domestic varieties have been adapt
ed to appropriate localities, but it is not neces
sary 10 taks any account Of these TO show that
AT the lowest calculation, single product has
amply compensated in one year for the whole
expenditure by the Government for twenty
years.
Here the argument might be permitted 10
rest; but other benefits are demonstrated a,
having arisen from the distribution of seed
Al least dozen varieties of Indian Corn
each desirable in certain localities because of
some peculiar quality, were selected for ex
pertinent. Several of them have been attended
WITH beneficial results, particularly the " King
rnhip, previously but little known beyond
the regions Of Lake Winnipisioge. i'm New
Hampshire, where it had been perfected and
ioAg cultivated upon one Of its islands This
variety Is acknowledged to be of great value
throughout the New England States, ew York,
New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Michigan, Wiscon-
minnesota, Iowa, Washington and Oregon
Territories, and in portions of the States of
onio and Illinois. There is evidence of its
success from numerous sources in the CORES
Pondence oil this Othce, as we'll as in agricuItu-
raj and other journals, demonstrating that
wherever cultivated the improvement in the
qusiity and quantity of the grain produced
with same labor and investment n, befo,. ia
not less than 10 per cent. According to the
census OF 1880, the corn crop of the aboye
named regions may be estimated at 1874 273 II6
ousnels- Assuming the actual profits TO be
on.y one per cent OF this, the annual gain will
agricultural purposes for twenty years. II /,
possible that even this statement NAV excite
tne skeptlclsm OF persons unacquainted with
tne isets upon which it is based or who do NOT
calculate with accuracy from given data but
their lncredulity will cease when II sb.Il be
endeIstood that this corn ripens in ninety days
from tne time Of planting; that il is hence ex-
emPeed from late spring and early autumn
irosts that Il is Of excellent quality for trans
Pcftauon and use; and that the increased yield
rtn proper management, (clOse planting and
high msnuring when necessary is much he.
yond that Of the ordinary kinds.
Inc Bald Barley" brought from Italy in
1897, Il also a valuable addition to our bread
crops, being especially desirable for mailing
purposes: The success Of the tests made WITH
supply for distribution
Ii has been said that the culture OF the Chi
Iese gar Cane Is as yet only an experiment
inns Is true; all the benefits of that plant are
not realized, but the experiment is one with
Wnien We have good reason to be satisfsd A
Ploaucl nitnerto unknown to the country-a
new staple-has been introduced not less than
Ioo OoO acres are at present occupied with IN,
anu at least 81 600 600 profit are confidently
expected to be obtained therefrom in excellent
syrup and superior fodder, besides, perhap.,
other economical uses
Ine Hungarian grass" tSetaria Germanica)
imported IN 1854, has also proved a source Of
Vast dement, IN various parts of the country
psins OF luxuriant growth and producing hay
Oi the hnest quality. Already has this i'm
ProVement been valued at hundreds of thous-
ands OF dollars in certain lOcalitias. hpt tha
time has not yet come for a full apprecia,ion Of
lts worth, which will not be comprehended until
tnere shali no longer be so great an excess in
our product oil corn, aud when instead of feed
ing TINS 10 swine, the culture Of this grass and
tne Chinese sugar.cane for horses mules, neat
eattle, and sheep shall engage the attention of
the farmer y"
The . Riga fax-seed" imported from Rus
eAs Is IN cultivation IN some of the western and
northern states. IL is plant Of great excel.
ience, and Is giving such an impulse to this
-, 20 "a a culture A. wlll soon enhance the pro-
many fold. 0'h''uereo'
Inc remark was made in 1854, BY the late
senator Clayton OF Delaware, that the intro
duenon OF n sinsle variety OF turnip into that
Little State was worth more than All n,sv;ous
expenditures by the Patent Office for agr;c,is
tGral purposes The mesgre product of the
tsrniP helds IN many regions Of this country
nad long deferred farmers from cultivating this
important crop much beyond the dema and for
culinary uses; yet the great profit arising from
It's culture IN q few localities in our middle and
northern states, and very generally in certain
epuntIles OF Europe, stood forth in evidence Of
tne advantages that might be derived. Ac-
cordingy, In 1855, the seeds of twenty six va
rieues of this esculent were obtained from
Messrs Charlwood 4 Cummings Of London
which were assorted into parcels aud Q cImmitted
into careful hands in every State and Territory
In the Union, with instructions for cultivation
and printed forms in blank ior Reporting the
results The returns were in corroboratio Of
the presumed fact that, by the Judieious adap-
tatlon Of varieties to the respective soils and
climates, the turDip crop could be rendered
pr stable throughout, the country. 1hs Agri-
eslsGTh Report of this Office for 1855 coatsins