Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1858-02-04
Che farmer.
The Agricultural Department of the Patent
(1ffico

The Agricultural Department. of the Patent
Office.
The Agricultural division of the report of
the Commissioner of Patents for the year
1856, has just been delivered from the press
of the public printer. 1t is as usual, val
liable document, Astounding in information of
interest and importance to the farmer, and
ought to have been given to the public six
months earlier The report of the Commits
sioner is dated On the 18th of February last,
and from it we learn that up to that time one
hundred and seventy bushels of the seed of
the Chinese Sugar Cane had been procured
for distribution, and finding that the demand
was far from being supplied, one hundred
bushels more were ordered from France.
The chemical analysis of Soils products,
manures, &c. the chronological researches
and the botanical Investigations, referred
to in the previous report have been inter-
ruptel, and the designs heretofore intmated
have not been carried into execution. The
Commissioner suggests that means should be
furnished to carry out these plans, and he
sets forth the advantages which would result
from the labors Of chemist and botanist
in the employ of the department. The SER
vices of the botanist would be principally d.
rected towards investigations relation to the
different grasses. On this subject the fol-
lowing sensible remarks are made:
"Tbere is no subjuct of more Importance
to the American farmer, than the knowledge
Of the means which shall best enable him to
increase the number and value of his live
stock, of which grass furnishes the princi-
pal sustcnance. 1t may be safely said that
the great defect in cur agriculture is the fail
ure to rear the proper number and quality of
animals. The experience of France and
England sufficiently demonstrates the impor-
tant truth that, on the same number of acres
which are now cultivated in the United
States, if the quantity Of live stock were
doubled, the aggregate quantity of grain pro-
duced might also be greatly increased, and
without any corresponding increase in expense.
The explanation of what seems so paradoxical
is found in the fact that, in this manner the
land would be kept in better heart. Instead
of deteriorating from year to year, as is the
case where grain alone is the principal pro-
duct, if proper proportion of live stock
were reared the land would retain its fer
tiity for centuries, and might, perhaps be
constantly improving.
Reliance upon guano and artificial manures
is deprecated as vicious system Of agricul-
ture. Although useful to a certain degree,
with the exception Of the alkalies and phos-
pilates they contain, they do not possess the
elements Of permanent benefit. They should
be regarded as in the nature of medicines, or
like artificial stimulants on the human system
The true pabulum of the soil, provided and
arranged by nature for this very purpose, is
obtained by the rearing of live stock, and in
no other manner. The chief source whence
domestic animals derive their sustenance is
the grasses, and it is therefore of prime i'm
portance to ascertain what grasses are best
adapted to different atitudes, soils and situa-
tons, the relative amount of nutriment which
they respectively contain, and various other
factsfalling chiefly within the province of the
botanist and chemist.
In order to connect these investigations
with practical experiment and research,
Commissioner Mason proposes to employ
three well interested in agricultural pur-
suits; making arrangements with existing
agricultural organizations for trying various
experiments in different parts of the country !;
imparting advice as to the best methods of
making such experiments, and giving specif-
lie information in regard to the planting of
various seeds, where such knowledge is nee
essary in order to secure successful culture.
In this way, vast deal Of valuable knowl-
edge would be acquired, and Mr.. Mason ex-
presses the opinion that more useful and last
ing results might be attained, than if the
same money were expended in the distribu-
ton of cuttings and seeds, and that the nee
essaryamount might therefore be judiciously
withdrawn from the latter object to be de.
voted to the former