Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1858-10-19

Thus nearly $4,000, 900 are sent abroad for
these luxuries, while we have the amplest fa-
cities for prosecuting this species of culture ON
millions Of acres now unoccupied. That a great
national saving can be made in this particular
Is manifest, but still greater advantages can
be secured by substituting the Juice of the
grape for the manufactured, and often adulte-
rated. liquors, imported as wines and for the
health destroying and maddening domestic dis
tillations from grain and molasses in general
use. There is room for the accomplishment of
much good in this respect, and this Office has
essayed the task Of inducing its performance,
not alone by the dissemination of correct in
formation, but also, first, by collecting and dis
triouting vine cuttings, both foreign and ma
tive; secondly, ascertaining their ad iptation to
soil and climate and thirdly, by determinny,
by exp ecment, the means OF impr wing them.
A present monied value may not be fixed
upon what has been done in this respect yet
great work has been commenced. competent
agent has been sent through the Southern and
Southwestern States, even to New Mexico in
pursuit of information in regard to the native
vines, and to procure cuttings of the same for
culture in other regions.
The representations Of this Office in relation
t. tho Cork oak" and the distribution of its
a;Orns, have induced the successful culture of
this tree In various parts Of the Middle and
Southern States, even as far north as College
Hill, near Cincinnati, in Ohio; and ID is 10 be
hoped thstthe policy may be generally adopt
ed In other available localities. As il is n
pleasing foliaeeous evergreen, and of somewhat
hardy constitution, its substitution for other
trees, which yield little or no profit, would in.
volve but little labor or expense; and vet IL
may be expected that we may derive benefits
from it, in fifteen or twenty years, and for cen.
turies thereafter. Our importation of cork and
corks in 1857 exceeded $3.50, ,000 and as the de-
mand, In time, will doubtless be greatly in
creased, We shall then be able to meet it with
domestic supply, the advantage of which will be
especially realized in connection with the wine
culture.
The opinion was expressed in the ApricuI.
tural report Of 1854, that the "Short- horned
Durham" or more properly the Improved
Short horn, is the most profitable breed of
cattle, in certain localities for meat or milk,
AMI the rsasons tor that opinion were set forth
at length, while portraits of animals of this
breed were given and their characteristics de-
scribed. In the Report Of the year following
the "Nor,h Devon:" with its peculiar excellen-
cies, was presented in like manner Previous 10
the publication OF these Reports, the cattle de-
s;ribed were not unknown in various parts of
the United States, nor were breeders, graziers,
and dairy men ignorant OF their good ualties;
but full appreciation of them had never been
evinced, nor general efforts made to induce
such ascheme as WAS then more than suggested
oy a recurrence to the fact that all the neat
cattle We possess-in 1850, numbering more
than Is Oee ,0ee, were the increase Of compara-
livery Few importations made within the past
three centuries. 10 substitute new breeds for
all OF these now here would not of course be
dincult; but to improve the existing stock by
crossing vain The imported animals was mani
festly . simple tssk-one that has been prose-
| cuted with renewed energy since that period.
aud an adherence to which must result before
long in great advantages
To what extent the country has pro6,ed. or
is likely 10 profit within few years, throush
this reform, or what credit the Patent Ofice
should receive for what il being done, NAV NOT
be fully determined; but ii is affirmed by 10 ,ny
Of the best informed persons in relation to this
| subject that, through this channel, the con
gressiOnal appropriations have been repaid to
the people many fold.