The Washington union. [volume] (City of Washington [D.C.]) 1857-1859, 1858-12-10


most every village aud psofessorshps la our colleges
have been instituted with the view OF impessng upon
the young student the advantages OF scientific knowl
edge in its application 10 production.
Among the primary advantages of this official agency
may be enumerated uniformity of method concurrence
OF action and the communication OF results TO com
mon centre Tor comparison and elaboration and subse
quent judcious publication Although 1t may be adj
mitted that experiments have been made and seeds dis
tributed, which have proved of little profit yet, in n
country possessed OF great variety OF soil and eli
mate, IL wise TO essay the propagation of every plant
aordng any hone of usefulness especially as each sue
cess would more than compensate for all the cost and
trouble attending many instances of failure. few ex-
amples of this character may with popety be here cited
The apparently waning sugar culture of the United States
has been renyigorated by the introduction of rattoons
of new varieties from Demarara and Caracas The sue
cess attending the culture Of tho Chinese sugar In
the southern middle and western States has been great
ly augmented, fully equalng all that anticipated
from IT, IL is believed that not less than hundred thou
sand have this year been devoted its culture for
strip making and forage for stock for both which pur
poses it is generally, If not universally pronounced adj
mirably adapted OF the cereals the different Varieties
of wheat and barley introduced from regions adjacent
TO the Mediterranean and from France highly APP
precated by intelligent farmers. The chufa, which
obtained from Spain and extensively distributed has been
successfully cultivated 1t is believed in every State in
the Union From the recent analysis OF this tuber,
well as from the testimony of many cutvators the be-
lief is warranted that it will prove of great value. The
cork oak also introduced from SPAIN has found much
favor that large supply of acorns has been ordered
In conformity with plans for promoting the culture of
the grape and the manufacture of wine effort is in
progress to collect the Indigenous vines and after
res of experiments TO induce the cultivation of the
approved varieties in their appropriate localities.
1t Is believed that the effort making to obtain in
formation in regard to the several varieties of the tea
plant the soils and climates best adapted to their growth
and the methods pursued in their culture and subsequent
preparation for and consumption, is the most
earnest and likely to prove the most decisive that has
been made in this country in Europe and it Is
hoped that before the expiration of another year. de-
of progress will have been attained in this enterprise
upon which to base intelligent opinion respecting its
ultimate In view Of the facts, that the importa
ton of the grape and its products, raisins, wne and
brandy as shown in the average Of four years ending
with 1887 involves annual expenditure OF Sc 1885,
and of ten of 1884, and that the domestic produc
tion by insurng unauthorized and cheaper commodities
in commerce, will increase the consumption it will not
be thought that too much attention is given to these sub
jects.
The entomoogs in this branch Of the service has been
stationed in the region of the St. Johns river Florida
where he is occupied in Investigations relative to the in
scots infesng the orange tree and cotton plant in the
hope OF devsng to destroy them prevent the
injuries they nic and in noting all the accidents and
diseases to which this and plant liable, and
deavorng to ascertain the thereof and the most
efficient prcvcntiycs and remedies
The result of the researches of the chemists during the
past year recorded in the Report Agriculture for
1857 These persons have been employed during the
present year Analysing the ash of the tobacco plants
and their soils, found in Massachusetts, Maryland,
Kentucky, Florida and the Island of Cuba chemical
examination has also been ordered to ascertain the
position Of the soils Of East Florida peculiarly adapted
to the growth Of Sea Island cotton
presenting these portion of the objects to which
the liberal grants made by Congress for the advancement
of agriculture have been appropriated, would remark
that in view Of the fact that is emphacally
try of cheap lands where every citizen inclined may
easily become landed proprietor, and that large
proportion of the people devong themselves to the
81 n, fhn
government has acted prodigally unwisey in attempt
ing in its legislation to elevate agriculture essential to
our wealth and prosperity nation at least to
equality with other pursuits
In closing this report, take pleasure in commencing
to your favorable notice. tho fidelity and prompness with
which the officers connected with the Department of the
Interior have discharged their respective duties.
am, sir, very respectfully, your obcdicnt servant,
j. THOMPSON,
Secretary of the Interior
The PRESIDENT of the United States. . ~.