Saint Paul weekly Minnesotian., 1859-07-02
Our Washington Correspondence.-.A e
rfculsure, Bread, Wheat.

DEAR SIR:-Just at this time when the !;
country is crying for bread when the poor
know what it is to suffer want in our glorious i,
Republic; when the present is pinching, and
the future hangs upon the uncertainties oi 8
hope everything of encouragement upon the {
subject of field-culture is specially important
and interesting Il
1t is high time that this subject should take
precedence of many others that now enjoy
the fostering care Of government A few
years back we exported as high as twenty'slx
and one half millions of bushels; this year
we largely import to supply our domestic
wants. In the meantime a new competitor
has appeared, supplying the markets OF Great
Britain. France-how strange; France, which
We supposed was producing nothing but Bull
Frogs, soldiers, grapes, potatoes and brown
bread. should suddenly teem up with gran
aries full of wheat; and last year supplied to
the British market ten million tac0 hundred |
and sirty-seuen thousand seuen hundred ana |
seysnty bushels. Think Of that. These are
facts to reason upon; they involve more than
appears on the surface. Great problems these
for political economists; Jacobin France per-
isbed from starvation, while Imperial France
is iublant with prosperity. Make out OF this
what you please, there is the fact.
But let us leave these general subjects ana
come to small matters; that is, small by COM
parison.
In the winter SIN. you list of wheat COL
lected from every nook and Granny OF the
globe for experimental growth. These plants
are now almost matured, and the experiment
as far as the Agricultural Bureau can 60, on
the pitiful sum allowed by Congress, will be
invaluable to the country.
The plan for these experiments was to di-
vide the ground into a great number ofsquares.
Each alternate space was planted in the fal'
and the vacant space this spring, in order TO
; test every variety as fall and also spring
wheat. The entire result will be given to the
country when the experiment is complete.
1t is a great pleasure to see the wheat from
; Egypt, from Syria, from Turkey, Poland, Rus
sia, France, &C., &C., running the race, side
!, by side, for supremacy in the soil Of the new
world. The wheat from the country near
, Constaptinople is most advanced toward ma
turity.
In the government grounds, under care OF
I the Agricultural Bureau, are also seven thou
sand seedless grapes from Egypt; and large
growth of Lady fingers; 100000 vines from
Ell Passo, besides specimens of all the mat'o
. grapes from all the States, which the office has
4 been able to procure.
S The object of these experiments as Of cours
to determine definitely the true value ant
y properties of each variety; and to publish tn
IL results at the proper time.
70 Here is also the Aztec Cotton; Clover iron
~ Alexandria in full growth; the Nahonaa
Is which is said to be superior to the currant
u Sweet potatoes from Liberia !; Onions fror
T. Eaypt: Radishes from China; Seedles
Plums from Teas Hempt palms from Ch
le na; Chorchorus Oletorius, (soup plant froi
IT Egypt Pyretheum caucaceum, or Bug klllel
3 from Siberia (This is the plant from whlc
* the celebrated magnetic porder is made, an
al sold to destroy vermin. In Russia whole vi
lagos live by cultivating this plant, and tra'
10 elers, who apprehcnd too many bed-fellow
IT. sprinkle the sheets with this powder befol
y retiring.) Here too are Date palms, and sy
y amore Figs of the identical kind, and take
for ought know, from the very spot where
u "Zacheus he
lt- Did climb the tree
His Lord and Master
For to See.'
But the great experiment upon which Il
hopes and affection of the Bureau are conce
ay trated, is the 100 900 Tea plants. Oh yes! tht
he have here charming little grove Of the re
nj live thing itself, brought with great care IL
ia, entire distance in q growing condition. Shou
ly, this experiment succeed in all its details, +
of the growth no doubt remains, it must AZ
rs, Immensely to the wealth of the country
,ut Last year, learn from the Treasury Repo,
at we imported from the Celestials no less th'
21 80, ,OOO, 900 of pounds. Look at that too.'
In Plenty of Tea, but no bread.
IN. 1t is we'll known to travellers that the st,
In we drink in such quantities, called tea, cou
scarcely be recognised in China. tits thoug
- that the culture in this cosHtEy, while it "
Sc, retain here the money now sent abroad, v
,m supply us with very superior article, of su
ed strength that one pound will equal three
led the Chinese tea.
k Here too is growing the Olea .fragrans, us
On, in China to impart delicate flavor to tn
ict choicest teas.
ort It's but proper to add that all these plan
,pe cuttings, and seeds are, at the proper tin
ed, for public distribution.
es. If so much is done, and being done, on t
.ck miserable pittance allowed TO the Agricultul
ore fund by Congress, what might not be dol
hey with generous support, judiciously manage
ays But even this small Agricultural fund, I
of moiety of what is bestowed upon any otf
on branch of government, is subject to the in
'th, sion of political vandalism. In our COUNT
ted it appears to be impossible to protect a
un- branch of the public service, even Of arts a
lost science, from the depredations of congressi'
tied al demagogues. Wherever dollar is to
To disbursed the political harpy pursues it
Nine tenths of the creatures sent to Congr
and employ their time while here collecting pol
Tere cal capital to ensure reelection. Witht
ans, abilities to figure in Congress, they beta
now themselves to the Departments, and rums
mid the offices for such scraps Of plundcr as tn
. lit cau pick up. The Department of Interior
'ow- particularly liable to these annual invasion
ed a A cart load Of odd volumes; a bushel or I
fter of daisy seed, &C., &C., makes good politi
With capital for a see6ly aspirant. The worst of
is these fellows have votes, and unless D.
live stoned in this manner, will vote to dest,