The daily exchange. [volume] (Baltimore, Md.) 1858-1861, 1859-01-13
BALTIMORE.
THURSDAY, JANUARY 13, 1859.

Among the books annually published by order
Of Congress, there are none that could be made
more interesting, more practically usefu--espe-
cially to the producing class-than that volume of
the Patent Office Reports which relates to Agricul
ture. Unfortunately, the utter want of systematic
arrangement, which the previous volumes indi-
Gated, by no means tended to promote the purpose
for which the publication was designed That
vast amount of valuable information NAV be found
scattered throughout the series, is undoubtedly
true but it is not less true that it has been pre-
sented in such shape as to render it compare
lively useless to the great majority of Farmers The
usual course adopted by the Department of the In
terror has been TO send circulars to all parts of the
UNION inviting the Planters and Farmers to an
swer certain specified questions with regard to the
crops grown IN their particular districts the cost
of production, and the price each article produced
would bring in the nearest market These re-
sponses, are frequently imperfect, and in some
instances wholly neutrality-suspicious. coming
from the same neighborhood-an are published in
the official Report without note or comment, or any
special regard TO order. This mass of crude
material constitutes a large proportion of each
volume, and those who desire to derive any infor-
nation from it, are left to get at it in the best
manner they are able. There it s-dumped down
before them like cart-load of mixed apples
hand-picked and wind fallen, sound and rotten
all jumbed together, and demanding much patient
labor to separate each kind to ITSELF and the good
from the bad Now, though the farmer might
venture to undertake this in the case of the apples
especially if they required to be assorted for
market, it is not often that he possesses the skill
and critical acumen requisite TO collate compare,
condense, and re-arrange the incongruous mass of
matter which is set before him in the Agricultural
Reports that emanate from the Department of the
Interior. work addressing itself particularly to
farmers, whether published in the usual way, or
by authority of Government, should be dis
tnguished forts systematic arrangement and for its
general clearness, simplicity, and precision or it
will fail to justify the expense of publication In
the Annual Report which is issued by the Agr-
cultural Bureau at Washington, there is certainly
no excuse for any deficiency in this respect
Ample means for obtaining the requisite informa-
ton are placed at the disposal of the Department;
salaried officers duly appointed to make a
careful digest of the abundant material which is
within easy reach; extravagant prices are paid
for printing and binding the work. and the result
oughtto be- what it certainly never has yet been
perfect book. On the contrary it is difficult to
say which is worst, the literary character of the
book itself or its mechanical execution. With
the exception of some tolerably good ESSAYS
on Geoponics, and the allied sciences there is no
evidence whatever of any special pains having
been taken to make it even crediable in literary
point of view, whilst the aim of the public printer
appears to have been to see how nearly he could
bring down the appearance of the book to the Slip
shod nature of its contents. And yet, the cost of
each volume to the Government would justify its
eeng printed from new types, on hot-pressed paper
and bound in the best Turkey morocco. IF Con-
gress will continue TO authorize the publication of
books for popular distribution, we trust that they
will take such action in future as shall prevent
the issue of them in n style that reflects dis
grace upon the Government An attempt has
recently been made to remedy the most glarine
OF the defects which characterized the previous
Agricultural Reports. Instead of sending out
circulars, In quest of information, the Sec
RETARY Of the INTERIOR has invited number
of gentlemen residing in various sections of
the UNION TO assemble at Washington, "for
1.-THE purpose of consultation and conference,
IN the expectation that from their discussions,
" debates and addresses a mass of information can
" be gathered more valuable and more practical
than by the former method of procuring responses
" to circulars issued from that Department The
Advisory Board is now in session at the Cant |
tai, but we question whether much good will come |
offs deliberations What is chiefly wanted is a |
thorough revision of the Agricultural Bureau
both in its system of management and the choice
of officers occupying places in that Department, -
But so long as the influence of individuals as poll
tclans, rather than their fitness for the positions
which they are chosen TO FILL constitutes the chief
claim TO such appointments, we can scarcely hope
to find ''the right men in The right Places