The Tipton advertiser. [volume] (Tipton, Cedar Co., Iowa) 1856-1962, 1861-01-03

niggardly man you have written into a
position Of importancs far beyond his
merits, considers that his name adorns
your columns, and gises circulation to
your journal"
o@oe Of the sscrstary u he Iowa state)
Agricultural College and Farm,
| DEs MoINEs, Iowa, Sept 1860.
Dear .S;r:-Permit me to call your at
tention to the following sections Of the law
detailing the principal aqties imposed upon
this office:
SECTION, 81. The trpstees shall elect at
their first annual messing in.I anUary, 1859,
and every two years tbere4ker, Secreta-
ry from their own number, who shall hold
his Office two years, and until his successor
is elected and qualified. He shall reside
at the Capital of the State, and have an
office in the legislative building. 1t shall
be his duty to keep record of the trans
actions of the board of trustees and college
and farm, which shall be open at all times
to the inspection of any citizen of this
State. He shall also have the custody of
all books, papers, documents and other
property which may be deposited in his
office, including specimens of the vegetable
and animal Kingdoms of the State or coun.
ty; also keep and file all reports which
may be made from time to time by coun
ty and State Agricultural and Horticultu-
raj Societies, and all correspondence of the
Office from other persons and societies, ap-
pertaining to the general business of hus-
bandry; address circulars to societies and
the best practical farmers in the State and
elsewhere, with the view nf a,,ici,ing infor-
nation upon the newest and best mode Of
culture of those products, vegetables aud
trees, ETC., adapted to the soil and climate
of this State; also, on all subjects connect
ed with field culture, horticulture, stock
raising and the dairy. He shall encourage
the formation f agricultural societies
throughout the State, and purchase, receive
and distribute such rare and valuable
plants, shrubbery and trees as may be in
his power to procure from the general gov
ernment and other sources, as may be
adapted to our climate and soils. He
shall also encourage the importation Of
improved breeds of horses, asses, cattle,
sheep, hogs, and other live stock: the nven-
tion and improvement of labOr-saving i'm
Plements of husbandry and dffilse infor-
nation in relation to the same; and manu-
tacture of woolen and cotton yarns and
cloths, and domestic industry in weaving
spinning, knitting, sewing and such other
household arts as are calculated to promote
the general thrift, wealth and resources of
the State. He shall make report in
writing to the General Assembly at every
session thereof, and to the Governor in
each year when the Legislature is not in
session, on the first day of February, ofall
transactions Of his office ofa public charac-
ter, including full statement ofthe receipts
and expenditures of the college and farm,
and of his own Office, and at such other
times as the Governor or Legislature may
require. He shall give bond in the sum
of thirty thousand dollars, with good secu-
rity, for the faithful discharge of the duties
of his Office.
Sec. %. The seeds, plants, trees and
shrubbery received by the Secretary, shall
be, as far as possible, distributed equally
throughout the State and placed only in
the hands Of those farmers and others who
will cultivate them properly, and return to
the Secretary's Office, reasonable proper
tion Of the products thereof with full
statement of the mode of cultivation, and
such other information as may be necessa
ry to ascertain their value for general cul-
tivation in the State. All information in
regard to agriculture, obtained by the Sec.
retary, of an important character, may be
published by him. from time to time. in
the newspapers of the State, provided it
does not involve any expense to the
State.
Sec. %. The Secretary shall collect and
file in his Office the agricultural statistics
OF each organized county in the State.
You will perceive that these duties are
so comprehensive as to connect them with
every principal industrial pursuit of the
State, to secure, as far as this office can be
made instrumental in so doing, the most
economical production Of everything in ag-
riculture and the arts which tend to the
general thrift of the State, and which serve
to make us truly an independent people.
So far as the small annual appropriation
for this purpose has permitted, seeds, &c
for garden and field culture have been dis
tributed over the State to two or three
and sometimes dozen or more parties in
each county, principally through agents
and members Of the Legislature. More
have been expected and asked for than
this Office had ability to supply. The
quantity to each was necessarily limited to
such an amount as would be sufficient
merely to test their value and adaptabiity
to our climate, soil and wants. The par
ties who obtained them were required to
report on these heads and reserve one
third of the seed product, subject to the or.
der of this Office, through its agents. which
amount was designed to be distributed to
other parties in the counties where produc-
ed, SO that in time, all who desired might
be supplied. Owing to unfavorable sea
sons and other causes beyond the control
Of this office, there were partial or total
failures, with perhaps half the varieties Of
seeds distributed-in other Districts en-
bracing perhaps half Of the State, there
was general success; but nearly all who re-
ceived seed directly or indirectly from this
Office, even when successful, have in most