Muscatine weekly journal. [volume] (Muscatine, Iowa) 185?-1890, 1863-11-06

ing"
For the Journal
Extract from the ssCOmditiOn of the
Crops for the month of septem-
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
WASHINGTON, Oct, 1868.
In submitting his report of the condition of
the crops for the month of September, 1868,
the Commissioner of Agriculture gratefully
acknowledges the active co operation of the
farmers, and the various agricultural societies,
in the transmission of statistical and other
information pertaining to the crops of the
country, which add so much to the impor.
lance of these reports.
In view of the great interests connected
with this department, and which demand its
fostering care, he feels impelled to invite their
attention to some considerations which have
not, as he believes, been heretofore suggested,
and which have an important bearing upon
the advancement of those interests. The
inexhaust,ble resources at our disposal, our
widespread prairies and alluvial valleys,
afford the means of subsistence to many mil
lions, and these means will continue largely
to increase as we add to the improvements of
the soil and its culture, and multiply the IA
cilit!es for successful prosecution of the art
of husbandry.
The subsistence of our immense army and
navy, and the revenues on which our govern
ment has not relied in vain for payment of it's
immense current expenses for crushing out
this causeless and unnatural rebellion, all are
derived, directly or indirectly, from the pro-
ductions of our soil. And the more and the
earlier we can increase those productions by
the appliances of science and art, and by in
PRODUCING improved seeds and valuable
articles Of produce, the easier and the sooner
will the debt be extinguished which that
wicked rebellion has made necessary to pre-
serve this government and nation. By such
improvements, not only will the produce per
acre be increased, but the value of the pro-
ducts themselves will be enhanced, and we
shall be the better enabled to compete with
other nations in supplying food to the mil
lions OF Europe; thus gathering wealth in
return and making our country more than
ever the granary of the world, and our farm
ers the stay and staff of our government in
all the vicissitudes of peace or war;
1t is the aim Of this department to do what
it can to promulgate the knowledge which is
indispensable 10 the prosperity of the farmer
and producer as sure means of promoting the
general good Of the country. Everything
which has tendency to benefit the tillers Of
the soil. is an advantage to the hole COM
munity, for their interests are reciprocal and
inseparabe; and as the general good is pro-
NOTED by the fostering of the agricultural
interest, it becomes the duty of those who
are entrusted with the management and
direction of public affairs to give special at
tention to this great interest which lies at the
foundation of our national greatness.
1t is undoubtedly true that the agricultural
is the most important interest of the country,
and that it is an advantage to the govern
ment to protect the industry of the people,
especially when directed to so indispensable
an end as the means Of subsistence. 1t is
also true that those who are engaged in this
branch of industry outnumber all the other
classes put together, and yet comparatively
little has been done in the way of legislation
to encourage and promote the success of agri-
culture. 1t is believed that one reason WIN
the subject has met with so little attention at
the hands of the national legislature is, that
their constituency have not urged it upon
them as zealously as proper regard to the
subject demanded. And the object of the
commissioner in now adverting to it is to in
duce those who are Immediately interested in
the subject to press as an argument upon
their repre- 'entatives the Importance and the
justice of bestowing upon this great interest
that consideration which a due regard for the
general welfare demands
A thorough system of scie ltific and prac
teal education in all the branches of agrlcul
ture is certainly Of the highest importance,
and while the department is doing whatit can
with the means at its disposal in the promo
ton Of knowledge on the subject, it is believ-
ed that the establishment by the government
of an experimental farm and agricultural
school would afford large and better facilities
for the requirement of a thorough education,
which is so indispensable to successful pros
ecution of the profession of husbandry. We
have only to look to the activity with which
agricultural schools have been founded on the
continent of Europe, and especially in Great
Britain, if we desire to ascertain the estima-
ton in which such institutions are held there.
Few Of the leading German States have ne
elected to provide, at public expense, some
or other designed for the improve
ment Of agriculture.
In the kingdom of Prussia there are sew
eral well-sustained schools with extensive
model farms, comprising, in the aggregate,
over five thousand acres of land. Botanic
gardens and valuable herbariums are also
provided, with other facilities for the educa-
ton of youths designed for husbandry.
About twenty years since the Emperor of
Russia established a school in the neighbor-
borhood of st. Petersburg, which has been
attended with much success.
The imperial schools of France have exert
ed wide influence in the agricultural pro-
gress Of that country. Austria, Bavaria,
Saxony, all have their institutions for the
increase and dissemination of agricultural
knowledge, and the English government has
been constant and decidedly successful in its
support Of schools established for the educa-
ton Of the farmer and the protection of his
rights.
Each congressional district could be. repre-
sented by farmers eager to enlarge the
boundaries Of their information, and the
aspiring youth upon whom the country de-
ponds for the development of its resources in
the future, could be trained up to usefulness
and honor in the most material of industrial
pursuits.
As this project would require the authority
of Congress, and an appropriation of the
means Of carrying it into execution, it is sug-
gested, especially to those Immediately inter.
ested in agriculture, and to all of our citizens
who are benefited by an advancement of this
interest, to do oil they can in Influencing their
to give to the subject that con-
which its importance demands, and
from which the most beneficial results will
certainly ensue; and the commissioner will
be pleased to receive an expression Of the
opinions of those interested in this subject
The commissioners derives great encourage.
ment 10 the advancement Of these views BY
the very general interest manifested by the