Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1863-01-01
THE DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE.

THE DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE.
We notice several motions in the House, ask.
ing for information regarding this new Depart
ment. If these are intended to bring from the
Commissioner a statement as to his disposition
of the annual appropriations or what is spent Of
it, snd the general conduct of his Office, we
nothing amiss in them. The Jaw creating the
Department directs that the Commissioner shall
make an annual report, and special reports
whenever required by the President or by
either House or Congress, and we presume that
he is qnite ready to do so. But if the resou-
tions are offered with view TO throw discredit
upon the Department, or TO inaugurate an eff
fort for its embarrassment or adjustment, we
sincerely regret their presentation.
For long years the agricultural interests of
the country have been sadly neglected by the
general Government. TO bureau in the Pa
tent Office, with which agriculture has no nee
essary or even natural connection, has been con.
fided the charge Of official communication with,
and provision for, most important class Of
our citizens; those whose occupation has, from
heallhful, the most useful, and the most noble
employment of man."
1t has been a matter of surprise that while
even the smaller kingdoms OF Europe and Cam
ada have had their ministers of agriculture, and
have annually made large appropriations for
the encouragement Of The art so little has been
done in this country in the way Of an official
recognition of its claims. This surprise has
been increased when the vast agricultural re-
sources Of the country have been properly con-
sdered The late Professor Johnston, of Scot
land, estimated that nne-tenths of all the fixed
capital of the world is embarked in agriculture.
The census of 1860 shows that this proper
ton is maintained Tor nearly SOY in the United
States; and in the New York trade tables de-
monstrae that in the year ending September q,
1862, the amount of wheat and -four sent from
the United States to Great Britain and the Con-
tinent exceeded that of the previous year by
over seren millions Of bushels.
Estimating the force OF our army land its
employees) in the field mt one million, and the
rations per diem to each man at twenty-five
ounces of -four, it requires for its supply for a
year. of wheat IL, 500 900 bushels What other
country in the world could feed such an army
and yet increase its exports of breadstuffs?
The appropriation of 100000 10 the Depart.
ment of Agriculture, is by no means sufficient
to enable il TO perfect such an organization and
accomplish such a work as its friends desire
Compared with the sums given to foster other
and less important interests than those of agri
culture, it is altogether insignificant and out OF
proportion. Nevertheless the Commissioner
has, during the six months in which the new
Department has been in operation, infused into
it a degree of system and efficiency never dis
tinguisling the old bureau.
The President, who has ever been a warm ad-
vocate of the Department, thus alludes, in his
recent message, to what it has accomplished
and expresses his confidence in its future.
"Within the period of few months this ID e
partment has established an extensive system
of correspondence and exchanges, both at home
and abroad, which promises to effect highly
beneficial results in the development of cor
rect knowledge of recent improvements in agri
culture, in the introduction Of new products
and in the collection OF the agricultural stats
tics of the different States.
alt will soon be prepared 10 distribute lorgel
seeds, cereals, plants and cuttings, and has al
ready published and literally diffused much va
liable information in anticipation of a more ell
aborate report, which WILL in due, time, be fur
nished, embracing some valuable tests in chem
ical science now in progress in the laboratory.
"The creation of this Department was for tn
more immediate benefit of very large class O
our most valuable citizens; and trust that tn
basis upon which it has been organized will nc
only meet your appreciation, but that it will re
alize, at no distant day. all the fondest antic
nations of its most sanguine friends, and becom
the fruitful source of advantage TO all our pee
pie"
This is a commentator which we think wi