Rutland weekly herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1859-1877, 1867-12-26
RUTLAND HERALD.
MONDAY, DECEMBER 81, 1867
The Annual Report OF the Acting
Commissioner OF Agriculture,

We are in receipt OF the annual re-
port OF Hon. John W. Stokes, the Acting
Commissioner OF Agriculture, which on |
examination will be found To be con-
densed aud Intelligent survey, not only |
Of the immediate operations OF that de-
psrtment, but valuable exposition OF
the present condition of agriculture In
sll sections OF the country, giving good
evidence OF the usefulness ofthis depart.
ment of the general government. At the
stand point 1t occupies in the collection
of facts and the results OF observation,
the monthly and annual reports give the
American farmer a better general sur
vey of his profession than is given by
any other nation to the same class OF its
Inhabitants.
This report opens with general re-
marks upon the progress of Agriculture
IS increased by the quickened mental
activities o. the farmer exhibited in the
demand for books and newspapers per-
tanning to that branch OF industry, rs
we'll as the disposition to experiment
with and test labor saving improve
ments, and the growing inclination TO
employ in the art OF husbsndry, money,
business energy and active enterprise,
which are so successfully employed In
other departments Of business. This
point is also made apparent from the
TACT that in lS47 only IS agricultural
patents were issued, while during ten
months of the present, no less than l77I
were granted. Thus the number OF ag-
ricultural inventions have been increased
forty fold in twenty years. On the other
hand attention is called TO, and note OF
warning uttered, in reference to the i'm
providence and reckless waste which is
stripping the fairest fields of :he wealth
OF their fertility, especially in the west,
in the wheat raising communities.
The question Of railroad trausporta-
ton crom the west to the east Of the
products of the farm is discussed, taking
the view that those corporations which
have received the aid OF the government
for the very purpose Of furnishing facili-
ties for the transportation Of the fru its
of agriculture, as they grow strong, dis
regard the general welfare, discriminate
unfairly against the farm products, re-
curing much the larger portion Of the
value Of the crops for transporting them
TO market. In this connection, q hope
is expressed that Congress may early fa.
cilitate the construction OF a ship canal
or the building of double track
freight railway for the transportation Of
western products from the lakes TO the
ocean. The wool interest Is briefly re-
ferred 10 and is considerably and intel
lIgently discussed. The agricultural
condition and facilities OF the Souther n
States are made the subject of an inter-
estlDg portion Of the documents, and its
views are enforced by dgures and Stats
tics, which show hat the Southern
States vie with the Western In the extent
OF uuoccupied lands, showing that at
the best calculation little more than
Eve per cent. Of the area Of the South is
annually cultivated.
The operations Of the department are
presented in detail, making it evident
that it is a most valuable aid to the in
dustry of the country in its experiments
and operations, in the distribution OF
seeds, its propagating garden, expert
mental farm, chemical laboratory, and its
department OF statistics. While there is
much c.amor on the part Of certain pol
itciaus in the country against the oper.
atoms Of the agricultural department,
the candid farmer, on reading this re-
port, will acknowledge its usefulness,
sud defend it against politicians. The
farmer must stand by this institution
provided by the government for his
bent dt against all the cslumnies of pol
itlcisns or political parties.