Bradford reporter. [volume] (Towanda, Pa.) 1844-1884, 1867-02-28
Three-fourths of the population of

mining, nSnlng, hunting, &C. ana IL
is the design of the Agricultural De.
partment to bring these, as it were,
into a common Observation-Disclosures
of the same school, guided by the
same scientific principles-in order to
secure such wise distribution of Ia
Dor that each farmer will be able to
devote himself to that speciality which
science teaches is best adapted to the
soil and climate of the spot on which
God has given him habitation.
Looking at the agricultural indus
try as now organized, political econo-
mists assume that it does not afford
the range for that division of labor
which is found in other pursuits, and
seem to have despaired of its attain
ing that perfection to be found else
where. The agriculturist is not SO
much occupied in one as in miscella-
neous class of duties, too varied to
realize that dexterity and thorough
ness obtained in other pursuits
Boys and women are made useful in
its operations, but they are not so
continuous or profitable as the employ
ment Of manufactures. Undoubtedly
this science may be brought to that
degree of perfection that the division
of labor will supply profitable and
continuous employment for every
member and child, so far as is consis-
tent with bodily organization and
mental culture.
1t has only been within few years
that any attempt has been made by
the national Government to organize
agricultural industry upon its proper
basis, and the Hon. Isaac Newton,
the present able and efficient head of
the Department of Agriculture, is the
first practical mind who has laid hold
of the project with prospect of sue
cessfully combining all the product
i've resources of the country, and by
a rational and free division of agricul-
tural industries to afford constant and
remuperative employment, which will
insure skill and thorOughness equal
to that attained in other branches OF
industry, and yet with leisure suffi-
cient for mental culture. This will
place our agricultural population in
advance Of any other in intelligence.
refinement, education and wealth, and
make our American Union in all the
elements of civilization far in advance
of any other nation now upon earth,
and above any in the past which his
tory records.
Commissioner Newton wisely sug-
gests the Importance of erecting at
once a magnificent building adapted
to all the varied needs of this great
interest, with a museum to contain
every seed, plant, fibre, and every
mineral and geological specimen of
the globe, together with every ami
NAL whether for food or service, show
ing the types of the various breeds
and the purposes to which they are
severally adapted.
The favor already bestowed by Con-
gress in the establishment of agricul-
tural colleges in the several States
leads us to hope that the able and
timely suggestion of the Commission
er for the creation of agricultural
statistics throughout the country, with
proper laboratories and suitable in
structors to test by experiment on the
spot the soil and climate of each To-
cality, and the purposes for which
they are best adapted, will be apprOv-
ed and carried out.
A great labor the Commissioner has
ascertained the number, price, and
value of all animals used for food or
labor, all cereals, wool, or other agri-
cultural produsts, in t h several
States, thus effecting incalculable ben
eft upon commercial dealings, and at
the same time arresting the ruinOus
practice of spectators.
The man who causes two blades Of
grass to spring from the same spot on
which only one sprouted before has
heen usually pronounced greater
benefit to his kind than all the poll
ticians combined. And just as certain
it is that as one bushel of improved
seed what will yield nearly twenty for
one, so will every dollar invested by
Congress in facilitating the growth
and Improvement of agricultural pro-
ducts through seeds, cuttings, fibres,
farm stock, &c, yield fourfold to the
farmer, and enable him to return to
the Government in amount of taxes
its original outlay over and over
again.