New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1867-12-26

THE NEW COMMISSIONER OF AGRICULTURE.

THE NEW COMMISSIONER or AGRICULTURE.
Prom oar special Couess-isat
yg,surNGros. De, 90. 1907.
4 tourney las beeu made 50 Washington for the
special purpose OF giving the readers Of TIE TRIBUNE
an account offthc new Commissioner of Agriculture
and Of the plans he proposes % adopt Col Horace
Capron - perhaps - years Of age. He has white
hair spri ghtly look quick etep, and Il business
turn. lie (, native Il Maryland. Some years ago
no became possessed OF about GO acres of land IN
Prince Georges County which was so completely
exhausted chat not enough grass could have been cut
from il 10 keep a COW over Winter Having some
capital hc went to work 20 restore this
land. Large quantities OF lime were bought to give
bash, To- the soil: 10 this added ashes, muck,
plaster, and other fertilizers, by which meaEs
stand Of clover obtained and aitcrward OF grass
Upon this foundation he was enabled to grow large
rope of grain and al times the fields produced over
100 bushels OF corn and from IS 20 even 80 bushels OF
wheat ~ the ncre. I'm connection Col. Capron be-
came interested in Devon cattle and he was so sue
cesfu in their breeding and care that he took prizes
wherever they were exhibited. Meanwhile, he CON
tributrd largely 10 agricultural literature partcu
larly in The Amoican Farmer of Baltimore and he
may be considered as one Of the founders OF this
species Of writing in this country.
In 1884 Mr. Capron removed TO McHenry County,
m. where he purchased q large farm. In connection
with farming he had engaged in manufactures and
he met with such rcyerses that In amanner he failed,
but no went TO work and with his own hands that
is, either IN driving oxen, or In holding the
plow ho broke up over 600 acres OF new pTalre'
Here he continued TO improve his De
yons: and at the great United States Far
held at Chicago, q drew the highest prizes. About
ten years NO no removed TO Peoria County IN the
same state Notwithstanding Col. Caprons efforts
10 introduce the DtyOus they have not proved UNI
Versal fayortes a. they do not take on iicsh equally
with the DuIhams, nor are tney CtlepIateu loi
milk. But Tor working cattl9 thsy nave no SUI
rior. Their bnght-red, beautiful form, ana gentle
ness, give them great value on the ihln'
and when graded with common stock, so as To
preserve the red, they have become enduring
and heavy mixers Upon the commencement of the
War Mr CGpron volunteered, and served as Colonel,
with the appreciation Of his feow-soldiers and citl-
gems In many respects Col. Capron resembles many
intelligent planters who several years ago, removed
from Kentucky to Illinois aud by their love OF eonn,
try, by their hospitality and courteous but unaffected
manners they have done much TO adOrn the society
of the Prairie State. Practical men VIII note
that Col. CaprOn brings 10 his department quail
ties not often found IN one OF ms proession-that IS
a knowledge of the methods tor restoring w0Tn-out
land-a practical experience IN hard work, ana what
ever uses arise from adversely
In my interview with Col. CaprOn found HIM free
to mpart his yioWs far they were matured, and
| they may be stated about IA follows: The practice
of distributing seeds except those which are new ana
| rare will be discontinued. The expenditures must
not exceed the appropriations and already retrench-
ment has commenced by the discharge Of those hith-
erto employed in the seed department. He VIII so.
lici correspondence with leading farmers throughout
the whole country, aud he is more inclined to make
| the agricultural press the medium of whatever III
| formation he may have TO impart, than to have
| medium Of his own. Whether it will DO useful to
send out a periodical estimate of crops he
| has not yet decided. In particular he
would like to the assistance of the different
| State organizations and no would rather speak Tor
! them than to them. He does not claim TO know what
is best and be said with emphasis that we have mnen
Ia learn in short his idea that the most good VIII
arise from mutual support and good will between the
Department and the agricultural press and the tal
mers generally. lilo finds that a reorganization OF
| the Departnent is necessary, aud as Congress mas
uassed resolution calling upon him FOR information