Rutland weekly herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1859-1877, 1868-01-30
THE RUTLAND HER AID
TUESDAY. JANUARY rs, 1865,
rse Dspar,msa, OF Agriculture,

sue pepartmeut of Asfieuiturs
The new Commissioners II Agricul,ur
commences his administration with
vigor and intelligence which forbod,
that new era Is todawn upon the burea
he has in charge. The agriculturists {
the country have been for long perio
aware that but little Of practical yalu
Was emenating from this branch ,unde
Mr. Newton, and the whole agriculture
press have denounced its management
But the new order Of things leads ,hei
." take courage that il viii now he ~ al
ministered as 10 benefit the class i, WI
established specially to aid and eneourag,
Its condition had attracted the attentio
OF Congress, and on the 9th OF January
resolution was adopted, calling upon tn
Commissioner for information as 10 il
condition and what legislation was neces
sary to enable him to so reorganize tn
department as TO place it upon footin,
commensurate with the vast interest
committed to his charge. On the 18th o
January Mr.. Capron. sent in reply, Civ
ing summary Of its condition and hi
views upon what changes were needed
and the report indicates that he under
stands fully the wants Of the interest,
committed to his care, and that due econ
omy may be observed in carrying forward
the business Of the department
He reviews the importance Of agricul.
tare, and expresses his opinion that in its
prosperity and its endorsements the
different departments of business more or
less share. Oftentimes, even farming,
the great branch Of industry on which all
Others rest, is sneered at by those in other
walks of life, but they think not Of Il,
extent; yet let them once consider the
statistics. By the census of 1860, the
whole number of persons in the United
States engaged at that time in manufao.
lures and kindred branches was 2OI7..
ooS; and of those engaged in commerce
and commercial pursuits, 757,773: while
the number engaged in Agricultural Oh
erations was 1881 ,5s3, Surprising the
combined numbers engaged in both the
other pursuits by over six hundred thous-
and. The cash value of the farms in
1850, a. given in the census was $3,211..
SIS, 496, and in 1860, s6,85O,s12, 5O', the
value being more then doubled in the in
tervening decade. Their numbers are
rapidly increasing and their achievements
do not nag-and as remarked by a dis
tngushed Writer, 'the annual fruits of
their industry have reached prominence
and magnitude every where seen and felt
and everywhere acknowledged to be with
out q parallel. American industry has
made its mark in the world, not only by
the intrinsic value, but equally by the
quantity of its products. The unex-
ampled amounts of grain and provisions
which it has annually poured into the
channels Of commerce have Justly chal-
lenged the attention and amazement of
mankind.
The Commissioner points out the fail
ures OF the several branches of the depart
ment, and makes wise and prudent sug-
gestions as to future operations and the
changes TO be made to secure the needed
reform and stop the unnecessary drains
that are being made upon its resources
He especially notes the practical failure
in the distribution of seeds, but does not
consider it ground for encouragement
OF the future efficacy of the department
in this respect, and believes the seed de-
partment can be placed upon basis of
extensive and permanent usefulness. The
importance Of the propagating garden is
urged, and fully points out the objects
and aims Of the experimental branch Of
II An enlargement of the experimental
farm is suggested, that the growing evil
OF the deterioration Of the productiveness
Of the soil may be checked, and to invite
and guide those concerned into more
healthful and productive means of cult
vation. Also, that collateral subjects may
be considered, such as drainage, farm in
closures and fences, and especially the
production of such plants as are best
adapted for hedges or live fences, farm
accounts, laboratory tests, the laying out
Of lands with artistic skill, ornamental
trees and shrubs Also his views Of the
value Of statistical information and the
agricultural museum and laboratory are
fully presented. We enumerate these
various branches that our agriculturists
may appreciate the extent and value at
tached to the department, and what under
proper management it may become. Ef-
forts will aiao he put forth for the estab-
lishment Of correspondence between the
bureau and the various State, county and
lOcal agricultural societies Of the country,
thus deriving advantages which have here
tofore been neglected
II would be desirable to more definitely
elaborate the details Of the plans and OPP
erations Of this important department,
but our limits are not sufficient for an
article Of this character. These sugges-
tons in reference to the subject are pre-
ssnted that the agriculturists may see
that new impetus is to be given to its
operations under its present management,
which will greatly increase it's usefulness
and value to the Americas farmer
Ths RsMseA Point Railroad bridge.
Cry OF OaDENsBURG, Jan. %, 1859.
Editors Herald In your issue Of the
2lA inst, appears the proceedings Of the
Irox Board of Trade relative to Railroad