The Portland daily press., 1868-12-12

International Agricultural Exchanges.
In the report of the Commissioner of Aeri-
culture we find much interesting matter. 1t
may not be known to all our farmers, II IL IS
to the members of Congress, that system OF
International exchanges has been established
with many of the governments Of Europe,
Asia aud South America already, including
Austria, Prussia, China, Japan, India, Guate
| mala and British Honduras Arrangements
have also been made for valuable exchanges
Of rare seeds, p'aLts, trees and various pro-
ducts OF agriculture. 1t viii be interesting to
the lovers aud cultivators of tlow,r. TO knew
also that arrangements have been made with
TIE botanical gardens of Kew in England,
and Melbourne in Australia, the India Mu-
scum 10 London, the Cape of Good Hope
Agricultural Society, the Botanical Depart
ment Of the British Museum, the Commis-
sioner of Patents of the Argentine Republic,
and the Central Agronomical Society of the
Grand Duchy of Posen.
These exchanges are increasing every year
and promise to be very interesting and in
structive to all who have any taste or desire
to know how many beautiful as well as use
full things Mother Earth produces for her
children. When rejecting upon these yari
Gus productions who can for one moment
doubt the constant care and mercy Of kind
and allwise Providence, whose notice the
falling sparrow does not escape?
As wine-making has become of much in
terest anu importance to the American peo-
pie. the introduction of new and improved
varieties OF grapes cannot fail to greatly ben
eft those who are engaged in their cultiva-
ton as we'll as crafty their tastes. The dis
tribution of plan from the experimental
garden during the past year, embraced thirty
thousand pants. This Is large number,
and shows much inlustay and enterprise in
this department, Many thousand scions and
cuttings OF fruit trees have also been distrib-
uted over the country, and great care has
been taken to preserve the nomenclature so
that there shall be no errors in the numer-
Gus varieties cultivated.
The following shows what disposition has
been made of the seeds, under the appropria-
ton from the first of December, 1867, to tie
1st of December 1868: The whole number
Of packages and papers distributed was 592,-
39S, which includes 80 ,129 sacks of winter
wheat imported by the present Commission
ers as follows: To members of Congress
223672; to agricultural and horticultural So
ceties, 9o,S61; TO statistical correspondents,
S539l; to persons who have applied for them
1S3,47. Although the report is brief, yet it
gives view of all branches connected with
the Department of Agriculture. Its brevity
affords no ground of objection to it,; tor it
contains all the information the people wish
to have, and to obtain ii they are not COM
PEELED to wade through an ocean OF veroiase
which characterizes too many government
documents.
1t will be seen by the above statistics that
our farmers and norticulturalists can be sup
piled with seeds, plants, cuttings from fruit
trees and even the best varieties of winter
wheat, if they will make reasonable applica-
ton. Sacks of winter wheat, numbering 32,-
I20 which were imported the last year, Must
have afforded a great number Of parcels to
the farmers OF the country, if they were judi
cously distributed. We trust the farmers OF
Maine will look out for their share OF distribu-
tions hereafter to be made. Some, however,
have SO much of the fossil about them that
they are opposed to all experiments, and are
perfectly contented to run in the old ruts
their fathers and grandfathers have made
But that wont do in this age OF progress and
improvement. There is yet much to be learn
ed in farming, whatever some may think. 1t
is an occupation that forms the foundation of
all other Industries, and hence the impor-
its branches.
AGRIcnI