Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1868-12-03

Report OF tue ON I'M ss iener of Apricultpre
Ihe annual report of the CommIssloner of
Agriculture has been submitted to the Presi
oent. The report is a very elaborate and com.
pIehensive one, and will be read with in terest
Ihe commissioner commences with rsfsrencs
10 agricultural education" He saws mat the
INDUSTRIAL colleges now springiug into b.inp
throughout the Northern and Western Sratese
,nousa various IN character and aims, and at
present IN the weakness and inefic,ency of
tneir infancy, are destined TO be powerfnI 90
auJutors In the legitimate work of this Depart
ment. W "sy stematic agriculture" be augurs
wen OF the future, and states that at the present
ume more stability exists than before narrjcn
Iarly with the wool growers, rho are fsr-seeIre .
ana wise In the South there IS "A disposition
also 10 produce their own bread and meat and
hold their cotton as a surpIus he lriny a ba,tsr
price when the quantity does not suffice "a gInt
lne market. The Va .lity in Southern agri-
peration are gradually marshalliuc and dis
PeHing the desponder cy re sulting from the late
civil war. In view OF all the circumstances
sneelng cotton culture, it may be deemed a
remarkable lact that the yield has attained An
equality with that of 1850, and is half as grear
rs the excessive product OF 1859 and 1850 which
gai glu,,ed the M markeis Of the world. The cash
receipts for the crop of 1867 were larger than
those OF 1853, though of less actual yaIue A
leckoned In depreciat" currency.
"a sSsiem OF international agricultural ex-
changes has been established with MANY of the
governments OF Europe, Asia, and South
AmerIca. including Austria, Prussia, China
Japan, India, Guatemala, and British Hon.
duras. Arrangements have been mads for tba
Introduction and acclimaton Of medicinal
plants within their own limits, &c
Inc Statistic Il Division furnishes impor tant
Information Ire crop statistics throughout
the country indie ,te more than an average CON
dilon Of agricultural prosperity. The wheat
crop Is larger than last year, the ncr reasa bang
aDou. equai 10 tnat OF the population. and may
De estimated at 2t0.OOO.O0O bushels. The corn
crop is much larger than last year. being esti.
mated at 9Cu,9.o,CCJ bushels. The cotton crop,
aItnopgn OF slightly. reduced average, would
have been excessive but for the damage from
army and boil worms, yet the result will con-
siderably exceed 2,OOOGUO bales
Inc chemical civIs'on has been kept busy
analyZing those samples which have been pro-
vlded by correspondents from various par.s
OF the United States. After alIuding 10 the nc
cesSIty OF chemical laboratory with the de-
partment, the Commissioner SAYS that the di.
rectIon in which il should be empIoyed il hard
ly yet 10 be appreciated.
The production of grapes for table use and
Vine King has become an interest OF great
importance. The introduction OF new and I'M
proved varieties is rapidly culuVatine dis
crlminItlng t'ste in the generai public, which
must be crafty ing 10 those who have labored
long and faithfully IN its dissemination. The
distribution OF plants from the experimental
garden during the past year embraced thirty
thorsand plants many tnou sands of sctons and
cuttings OF fruit trees have also been dissent
mated Great care is taken 20 preserve the no.
menclaturc, 10 guard against errors in the nu-
merous varieiiC cultivated.
seeds under the appropriation from December
J. le61, 10 December ], ISCS.-Total number of
packages and papers distributed, 592,3g-, which
included u, I37 sacks of winter wheat, m port
go bythe present CommIss. .oLer, ,as foiIows:-To
members OF Congress, 223672; TO agricultural
anu Horticultural societies. 9-.S6l: TO statistical
CORES spondents, S6,3gl: TO individuals ON an
Pile alton, I-3,410.
In relation TO the financial condition OF the
depa rtmenT, the Commissioner SAYS that there
has Oeen expended since December 4, lS51, the
date OF his entry upon the duties of Commits
sioner, S2E, 100, leaving a balance unexpended
Of Slt3,6UO for the balance of the fiscal year
eldlIg June 80, 1869. The total cost of the
building, with Its museum, cases, laboratory,
libiary, &c., was S1iU,OU0. The balances under
esch head are deemed sufficient TO meet all
future demands under Its present organization,
which has been necessarily reduced one ira
its original number of employees.
The Commissioner concludes his report with
an estimate OF the sums deemed proper for the
ne xJ fiscal year, and also adds the report of the
architect. which gives a description of the
building and the work performed.