The national Republican. [volume] (Washington City [D.C.]) 1866-1870, 1869-10-19

missioner oil Agriculture and tue accompany
Ing report Of the statistician Of the depart
ment have been completed. They are VAL
liable and interesting papers, containing i'm
portant suggestions and recommendations
and useful statistics Of production, exports,
markets, &c.
Gen. Capron, the Commissioner, In his re-
port speaks npproyiugly Of the Industrial
colleges now sprlnging into being through
out the Northern and Western States, which,
he says, though various In character and
aims, and at present In the weakness and
inefiiciency Of their infancy, are destined to
be powerful coadjutors In the legitimate
work Of this department. Already has the
discussion attendant upon their organization
ELECTED inquiry, corrected prejudices, DIFF.
fused information and aroused enthusiasts
for practical education, which cannot fail
to accomplish good results.
The commissioner says that hitherto this
country has been characterized by random
farming, for immediate results, with no refer
ence to future advantages, and no persistent
following Of any prescribed course; but there
are evidences that more stable views and
more systematic practices are beginning to
prevail. In the central settlements of the
West, farm animals, the basis OF systematic
farming, arc held In higher esteem than
formerly, and q preparation at least 10 made
for some simple rotation OF crops. More
stability exists, under adversely, as to the
case Of wool-growers, many OF whom, far
seeing and wise, are confident Of future profit
In the midst OF present encouragement.
There Is a disposition In the South to pro-
duce their own bread and meat, and hold
their cotton as q surplus, bearing better
price when the quantity does not suffice to
glut the market. These aud many other
signs Of thoughtfulness and growing wisdom
are apparent.
It Is gratifying to observe the evidences Of
vitality In Southern agriculture, which is
progressively and successfully marshaling
the forces Of recupcration, aud gradually
dspelling the dependency resulting from
the losses Of civil war, the change In the
labor system, the disruption Of families and
the impoverishment Of estates. An impetus
has been given to business by the introduce
ton Of Northern capital; and In the future
more rapid progress may DO expected from
the same cause. Money, population and
skill In special industries arc the requisites
for success In developing the resources and
expanding and perfecting the agriculture Of
the South. In view Of all the circumstances
affecting cotton culture It may be deemed q
remarkable fact that the yield has attained
an equality with that Of 1850, and is half as
great as the excessive product Of 1850 aud
1850, which glutted the markets Of the
world and would have caused discouraging
depression In prices but for the cessation OF
cotton productions In the years that fol-
lowed. The cash receipts for the crop Of
1867 were larger than those of 1850, though
of less actual value as reckoned In q deprc-
ciated currency. The sugar interest Is rap
idly attaining prominence, the product hay
ing doubled In the last two years. Tho total
product Of rice Is also increasing.
The report says that the farmers Of the
country, while enduring the necessary bur-
den of internal revenue taxation, and sub
hitting cheerfully to imposts upon all for
eigu products consumed by them, will enter
q vigorous protest against any proposition
for the renewal 9th abrogated reciprocity
treaty, or any arrangement admitting un-
taxed and low-prlced Canadian productions
customs free, or at lower rate of duty than
is provided In existing laws regulating the
tariff upon similar Imports from other ma
tionalities.
After referring to the great benefit to the
agricultural interests Of the country Of the
system Of internal exchanges, the Commits
sloner refers at length TO the prevalence OF
fatal maladles among all varieties OF farm
animals, resulting In the annual loss Of not
less than fifty million dollars, which de,
pands, he says, the prompt attention of this
department, the vigilance of the agricultural
associations, and national and State legisla'
ton. The report of Prof. John Gamgee on
the Texas cattle disease will, he says, be pre-
scented to Congress at an early day.
The production of grapes for table use
and for wine making has become an interest
of great importance. Gen. Capron says that
vast sums of money, and much valuable
time and labor, have been expended In the
endeavor to make the foreign grape sue
cess, but without exception 1t has proved q
failure In open air culture. These failures
however, have had salutary effect In d.
recting attention to the improvement of our
indigenous species, and tho progress OF
amelioration Is both marked and rapid. The
fact will be learned, sooner or later, that
east of the range Of the Rocky mountains
no climate has yet been found suitable fol
the continued healthy growth OF the foreign
grape. On the Pacific coast the plant seemi
to find perfectly congenial climate.
The crop statistics OF the present year In
dictate a more than average condition Of agrl'
cultural pr spcrlty. The wheat crop Ii
somewhat larger than last year, the increase
being about equal to that of the population
and may be estimated at not less than two
hundred and twenty million bushels. The
corn crop is much larger than last year, bu
may not be placed, on completion of tn
tabulation, at more than nine hundred mil
lion bushels. The cotton crop, although O
slightly reduced acreage, would have beer
excessive but for the damage from arm
and boil worms, yet the result VIII ex
coed two million three hundred thousan
bales.
The report refers at length to the work o
the statistical, chemical, and chronological
divisions Of the Department. requests agri
cultural and horticultural societies Of tn
different States to contribute samples o
grain, fruits, &C., for the museum; refers +
the utility Of tho experimental garden, ant
the improvement Of the grounds OF the de
partment; and expresses the opinion tina
one OF the most certain means OF oncourag
Ing taste for rural pursuits, both In agrl
culture and horticulture, and Of Installing
desire for the study Of botany and vegetabl
physiology, Is that Of proper embelishmen
Of school-house and college grounds. Tn
commissioner says that the economy of
judcious distribution Of seeds by the natona
Government Is scarcely understood or appre
clated. He gives illustrations of this, an
recommends a more liberal appropriation
Congress for this branch of the service. TIL
expenditures under each appropriation hay
come within the sums appropriated. Their
has been expended since December 4, 1867
the date of General Capron's entry upon tn