Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1869-10-18
otR AGRIcULrURAL INTEREST.


report Of the Statistician OF the Department,
have been completed. They are valuable aud
interesting papers, containing important sue.
sestions and Recommendation ana useful sta
tistics of production, exports, markets, &c.
General Capron, the Commissioner, in his
report speaks approvingly OF the industrial
colleges now springing into beng thro ghout
the Northern and Western States, which, ne
saye, though various in character and aims,
and at present in the weakness and iue1nciency
OF their infancy, are destined to be po werfu
coadjutors In the legitimate work of this de-
partmenL Already has the discussion attend
ant upon their organization ELECTED ING qulry,
corrected prejudiees, dIfused Information, and
aroused enthusiasm for q practical education,
which cannot fail to accomplish good results
The Commissioner says that hitherto this
country has been charac .erized by random
farming, for immediate results, with no refer.
encs TO future advantages, ana no persistent
following OF any prescribed course; but there
systematic practices are beginning 70 prevail.
In the central settlements Of the West farm
animals, the basis of systematic farming, are
M sas sa 1nsn FOR and
rotarion OF crops More stability exists, under
adversity, as TO the case Of wool-gro wers,
fident OF future profit In the midst Of present
discouragement. There . disposition tn the
South 10 produce their own bread and meat,
and hold their cotton as surplus, bearing a
better price when the quantity does not susice
to glut the marke'. THESE and many other
signs Of thoughtfulness and growing wisdom
are apparent.
1t is gratifying to observe the evidences Of
vitality in southerf agriculture, which Il pro.
gressively and successfully marshaliing the
forces esofrecuperation, and gradually dispelling
the despondency resulting from the losses OF
civil war, the change In the labor system, the
disruption OF families and the impoverish ment
OF estates. An impetus has been given to busi-
ness by the Introduction Of northern capital;
and in the future more rapid progress may be
expected from the same cause. Money, popu.
requisites tor success In developing the re.
sources and expending and perfectiug the agri.
culture Of the South. In view Of ali the eir-
deemed Q remarkable fact that the yield has
attained an equali'y with that Of 1850, and Is
half as great as the excessive product Of 1859
world, and would have caused a discouragins
depression In prices but for the cessation OF
cotton production in the years that followed
Inc casn receipts for the crop Of 1867 were
value as reckoned in o deprecated currency.
The sugar interest is rapidly attaining prom.
Rence, the product having doubled in the last
two years. The total product OF rice is also
increasing.
The report says that the farmers OF the couu.
try, while enduring the necessary burden Of
internal revenue taxation, and submitting
cheerfully to imposts upon all foreign pro-
ducts consumed BY them, will enter vigorous
protest against any proposition for the renewal
rsngsment adnitane lnmxed and low priced
Canadian productions customs free, or at a
lower rate Of duty than is provided In existing
laws regulating the tariff upon similar i'm.
ports from other nationalities.
After referring 10 the great benefit to the az.
ricultural Interests OF the country of the sys-
tenn Of Internal exchanges, the Commissioner
refers at length to the prevalence OF fatal ma
ladies among all varieties Of farm animals, re.
sulting in the annual loss Of not less than fifty
million dollars, which demands, he says, the
,ance Of the Agricultural associations, and na-
1onal and State legislation. The report of
Prot. John Gamgee on the Texas cattle disease
VIII, ne says, be presented to Congress at an
The production OF grapes for table use and
forwIne making has become an interest OF great
impor ance. Gen. Capron says that vast sums
Of money, and much valuable time and labor
have been expended in the endeavor to make
ton it has proved failure in open air culture
These failures, however, have had q ealutary
effect In directing attention to the improvement
amelioration is both marked and rapid. The
fact will be learned, sooner or later, that east
ofthe range Of the Rocky Mountains no climate
healthy growth Of the foreign grape. On ISe the
Pacific coast the plant seems to find o perfectly
congenial climate.
The crop statistics OF the present year indi.
cate a more than average condition OF agricul-
tural prosperity. The wheat crop is somewhat
larger than last year, the increase being about
estimated AZ not less than two hundred and
twenty million bushels. The corn crop IL much
on sS nS Ss
nine hundred million bushels. The cotton
crop, although Of slightly reduced acreage
would have been excessive but for the damage
nom army and boil worms, yet the result Will
exceed two million three hundred thousand
bales.
The report refers at length to the work Of the
statistical, chemical, and chronological decis.
iods Of the Department; requests Agricultural
and horticultural societies Of the different
&c, fer the Museum; refers 10 the utility of the
Experimental Garden. and the improvement
Of the grounds OF the Department; and ex.
presses the opinion that one OF the most certain
means Of encouraging q taste for rural pur.
suits, both IN agriculture and horliculture, and
OF instilling desire TOR the study OF botany
embeiIishment Of school house and College
grounds. The Commissioner says that the
econon y OF Judicious distribution Of seeds by
stood Of. appreciated. He gives illustrations of
tits, and recommends a more liberal appropri-
alton BY Congress for this branch OF the ser.
VICE. X1S eXpe UOlluIcS uOOeI eocu dpDfOOrlas
ton have come within the sums appropnated
There has been expended since December Z,
lS67-the date Of General Capron's entry upon
the duties Of Observation-Disclosures, A 0, leaving q
balanee unexpended Of el03,6y0 for the remain
der Of the 0scai year ending June 30, 1869. The
report Of Mr. Cluss, the architect employoa 70
superintend the erection OF the building, and
the necessary fitting and furnishing, shows TIE
completion Of the whole In substantial ana
workmanlike manner, embracing tho lAbors.
tory with iU new anc complebe cheUtcol appa.
rasns, and the museum win 10 eonvoni6af and
and tasteful arYanee0ent OF oAeeo, and tt
library, At total cost Of ahout oiA0o0 ~
balances under each hssd afo dsomed su n iciant
70 meet al faiars dsmaads of the prsssat ascal
year. :.
The rspsrt OF he ssaaastistan says -. 1880
the whsat crop MAS q, ,sal27a bashsls, or l.1s 70
each inhAbianf h lsls. ioo.ssxsea o. "a to
each indivtdnal In 1sse. - bushels, or
$50 per capita IN lSe5, BY sstlmates OF this d.
paItmenS 230I0o0,0oo ha6ho1s, including Ogoeon
and the 1e1y1t0eieo, which an not fonnd n -
q bles. A the tneFease Of population Was
thirty Ave Per cent HON 1870 % lesO, anA Sloo
from 1850 % 1es0. stminr pro Eat6 morUoos
from 1850 to ieo6 Wouh Uako o0 pO0QlatiSn (,
39,U00.O0U. IL the eame rAtio O. incrSojs eoah
be expected through thts decade, VIZ, sRIrfy.
nve per cent. u pepulAtioa, and tWenV.avs
per cent. n the Whsat yield q psoD0riioa 70
population, the crop of 1850 Weald b - eyooaooo
bushels, md that % l6o7 should have beea more
than 2s0,00Qoo0 bushsls. Though far bsttsr
than the two pfocndfug crorsa- faiP yfelA uDo0