The Plymouth Democrat. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1869-1941, 1870-12-08

appear. In view of this he respectfully suggests
the importance of an authorization. by Congress
~ commission. under the direction OF the Agri-
cultural Department. TO examine minutelv the plan
of organization. the construction Of buildings rnsn-
agement Of grounds. and genera workings of the
industrial colleges Organized under the Congress
siona land grant with instructions to report to the
next Congress for the information of the country
and the benefit of institutions of similar character
vet 10 be organized.
The Commissioner thinks II il to he regretted
that manv still adhere to the impracticable idea
OF locomotive traction. The reports of the actual
work or the five steam plows now in operation by
stationary engines. in this country. extremely
favorable To the idea of ultimate success in the
luton OF the problem OF steam In blowing as an
adjunct of our agriculture.
silk culture in California has been attended with
GREAT success mp to the present time. silk cultur
sts claiming that the climate of that State i. pecu-
liarly ADAPTED TO the rearing Of sik-worms on ac-
count of the dryness and equality Of the tempera-
tire. and the rare occurrence of severe thunder
storms. In Utah experiments have been made
with success in feeding the worms uDon the leaves
of the Osare orange instead of the mulberry The
Japanese siik-worm. Sr1ned ruHfbiC on the allan
TINS. il now perfectly accrnated. and breeds in
the open air in BROOKLYN PHILADELPHIA. and other
places, but vet have heard nothing of the use
of its cOcoons in manufacture. Two other silk
producing worms. Att7c"s ANNA mi and DsrH'1.
have been bred this season in Brooklyn, but are
yet too scarce to he of any value.
The Commissioner speaks of the Cinchona
Peruvian bark tree deserving of great con-
sheraton. The supply Is limited and precarious.
with means Of extension nv propagation or
cultivation in South American nations. He recon-
mends the establishment Of one or more national
plantations ar points selected on account 81 their
favorable climatic influences The time is now
opportune for commencing such work. since a
supply of Young trees is easily ohtainable from a
eou-ce whence no real difficulty arising from
transport and Characterization would occur The
propagation of the Cinchona has been commenced
in the experimental division of the department
with highly successful results aud several hun
dred specimens now on hand will be increased 70
thousands whenever facilities Afforded for
testing the feasibility of successful growth in the
open air. The Commissioner earnestly hopes that
an appropriation viii be granted by Congress for
this purpose.
The Commissioner AFTER referring TO the high
order of talent required in the clerical force of
the department. that for such labor the most
meagre compensation only is offered, and il l.
found difficult to obtain increase OF suitable
service. and impossible To remunerate properly
that already employed. which IS found 70 he most
efficient and reliable. while that which is practical
~ useless for the purpose is offered In unlimited
measure. He therefore believes that inst and
wise rcTision Of clerical salaries wOnd greatly in
crease the efficiency of the department
The work of the past wear includes the collection
of the facts Of production and experiment through
ont the world. the publication Of general and sne
cal reports investigations in natural science In IFS
relation to rural efforts. the Introduction and prona
cation of many new and promising plants. and the
increase and Improvement Of farm products by the
dissemination Of seeds and plants.
The Commissioner again calls attention TO the
important necessity of establishing division Of
veterinary surgery in the department. He saysthe
value of stock lost annually from disease is enor-
nous, and threatens not only TO decinate our ami
mails. hut to expose the human family to disease
from the consumption Of unwhole.ome meats.
quarto edition of the reports arising from
the cattle disease investigation. conducted under
the auspices of the department some OF them
never before published. is in course of pubica-
ton.
The correspondence of the chronological divi-
sion has largely increased during the year. inquiries
in regard TO noxious insects having been received
from all parts Of the country The cotton army
worm appears 10 have been les. destructive than
rsua and few complaints Of loss from other cotton
insects have been made. while insects iniuriOns to
fruits and vegetables have been unusually numer
ous and destructive. II is in contemplation TO pub
fish. whenever suitable authority Is given for the
printing and illustration. a work on entomology.
prepared by the entomologist of the department. in
which known American insects of each order will
he accurately figured upon copper-plate. and which
has been declared. hy those competent to judge.
the most complete and exhaustive effort ever made
in this direction.
During the wear many valuable ADDITIONS have
been made to the museum, under the charge Of the
eutomologist. ny voluntary contributions
change. without the aid of any appropriation
whatever for the purchase OF new or rare speci-
mems.
The department herhariur' continues to receive
LARGE accessions its material for systematic stndv
aud illustration of the vegetable kingdom. The
addition for the present year already exceeds four
the seat OF government collection of plants
worthy the name OF a national herbarium is thus
in process of rapid accomplishment, at compare
lively small cost.
The library has been increased durng the year
by the collection Of eight hundred and fourteen
volumes obtained through exchanges and NV pur-
chasing. many of which and valuable: and
one hundred volumes of periodicals now ready
for binding. with further additions yet to be made.
will swell the total increase for the year to about
ore thousand volumes.
The department grounds are referred to encour-
agingly by the Commissioner, and many OF the i'm
provements are cited. The new conservatory Is
also referred to. and the names of many of the
plants given. The Commissioner be-
lieves that there be no Doubt whatever that
any one Of which may exceed in value the total
amount of appropriations hitherto made to this de-
partment.
months Of the year number 35S.3g1. of which 1885, /
443 were sent to members of Congress. II SIS to
agricultural societies. II 400 to the corps of the sta
stical correspondents. 1850 to meteorological Oh
eryers The distribution includes seeds OF cereals.
rrasses. hemp iute. ramie. opium. poppy. sugar /
)eet tobacco, sorghum. forest and shade trees. and
many OF the larger species Of plants, oleaginous,
.dble. medicinal. and fbrous-
The total amount expended by the department /
ince November 20. 1869, is S169,115.24, under the
blowing appropriations. to-wit:
of Commissioner, clerks
ana employees. Stc, 10
Collecting statistics and material for an
nuai and monthly reports -. IA, ao6 81 /
liable seeds NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS.. 2c,7s9 81
Experimental garden. for labor. repairs,
purchase of piantr. etc -......i.-..' 1915 IS
Stationery, fuel. freight,
lights. for laboratory, museum library,
herbarium. keep OF horses. etc -. 15,1os 90
Improvement of ground. observation
No .......,...e....-,................ 1907 70
Erection OF glass structures for the cult
vation of medical, textile and economic
plants ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS e4ss 81
iiscellaneou. Observation-Disclosures. 1,72T IS
/
Total S16a1.5 % |
Leaving total balance uncxpended OF the ap
ropriation for the current fscal year OF s107,S70