Eaton weekly Democrat. [volume] (Eaton, Ohio) 1866-1875, 1870-12-08
ANNUAL REPORT OF COMMITS
SI0NER CAPRON.

The Commissioner begins by expressing his
Interest of Agriculture as prosperous, although he
asserts the present season has been one TO uest
h fsSeeeIy tf aSst c tSs Snet Of IN 1%s i0 pToduction, in
a reason remarkable for excessive heat, In q coun-
temperature and seasons Of continued aridity, al
fords strong evidence of the available depth and
An examination in detail Of the facts OF the
years production, in the light of enlightened ag-
r%icultural experience and Of science applied to
husbandry, would furnish hints to Improvement
and aids to progress, which, II adopted generally,
1t would tend TO the increase OF the fertility of
the soil, which, now, in nine farms out of ten, is
advance its intrinsic as well as market value.
1t is gratifying to believe, from indubitable evil
culture are relatively increasing, however slowly,
and gradually making inroads upon the destructive,
amples are most numerous in the Middle States,
are seen with comparative frequency in the older
England, and are beginning to be noted in the South
ern States; but there is no State in which exhaust
the cost of good land is less than the interest on its
intrinsic value, and its yearly income may be en-
there is little hope that the present necessity or
shortsighted greed Will fail to work its improve
ment; but with high prices, both of land and labor,
IL is more than folly to expect remuneratiye profits
from unsystematic and unscientihc culture.
After specifications, the Commissioner discusses
the subject of Industrial education. He refers to
agricultural colleges in existence in many States,
and says that he Is confident that these 1ns1tu-
lions are destined to become a vital power in the
land, which colleges weighted with a y curriculum"
It it will Sfaq be m SI yi yeaTs before sgSs f their nG Sest fruits fruits viii viii
begin 10 appear, and many mistakes will be made
S SSsrSote or tn %iscobpc osSisS1y; S III tSs s IIIer IN n, their tSeir
highest utility will occur, and ineficiency, will nm
hh 0t So nar me IShe oea NY OF Gra III i69ea oS nracticai
education in America shall be fully crystalfzed,
and vigorous men. developed within these institG5
tons and under the influence Of higher progres-
sion in physical and practical science, then their
true utility and benedcent Influences will begin to
appear. In view of this he respectfully suggests
the importance OF an. authorization, by Congress,
OF a commission, under the direction of the Agri-
cultural Department, TO examine infinitely the plan
agement of grounds, and general workings of the
Industrial colleges organized under the Congress
next Congress for the m of the country
and the benefit of institutions Of similar character
yet to be organized.
The Commissioner thinks il is to be regretted
hat so many still adhere to the impracticable idea
y ~ ~ a. stoaDn rIoIs nog in onsretion Ia
stationary engines, in this country, are extremely
favorable to the idea Of ultimate success in the So
luton OF the problem OF steam In plow1ng as an
adjunct OF our agriculture.
SIX culture in California has been attended with
fsts claiming that the climate of that State is pecu-
liarly adapted to the rearing of silk-worms on &C
ture, and the rare occurrence of severe thunder
storms. In Utah experiments have been made
OF the Usage orange instead Of the mulberry. The
Japanese silk-worm, Sdned cynthia, on the allan
thus, is now perfectly acclimated, and breeds in
the open air in Brooklyn, Philadelphia, and other
places, but as yet have heard nothing of the use
producing worms. 41acus vanSG mai and pernv1,
have been bred this season in Brooklyn, but are
yet too scarce to be Of any value.
The Commissioner speaks of the Cinchona or
Peruvian bark tree ns one deserving of great con-
sideration. The supply is limited and precarious,
with no means of extension by propagation or
cultivation in South American nations. He recon-
mends the establishment of one or more national
plantations at points selected on accounted their
favorable climatic Influences. The time Is now
opportune for commencing such a work, since a
supply Of young trees is easily obtainable nom a
source whence no real difficulty arising from
Manspors and tlansplantanon WOULD occur. inc
in the experimental division of the department
with highly successful results, and several hun
bred specimens now on hand will be increased to
thousands whenever facilities are afforded for
testing the feasibility Of successful growth in the
an appropriation will be granted by Congress for
this purpose.
order of talent required in the clerical force of
the department, says thai for such labor the most
meagre compensation only Is offered, and 1t Is
found dificnlt to obtain an increase Of suitable
service, and impossible to remunerate properly
~eficient and reliable, while that which is practical
ly useless for the purpose Is offered In unlimited
measure. He therefore believes that a just and
wise revision of clerical salaries would greatly in
crease the efficiency Of the department.
The work of the past year includes the collection
OF the facts OF production and experiment through
out the world, the publication Of general and spe-
C10l repOrt9, INVESTIGATIONS IN natural science IN It's
relation to rural efforts, the Introduction and propa-
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
Veteepinary surSery IN the n edepSrtmenf. = H a,st saSg the y
value OF stock lost annually from disease is enor-
nous, and threatens not only to decimate our ami
mails, but to expose the human family to disease
from the of unwholesome meats
A quarto edition of the reports arising from
the auspices OF the department, some OF them
never before published, is in course OF publica-
The correspondence of the chronological divi-
sion has largely Increased during the year, inquiries
from all parts of the country. The cotton army
usual and few complaints OF loss from other cotton
insects have been made, while insects Injurious to
fruits and vegetables have been unusually numer-
Gus and destructive. 1t is in contemplation to pub
lish, whenever suitable authority is given for the
printing and Illustration, a work on entomology,
which known American insects of each order will
be accurately figured upon coPper-plate, and which
the most complete and exhaustive effort ever made
in this direction.
During the year many valuable adGAnons have
been made TO the museum under the charge of the
entomologit by voluntary contributions or ex-
change, without the aid of any appropriation
mems.
The department herbariHm continues to receive
large accessions to its material for systematic study
and illustration of the vegetable kingdom. The
thousand species. The design of estabiishing at
the seat OF government a collection of plants
worthy the name OF = national herbarium is thus
IN process Of rapid accomplishment, at compare
lively small cost
The library has been increased during the year
by, the collection Of eight hundred and fourteen
volumes, obtained through exchanges and by pur-
chasing, many OF which are rare and valuable; and
one hundred volumes of periodicals, now ready
Tor binding. with further additions yet to be made,
VIII swell the total increase for the year to about
one thousand volumes.
The department grounds are referred to encour-
agtngly by the Commissioner, and many OF the inn
provements are cited. The new conservatory Ia
also referred to, and the names of many OF the 7
ornamental plants given. The Commissioner be-
lieves that there can be no doubt whatever that
many new plants may be successfully acclimated,
any one OF which may exceed in value the total
amount of appropriations hitherto made to this de-
partment.
The number of packages issued during eleven
months OF the year number 35S, 391, of which 133.-
)43 were sent to members of Congress, II, 1866 to
agricultural societies, 71,400 to the corps of the sta
istical correspondents, 1850 to meteorological OBJ
servers. The distribution includes seeds of cereals,
grasses, hemp, jute, ramie, opium, poppy, sugar
beet, tobacco, sorghum, forest and shade trees, and
many of the larger species of plants, oleaginous,
The total amount expended BY the department
ince November so, 1868, is S169,175. "a, under the
onowtng appropriations to-wit:
Compensation of Commissioner clerks,
and emplOyee sea TIE M /