New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1871-12-04
THE AGRICULTURAL BUREAU.

Respectfully, j. W. DOUGLASS. Conmissioner.
To Hon GEORGE s. BOUTWELL,, Sec. Of lr 7reas~ry'
THE AGRICULTURAL BUREAU.
ABSTRACT OF THE REPORT OF COMMISSIONER
WATTS.
DEPARTMENT OF ASKICULTURE,(
WASHINGTON, ID. c., Nov. To- 1871
The wisdom Of Congress- having provided for
the endow OF Agricultural College In State.
these institutions are perform important
part in the dosnles Of the country. An intimate rca
ton between this Department and agricultural col.
Icgcs Of the country woGd produce the most profitable
Kinds Of food, and the mode Of planting cultivarng
harvesting, and storing were OIL concentrated at ts
knowledge would be thus collected and dsse minated
among the people and how much more likely wGnn anaa
reached through the nstrmentaty Of these institutions
than they now are blythe course pun sued; .., t.,
the Southern states has not been conducted with that
care Skill and regard for ultimate results which have
Whs 6r LANDS uie are
tobacco until they have arrived At state OF
ton Of crops, which is absolutely Essential to the
iifc Of the soil itself and without which farming
and planting had better be abandoned THESE lmPrcs'
sons have induced me to turn my attention 70 n, h
states to seek some mode by which nclnntncS OF tn .
whether their IMPLEMENTS. and especially their seq,
may not be greatly improved and how IN the th".c
whom they may proatably sent The aEricteTe, OF
the Southern States suffers greatly IN its interests lot
would be greatly increased by rendering rotation OF
crops necessary II will be an eor, OF this 4,
may be carried out Clover with Its deep roots and
strong grower, will endure the hot sun OF te
s sTs sure " I" grow !, Tinxnriantiy.
The report Of the superintendent OF inc seed div,son
and our with practical farmers strongly
Impress my mind with the immense beneht which the
distribution Of SEEDS eGners upon the eSnnT SS nS
and grasses by OF the distribution 81 new
and SEEDS pas more imam ten m his tsf 1epar
incnt Is the appreciation Of this by the farmers
OF the cny nt s cv% %"a a"4 f oS ARE It
desirable that the efforts Of the Departpent should
cereals grasses. and plants which the world affords mat
they may be put into the hands OF cur enter
that the mode heretofore pursued is erroneous. Tue
quantity sent is entirely too small for even al cxpeI
oanliot be successfully grown, aud such experiments
almost uniformly fail because the quantity T. TOO small;
seed into the bands of conscientious and careful per
son than to divide the same quantity among 10 or 20
report rs very objectionable. Indeed in my Judgment
it should he published at all, but should be entirely
practice Of the depart nci issue These may contain
all the information that should einalate from inc pc
parGcD during the year. and tine last one contaiu
the Commissioners report should be condensed sum
of the Operations OF the year B int ANNUAL Di
publication, suggest that much smaller num- fnr
yrauito, d ri,u ion. and that the greater part OF the
cditi"n he .po,r with the public prinr be- sent to
all persons no would order the books ana pay lir ri
lr Gis cents a volume. making allowance Of ~ yer
cent Tor Tie cNlcI>c Vt whipping ana posting.
DIVISION OF HORTICULTURE
The laying of the grounds OF the Department ac-
cordng to the original design is progressing rapidly
az means will allow. The classified arrangement Of
trees IN the arboetum IA also very far advanced toward
COm.lc ton TIL! part OF the Improvement promises ~
be 0i much Interest ana Will no doun soon ps l"o~tn
he non
public parks and in the groun.s OF public Institutions,
arsr colc1ton Of cconomic and nscfn plants is under
cultivation, and valuable acc">Si ions are constantly beng
foreign governments II Is proposed to the
formation OF similar interesting collections In connection
with the agricultural colleges. one OF the mos. proms-
ing Of fiber plants now being extensively propagated Il
the socallcd New Zealand lax Uhorniam tenaO. This
similar purposes Whether TIL. fiber can he successfully
separated from tho leaves viii be question for chemical
cerninaton The plant il adapted to cultivation In all
he Southern States ourises in unframed swaDpy
low lands which untitled for cotton or corn crops
one ~ the most important items ~ special work now
engaging the attention OF this division the collection
e,s ns I scc sop sa q tine a1Sks
OF settlement and colnizaton the yield and quality OF
p area Eropoe to n asso%ish what may be
beginning Of such statistical and agricultural sur
to make Shall special appropriation for the connu,
ncc Of the work IN the coming year. the country would
Two extensive Investigations in the chemical division
were commenced early in the year One of these. the
lysi, several hu,Itd specimens OF cereals
fuzzy from the whole production OF the country
nn @ Of rs s h"pc i. w ss
prove of general value amt interest The examination
uI ne ieai se anu frt o, the srapeyne az every
nearly completed BY this work 1t Is expected that new
iaIishc, aud inormaiion gained which 6tars directly
upon the diseases OF the vine Several hundred deter
time Of assistant is entirely occupied by them
During the last year the correspondence Of the cnto
been received and answered injurious insects,
BIRDS qadrupeds and other branches OF natural history.
Investigations have been made into the habits Of
Insects in respect their food transformations &c. and
partic ularly injurious to the farmer Full expert
ens have been male in rearing the SIX (Bonbyr
taca). The worms fed greediiy, were pcceeily healthy
aud spun lars, sized cocoons OF very fair silk
EXCHANGE OF SEEDS
Since the plan Of international exchanges Of seeds and
plants was inauguraed by my predecessor the Depart
ent has continued the SYSTEM having found the results
10 bc highly advantageous in adding TO collection
seeds Of many valuable species OF useful and ornamental
ordinary channels Uf trade except at heavy out
During the present. year correspondence has been
opened With the ministers OF agriculture Of the South
American Governments for the purpose Of eecting
,lauges of the agrc cultural and other useful products OF
those countries hich known to he prolific Of numer
,Is medicinal and other economic plants Inc result OF
plants. consisting of palms, &C., As also donations OF
cereals and vegetable seeds Of perfection. among
hch may be mentioned contribution " cereals from
The President Of the National Society Of Santiago Peru
embracing OF the finest specimens OF wheat have
seen, which, with other similar contributions VIII
carefully experimental WITH for the purpose vi test
Ing their adaptabty tn soil and climate.
An arrangement for exchange has been made with the
Colonial Government Of Jamaica, which will result
arHly to the advantage Of this Department. the Colonial
Secretary having promised donation Of plants
" the cinchonas, embracing all the valuable varieties
This acquisition will enable the Department, at early
PERIOD to encourage experiments in those seOus Of the
south where there is reasonable prospect OF the
cs.u culture Of this invaluable plant. which, IN the
south America but the cultivation Of which has recently
commenced by the British Government In the East
and West Indies at large outlay.
AGRICULTURAL PRODUCTIONS OF THE TEAR.
The records Of the Department., verifying Observa
ion Of all Intelligent cultivators, attest the value Of