The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1871-01-19
ANNUAL REPORT OF COMMISSION
Err CAPRON.

The Commissioner begins by express
ing his qualification at being able to
represent the great interest of agriculture
as prosperous although he asserts the
present season has been one to test Sc
Verely the capabilities of our soils. lie
says, however, that the fact of increased
production, in a season remarkable Tor
excessive heat, in country assumed to
be liable to injurious extremes OF tenn
perature and seasons of continued aridlty,
affords strong evidence Of the available
depth and fertility of our arabic land.
An examination in detail Of the facts
of the years production, IN the light of
enlightened gricultural experience and
of science piled to husbandry, would
furnish hints to improvement and aids to
progress, which if adopted generally,
would increase the present value of farm
production to the extent of $500,000,000.
1t would do more-it would tend to the
increase of the fertility of the soil, which,
now, In nine farms out of ten, is annually
decreasing, and it would proportionably
advance its intrinsic as we'll as market
value
1t is gratifying to believe, from indubi-
table evidence, the examples of rational
and recuperative culture are relatively
increasing, however slowly, and gradual
ly making inroads upon the destructive,
irrational modes so generally prevalent.
These examples are most numerous in the
Middle States, are seen with comparative
frequency IN the older sections of the
West, and found occasionally in New
England, and are beginning to be noted
in the Southern States but there is no
State in which exhaustive and irrational
culture is not predominant. While the
cost of good land is less than the interest
on its intrinsic value, and its yearly
income may be enhanced at the expense
of the permanent investment, there is
little hope that present necessity or
short-sighted greed will fail to work its !;
improvement but with high prices, both
of land and labor, it is more than folly
toexpect remunerative profits from unsys
tematic and unscientifc culture.
After specifications, the Commissioner
discusses the subject of industrial educa-
ton. He refers to agricultural colleges
in existence in many States and says that
he is confident that these institutions are
destined to become vital power IN the
land, which colleges weighted with "cur.
riculum of studies of classical ages can
never exert but it will be many years
before their best fruits will begin to ap-
pear, and many mistakes will be made,
(some of them, possibly, almost fatal in
their character,) misconceptions of the
sphere of their highest utility will occur,
and inefficiency will undoubtedly mar
the beauty of their practical results; but
ultimately, when the grand idea of prac
tical education in America shall be fully
crystalized, and their faculties shall be
composed of young and vigorous men,
developed within these institutions and
under the influence of higher progression
i'll physical and practical science, than
their true Utility and benefcent influences
will begin to appear. In view of this he
respectfully suggests the Importance of
an authorization, by Congress, of COM
mission, under the direction of the agri
cultural Department to examine infinitely
the plan of organization, the construction
of buildings, management of grounds,
and general workings of the industrial
colleges organized under the Congress
sional land grant, with instructions to re-
port to the next Congress for the informa-
tion of the country and the benefit Of the
institutions of similar cha racter yet to be
organized.
The Commissioner thinks it is to be
regretted that so many still adhere to the
impracticable idea of locomotive traction.
The reports of the actual work of the five
steam plows now in operation by station
ary engines, in this country, are extreme
ly favorable to the idea of ultimate sue
cess in the solution of the problem of
steam in blowing as an adjunct of our
agriculture.
Silk culture in California has been at
tended with great success up to the
present time, silk culturists claiming that
the climate of that State is peculiarly
adapted to the rearing of silk-worms on
account of the dryness and equality of
the temperature, and the rare occurrance
of severe thunder storms. In Utah ex-
periments have been made with success
in feeding the worms upon the leaves of
the Usage orange instead of the mulberry.
The Japanese silk worm, Sanoed cynthia,
on the ailaDthus, is now perfectly accli
mated, and breeds in the open air in
Brooklyn, Philadelphia, and other places,
but as yet have heard nothing of the
use of It's cocoons In manufacture. Two
other silk producing worms, AttGcuS
CANA MAJ and perny5 have been bred
this season in Brooklyn, but are yet too
scarce to be of any value.
The Commissioner speaks of the Gin
chona or Peruvian bark tree as one de-
serving of great consideration. The sup
ply is limited and precarious, with no
means of extension by propagation or
cultivation in South American nations.
He recommends the establishment of
one or more national plantations at points
selected on account of their favorable
II inf