The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1871-01-19

found to be most efficient and reliable,
while that which is practically useless
for the purpose is offered in unlimited
measure. He therefore believes that a
l. just and wise revision of clerical salaries
would greatly increase the efficiency of
| the department.
The work of the past year includes the
collection of the facts of production and
experiment throughout the world, the
publication Of general and special reports,
Investigations in natural science in its re-
lation to rural efforts, the introduction
and propagation of many new and prom
ising plants, and the increase and i'm
provement of farm products by the dis
semination of seeds and plants.
The Commissioner again calls the at
|tention to the important necessity of
establishing division of veterinary sur
gerry in the department He says the
value of stock lost annually from disease
is enormous, and threatens not only to
decimate our animals, but to expose the
human family to disease from the con-
sumption of unwholesome meats,
A quarto edition of the reports arising
from the cattle diseases investigation,
conducted under the auspices of the de-
partment, some of them never before
published, is in course of publication.
|. The correspondence of the entomology.
cal division 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 to have been less destruc
tive than usual, and few complaints of
loss from other cotton insects have been
made, while insects injurious to fruits
and vegetables have been unusually nu-
merous and destructive. It is in con-
temptation to publish, whenever suitable
authority is given for the prin ting and
illustration, work on entomology, pre-
pared by the entomologist of the depart
ment, in which known American insects
of each order will be accurately figured
upon copper-plate, and which has been
declared, by those competent to judge,
the most complete and exhaustive effort
ever made in this direction.
During the year many valuable adj
ditions have been made to the museum,
under the charge of the entomologist, by
voluntary contributions or exchange,
without the aid of any appropriation
whatever for the purchase of new or rare
specimens.
The department herbarium continues
to receive large accessions to the material
for systematic study and illustrations of
the vegetable kingdom. The addition
for the present year already exceeds four
thousand species. The design of estab
fishing at the scat of government a col
lection of plants worthy the name of a
national herbarium is thus in process Of
rapid accomplishment, at comparatively
small cost.
The library has been increased during
the year by the collection of eight hun
through exchanges and by purchase,
many of which are rare and valuable
and one hundred volumes Of periodicals,
now ready for binding, with further
additions yet to be made, will swell the
total increase OF the year to about one
thousand volumes.
The department grounds are referred
to encouragingly by the Commissioner,
and many of the improvements are cited.
The new conservatory is also referred to,
and the names of many of the ornamental
plants given. The Commissioner believes
that there can be no doubt whatever
that many new plants may be success
fully acelimated, any one of which may
exceed in value the total amount of ap-
preparations hitherto made to this de-
partment.
The number of packages issued during
the eleven months of the year number
358,391, or which 1873, 043 were sent to
member of Congress, II ,865 to agricnltu-
raj societies, II 400 to the corps ON the
statistical correspondents. 1850 to meteor
illogical observers. The distribution
includes seeds of cereals, grasses, hemp,
jute, ramie, opium, poppy, sugar beet,
tobacco, sorghum, forest and shade trees,
and of the larger species of plants, olea-
ginous, edible, medicinal, and fbrous
The total amount expended by the
department since November 80, 1869, is
$3.50, 1854, under the following appro
priations, to wit: A
Compensation of Commissioner,
clerks,and employees. .$68,712 03
Collecting statistics and ma
terial for annual and month
ly reports. :. 14,2O6 81
Purchase and distribution of
new and valuable seeds. -. 30, 739 81
Elk detrimental garden, for Ia
Dor, repairs, purchase of
plants, etc .............. 1915 SO
Contingencies-Stationery fuel
freight, lights for laboratory,
museum, library, herbarium,
keep of horses, etc.. -. 15,1os &c
Improvement of grounds
observation No y $50. 1e,o17 10
Erection of glass structures for
the cultivation of medical,
textile and economic plants. :. 2,46S 81
Miscellaneous. .......... -. 1877 80