Daily national Republican. (Washington City [D.C.]) 1870-1872, 1872-02-14
AGnItrL1raAI. cnNrENrroN.

Fhst se-sIoa To-msrrow, NJ the AZ IcrI-
rural D,pni,meH'-Iis Ms"'bsr.hlp' Oh
Iects ana Alm.. p
In 1880 Congress donated several thousand
acres Of public lands 10 be divided among
the Respective States 10 proportion 10 their
population, tho money derived from the sale
Of which was 10 bo used In creating \ fund
for the erection Of colleges 10 the different
States for the promotion Of education IN agri-
culture aud horticulture. In some Of the
Stairs the work was begun, aud the colleges
erected and soon allied with students, eager
aud anxious TO become cUnversaut with thi3
Interesting study, while other Statos were
inactive, appearing 70 have no Interest
awakened tT the advancement OF tho study
Of the products OF the earth. Consequently
the institutions have not been built or any
steps taken towards iuauguratlng this i'm
poTtant system. -"
Among those colleges already open there
prevailed many different ideas concerning the
systems used, aud no uniformity was observed
among them, each college acting In accord
ancc with the ideas emaultlng IRON those
al the head OF II. To remedy this situation
Of affairs and have uniform system, u pos
sible, IN all the Institutions concerning agrt-
culture And horticulture, and that the depart
ment might profit by all Of their experiments,
CommlsslOner Watts conceived tue idea OF
| holding a convention In this city, AZ which
all the colleges should be represented by dclo-
Qates, "A we'll as tho different State societies,
| MANY OF the county organizations have mis-.
understood the call aud chosen delegates, and
expect 10 send them 10 tho convention; In
which case II Is highly probable they will not
10 allowed 10 participate la the deliberations,
as the Commissioner holds that Il was intended
only 10 Inv To the organizations aud colleges,
"a above named, and that tho smaller the body
the more roldily tho object OF the meeting can
he carried out.
He also advances as another reason that II
/ the representatives Of one county organize
tiUn were admitted as delegates another would
claim aud be justly entitled TO the same priv
ileve, and that would make the convention 81
| large that not only would ere he no room IN
the building SUFFICIENT In size 10 accommodate
them, hut that time would bo wasted In DIS
cussiOns, and instead OF occupying only a fow
days tue convention might continue a weak.
| No subject Is 10 be considered but the one for
which the gentlemen have been invited here,
| to take such action as shall he deemed expo
dent for the promotion Of agricultural edu-
| cation, and 10 secure more intimate cunnec-
tion between the department and these lnstl-
tutlons.
| Communications have been received from
parties desiring TO read essays ombodyiug
| their Ideas On the cultivation Of some par
| tlcular grain or plant, 10 which replies have
been scnt that will probably prove somewhat
discOuraging TO the writer's. Those visiting
the department will also aud an opportunity
10 obtain valuable Information concerning
the culture Of foreign productions, as the
/ Commissioner Is In Communication with al
/ most every section OF the globe; aud also has
/ many valuable samples Of seed under his
charge. The knowledge he can, therefore,
impart will prove Of inestimablo worth u
those so deeply Interested In the promotion
and success OF this work.
The convention will meet tomorrow at Il
a. IN, aud probably not continue longer than
| two dayH.