New-York tribune., 1873-02-08

Cal0ptenus femar-rubrune; OGLOtenus spretus;
Oedipoda pelIucida; Anabrus simpler; Udeop-
syrLa robusto; &C., &C., &c. IL the depreda-
tions of these creatures upon the national
vegetation are in proportion to the impressive
character of their names, and il the Commits
soner is the only person who knows how TO
exterminate them, it seems to us that his
services would be d0g-cheap at S25,OOo per
annum. two free houses, four free horses, and
three man servants. What we want is to have
this unpleasant population of bugs segre-
"gatedn also.
There were other things in this remarkable
report besides bugs. There was hydraulic
ram, with picture to match There was an
account of another ram (merinO) called "Dic-
tator," with his portrait to match. There were
pictures of all the bugs with the dreadful names,
There was portrait of q " Chester White Sow
"named Maryland shameful use of the pref
tlest of names it was to give it to this animal.
One quadruped seems to have been strangely
enough omitted There is no portrait OF the
horse which the Commissioner drives at the
expense of the Government, so that we are
left in doubt whether this animal, upon whose
exertions the agricultural production OF the
country to q certain extent depends, Is OF
Arabian blood, or HanOverian blood, or OF any
blood at all. The bugs are more respectfully
treated than the Commissioners noble steed
and this we cannot but consider as infinitely
disrespectful to one of the nOblest of quadru-
peds.
One thing, however, the Commissioners will
have chance to do very thoroughly during
the coming year He is to distribute $75OOO
worth of seeds instead of $4,000 worth as he
d.d last year. 1t is true that nobody seems to
appreciate the advantages of this dissemina-
ton except the happy few Gncluding the Com
missioneD who sell seeds to the Government.
One respectable agricultural newspaper now
before us says: "There is not a more USE
"less expenditure of public money made than
" in this same seed business by the Depart
"ment of Agriculture" Some members OF
Congress complain that their constituents do
not get any seeds at ALL other members COM
plain that no seeds are sent suitable to the
climate of their districts. There special COM
plant that farmers in the South and West cannot
get sufficient supply. There is another COM
plant that the seeds come too late for practl-
cal use, and generally there is a hint that the
Seed Distribution is carried on for the emolu-
ment of seed-raisers, and not for the good OF
the farming interest at all.
A correspondent who read the debate in the
House to which we have alluded, thinks that
the farming interest was disrespectfully
treated by members who found fault with the
Commissioner. We do not view the matter
in that light at ALL The question is whether
the Agricultural Department is OF such as
sistance to the farmer as it should BET Are
its favors impartaly distributed Are its
publications such as plain, unscientitic, ordi-
nary husbandman can comprehendf Is the
Commissioner of Agriculture fitted for his
postg Is he looking after the interests of his
country, or only after his Ownf Is his use
full, well-cOnducted. wide-awake Bureau, or
only snug, cosy home for himself and his
family7 These are questions worth consider
ing, and upon the answer which they may re-
ceive will depend the verdicts of the people,
and specially of farming people, upon the
real Importance and usefulness of the Agri-
cultural Department.