The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1873-03-15
Chr farmler.
Washington BucOlics.


vantage and proftably, and its real object
seems to be to support one Commissioner
Of agriculture $4,000 per annum, house
rent and other perquisites; one chiefelerk,
son Of the Commissioner (s2.500D and
second son and clerk Isl ,soo,l In addi-
ton, the fortunate Commissioner is allowed
apartments, the annual rental of which is
estimated at 80 900; a family man-servant,
also called "a messenger who gets 5000;
horses and carriage worth $500 a year.
So this interesting and ornamental little
colony, got together for the express pur-
pose Of improving the agriculture of the
United States, costs US something over
$4,000 per annum for official services alone.
The Great National Head Farmer likewise
gets his coal and gas for nothing from the
Government; and he also takes advantage
Of bis place to sell tofarmers for seed what
he calls isThe Ne Plus Ultra Wheat
which be grows upon his private farm in
Pennsylvania. Notwithstanding his salary
and his sons salaries, and his house rent,
and his horses and his carriages, and his
gas and his coal, Mr.. Commissioner of
Agriculture Watts went to Congress for
an addition to his regular stipend, and, in
consequence Of some opposition, and a very
funny speech from Mr. Cox, the truly I'M
lucky Commissioner did not get what he
went for. Mr.. Cox because, perhaps, he
is urban and not SYLVAN does not see the
beauty Of Mr.. Watts's Bureau. The fact
is, Mr.. Cox treated the Agricultural Com
missioner's last report with the most lam
entahle disrespect. The poor man had
happened to say in this document that the
aggregated character Of the rural popula-
ton has been such as to forbid that con-
centration Of ideas and consultation Of
views which are common to all other pro-
LESSONS and occupations" There doesn't
seem to be much harm in this sentence
the words are among the very finest and
longest in our language; and person
lending e the public service such gigan-
tic vocabulary might naturally enough ex-
pect an increase Of salary Then, too, the
learning in the report about bugs was Of
the most costly character The American
Farmer was furnished with the elearest
information concerning the following beau
tiful creatures with beautiful names !:
Oedpoda .atror; Caloptenus fsmmru-
Drum Calopteaus Prctss; 0edipoda pei
hteia Aaa6rns simpler UaeopsylSa ro-
Jasta &C., &C., &c. If the depredations
Of these creatures upon the national vege-
sation are in proportion to the impressive
character Of their names, and il the Com
missioner is the only person who knows
how to exterminate them, it seems to us
that his services would be dogcheap at
$4,000 per annum, two free houses, four
free horses, and three man-seryants. What
We want is to have this unpleasant popu-
lation Of bugs segregated also.
There were other things ID this remark
able report besides bugs. There was a
hydraulic ram, with picture to match.
There was an account Of another ram
{merino) called Dictator with his por-
trait to match. There were pictures Of
Al the bugs with the dreadful names.
There was d portrait Of Chester White
Sow named Maryland shameful use
o. the prettiest Of names it was to give ii
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, 50 that we are left IN
doubt whether this animal, upon whose
exertions The agricultural productions Of
the country to a certain extent depends, i
% Arabian blood. or IIauoverian blood, ol
Of any blood at all The bugs are more
respectfully treated than the Commission.
er's noble steed; and this we cannot bui
consider as infinitely disrespeetfal to one
ofthe noblest Of quadrupeds.
(lno fhin1. hn.raxer fhe enmn,esianc,