The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1874-12-04
Agricultural Bureau.

An INTERESTING REPORT FROM COMMISSIONER
WArTs-OyER Two AND QUARTER MILL
ION PACKAGES or SEEDS DISTRIBUTED Dur
ING THE YEAR. ~ ar
The Hon. Frederick Watts, Commissioner
of Agriculture, in his annual report, says
- There is no incident which 80 cripples tn,
operations of this department as the want OF
the punetuai publication of its annual report
For the last two years il has not been pub
lished While Congress, at the last session,
apparently made the effort to order the publ
cation OF the annual reports OF 1872 and 1873
for the use OF Congress-, it failed, in the orin
ion Of the public printer, to obtain its object
While the Commissioner does not concur in
this opinion, it is due to him to say that to
print them involved a doubtful construction of
the law, a responsibility he was unwilling to
take, and Therefore the reports for the use of
the members OF Congress have not been
printed. But by the separate provision Of the
act, there was an appropriation specially for
the printing Of the reports OF 1872 and 1873.
These have been printed and delivered to the
department for distribution"
The Commissioner says he cannot be I'M
mindful of the approaching Centennial OF the
independence of the United States. No such
opportunity has ever occurred for such an ex-
hibition OF the progress this country has made
in it's agriculture, horticulture, manufactures
commerce, arts and sciences its adaptation
Tor war and the benefits OF peace. whereby
the people of other countries may be i'm
pressed with the capabilities of this nation
and our own made to feel proud that we have
achieved 80 much. He recommends that the
goternment erect building for itself. to be
exclusively occupied by the several depart
ments, Board hasing, been designated by the
President 70 suggest what part each may
take'in the expedition.
By action of Congress- about four acres of
ground, formerly occupied by the ca
nal, have been added to the depart
ment grounds, and are now under
going preparations to form, a part of
the arboretum. The collection of exotic
uthizable, and economic plants is gradually
increasing both in number and value. The
orange family is particularly valuable, and
the beet commercial varieties are propagated
and distributed TO the greatest practicable ex-
tent. There has been no period in the histo-
ry Of this country when farmers crops have
been so extensively deprecated upon a.
in the past year, and this has brought into
active exercise the knowledge and Industry
OF the chronological divisions OF the Depart
mont. ts ~ rfsC EeH
There s an increasing demand for informa-
ton with regard to insects injurious to veget-
alton, and much pains have been taken to in
yestigate the character of insects sent here,
to point out their modes of inflicion, and the
means 10y which their depredations may be
averted, and for those who desire to prose-
cute the study or acquire the knowledge OF
these insects specimens OF their injuries and
Observation-Disclosures have been arranged and
exhibited in a room provided for the purpose
During the past year tho work Of the
botanical division has been steadily prosecuted
and many contributions added. 1t is believed
that much valuable information Of practical
character il both received and communicated.
Many gratifying letters OF acknowledgment
show high appreciation of the work of distri-
button. There still remains large quantity
of duplicates, of which fifteen or more large
packages will be ready for distribution by the
LIST of January next.
The Commissioner shows the valuable SER
vices rendered by the several divisions Of his
department, and says: 1" In the purchase of
seeds, the department has patronized only
seed-growers andseed firms proven reliable by
experience, whose guarantee Of good quality
and commences cannot be questioned, and by
receiving them from first hands has been able
to procure them at much lower rates, and,
consequently, III greater quantities, and is
thus enabled to give more literally to the
many applicants who daily apply for seeds
from all parts of the country, and to extend
the benefits of distribution. One million two
hundred and eightv-siX thousand packages of
seeds were distributed during the last fiscal
year