Marshall County Republican. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1856-1878, 1874-12-10
Agricultural Bureau.

An INTERESTING REPORT From COMMISSIONER
WATTs-OvER Two AND QUARTER MILL,
ION PACKAGES OF SEEDS DISTRIBUTED Dur
ING TIE YEAR.
The Hon. Frederick Watts. Commissioner
Vi AghcuIsure. In his annual report says :
There is no incident which 40 crinnes tbe
operations Of this department as the want of
the punctual publication OF its annual report
TOT the last Two years 1t has not. been pub
nshed While Congress, at the last session.
apparently made the effort to order the publi-
cation OF the annual reports Of 1872 and 1878,
Tor the use OF Congress, it failed in the orin
ION OF the public printer. to obtain its object
nile the Commissioner does not concur in
this opinion, it is due to him to saw that to
PRINT them involved doubtful construction of
tne law, Responsibility he was unwilling to
take. and therefore the reports for the 1,sS ~
the members of Congress have not been
printed But by the separate provision of the
Act, tnere was an appropriation specially for
Tue printing of the reports of 1872 and 1873.
hese have been printed and deliveredS so the
department. fcr distribution 49, i
Inc Commissioner saws he cannot be nm |
mindful of the approaching Centennial of the |
independence of the United States. No such |
opportunity has ever occurred for such an ex- |
dlbitIon OF the progress this country has made |
N Its agriculture, horticulture manufactures.
commerce, arts and sciences. it's adaptation |
Tor war and the benefits o, peace. whereby |
the people of other countries may be in
pressed with the capabilities Of this natfop. |
and our own made tofeel proud that we have
acmeved so much. He recommends that the
gosernnenserecta baiiding for itself. to be
exclusively occupied by the several depart
ments, Board having been designated by the
PRESIDENT TO suggest what part each NAV |,
take in the exposition.
by action IT Congress, about four acres of
ground, formerly occupied by the ca
nal. have been added to the depart
niapt grounds, snd are now under
going preparations 20 form part of
the -srScys(uu- The collection of exotic.
utikzabls. AID economic plants is gradually
increasing both " number and value. The
oranges family is pSrtic a]arly valuable. and
the best com nerciai ADDE'S are propsgated
and distributed to the greatest practicable ex-
tent. There has been no periot. IN the histo-
ry OF this country whet farmers crops have
been so extensively devastated upon as
IN the past yea5 and this has bpught into
active exercise the knowledge ana industry
of the chronological divisions of the Depart
ment-
There is an increasing demand for informa- !
tlon with regard to insects injurious to veget- |
atom, and much pains have been taken to in
yestlgste the character of insects sent here. I
TO point cut their modes of infic.ion and the |
means by which their depredstions may be | c
ayerted, and for those who desire to prose- {
cute the study &C luire the knowledge of
these insects specimens OF their injuries and c
have been arranged and I
exhibited II room provided for the purpose a
botanical division has been stsad,,v nrosacrtaS
and many contributions added It lie believed
that much valuable information of a practical C
character ls b)th received and communicated q
slany gratifying letters Of acknowledgment rs
show high appreciation of the work of dstri- I {
m Of xrR -otG Il