Fayetteville observer. [volume] (Fayetteville, Tenn.) 1850-1966, 1875-02-04

of Agriculture. A man COM
| petent TO fill the position, aided
by board of gentlemen inter-
ested in agriculture, might do
immense good to the State
Such a Bureau would be, in fact
as well as in the name, Bureau
of Agriculture. We commend
to the careful consideration of
our General Assembly the con-
tents of this letter, as they are
likely to be called upon to legis-
late on the subjects, both of ag-
riculture and immigration, and
from present indications the
views of distinguished gentle
men upon these vital questions
seems to be considerably mixed.
1t will simplify matters very
much to remember that the du-
ties of the two Bureaus are as
separate and distinct as tits pos
sible for two departments to be.
We hope that if they are merged
into one there may be at least
two separate and distinct depart
ments, each presided over by a
Commissioner who understands
fully and clearly the duties of :
his office. A gentleman who
would be the best that could be
found to to perform the duties
so clearly pointed out by Mr..
Mcdaniel, might have no adap-
tation whatever for the work of
aCommissioner Of immigration,
and so on the other hand, the
man best adapted to the work
of Commissioner Of Immigra-
ton. He might understand ali
the details ofthatimportant work,
be an excellent business man of
infinite resources, of business a.
bility-a good fnancer and one
who could so set forth our val
ues as to attract capital and skill |
to our State, know all about |
transportation and yet be chem
ist and wholly unfit to be at the
head as Commissioner of Ag-
riculture:
Hon. d. j. NobliH-Dear'
Sir Some time since you re-
luested me to give you my ideas
on the propriety of the State
Legislature to create the Office
Of State Agricultural Chemist.
In compliance with said request
propose to give a few reasons
Why said office should be crea-
ated, and the beneficial effects
hat would result from a faith
ful performance of the duties
Of a competent officer.
THE NECESSITY FOR SUCH AN
OFFICER.
1t is a fact patent to all prac-
ical farmers that the vegetable
manure, of which there was such
IN abundance on the surface, at
he first settlement of Tennes-
zee, caused by the accumulation
# vegetable mold from the fall
ng of leaves, the decay of wood,
,ane, &C., also, the potash caused
" the burning of the woods by
he Aborigines, and various 9TH
II causes too tedious to NELL
ion, this vast amount of ma
lure in which the soil of this
tate was so rich, has long since
,een exhausted. M
The farmer of to-day has to
eal with the soil in its original
imposition, without the aid of '
his rich manure. Hence the
reat falling off in the acreage
ield of field crops. (Agricul-
ural Editors attribute this great
alling off in the yield to bad
but when we examine ,,
ITO the cause we find differ
Mt solution.) Farming has :
ever been taught in Tennessee
5 science, but as an art. con- t.
the farmer knows
othing of the natural .produc- :
iveness of the soil, he judges !
f its qualities from sight, and '
dapts his system of farming to !
is idea guess work. of the !
chness of the soil, not being :
bic to analyze the soil or the
egetation that he grows on the
lme, and tell how much of
lant food is drawn from the :
oil and how much is drawn :
ON the atmosphere, hence he >
oes on experimenting for years, I
,metimes making good crops, :
nd sometime entire failures and !
oes not know what to attribute
is good or bad success to, and
as often wrong as right in |
rawing conclusions. t