New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1876-04-15

OnOmN A. NOs
Especial Correspondence Of the Republican,
AGRICULTURE.
Its lmportanco % the People-What ihs
General Government Il DslBg threugl
ehe National Department Of Asricui'
ture-Its Usefulness Joopardized bJ
luiberal Appropriations -Grasshoppel
Plagues-How these Insects Can b
Ueilixed-The Art Of Chemistry Brought
Int Play-The Dissemination Of valu'
BILE Information BY the Department.
Necessity Of FoseeriBg tho Great Insti'
tutisu-Inferesting Description Of the
Great Work Performed BY 1t.
WASHINGTON, April S, 1876.
= It is to be regretted that the average Con
gressman does net comprehend the impor.
tant relations which our national Depart.
ment of Agriculture sustains to q great
portion Of the American people. Could the
agricultural section of this country speak
as with one voice, it would convey in un'
mistaksble terms to our law makers the
immense benefits derived from the 'nforma-
ton furni. he'd them by this great depart
ment, which by wonderful and almost in
comprehensive sy stem comes into posses
sion Of every fact, every experiment, every
detail connected with the origin, growth
and fertility Of every seed that has been or
will be buried in the soil of America or on
the continent of Europe. This grand sys-
tenn in vogue at the Agricultural Bureau of
gathering information of an agricultural
nature embraces as it were one central
point 1.-THE department itself, with innu-
merab]e offshoot branches reaching in all
directions. covering every point near and
distant. in the United States, and extend
ing over and to the furthest points in the
Old World.
To show that the spread Cf this informa-
ton thus obtained is directly, remotely and
pecuniarily advantageous to that very i'm.
portant element of our people, the agricul-
turalists, it is only necessary to refer to one
of the many letters on file in the department
from farmers and others who have acted on
advice set forth in the published reports,
circulars, ETC., of this great department of
the government. One farmer in Missouri
writes that in single season he had pecu-
nisrily realized large sum by needing the
advice in regard to ths care Of stock, as set
forth in some one of the important papers
promulgated BY this department. In glsnc-
ing over other letters to Commissioner
Watts from correspondents in the West, I
noticed statement to the effect that over
$1,000 was realized by the writer in adopt
ing the advice of the bureau in reference
to the care and management Of certain
crops.
To show the resources Of this department
in obtaining valuable information, refer
to the fact on the authority OF the able
commissioner and his learned ofiioial in
charge Of the statistical division and editor
of the reports of the department, that at
least $l50,000 worth of gratuisous work is
obtained by this bureau per annum. Think
of it, $l50,0O0 worth of labor voluntarily
given to the objects and cads OF the Agri-
cultural Bureau in fur,herance Of a great
cause, furnished BY societies, institutions
both at home and abroad, papers on appro
pirate subjects contributed by able men,
learned essays BY distinguished scientists,
the Developments of chemistry as applied
to the vegetable and cereal products. all
cheerfully contributed with the one grand
object of the advancement OF agriculture
q principle 50 important to nation that
its welfare and strength are dependent
upon it's success more than upon any other
great interest. No private enterprise could
enjoy or obtain this immense voluntary Of |
fering. The people who SO generously con-
tribute their knowledge, their experience
and their researches take pride in it; look |
upon their acts as done in deed of patriot |
ism, in the interests of their government:
and the fact that the government desires |
such knowledge gives assurance to the |
donor that the information will be utilized. |
The government desiring euch data carries |
strength on the demand. No private enter
prise, no society OF institution could enjoy |
and take advantage Of this great boon of
gratuit0us work.
Seventeen hundred counties in the United
States are in direct communication with
The Agricultural Bureau, from which cor
dependence the preparation Of matter for
reports, the compilation of commercial sta
.istics, etc, are obtained. Able men in
hese counties show great deal Of pride
md public spirit by their correspondence
With the bureau, and they are enabled by
his correspondence to greatly benefit their
'wn sections of country.
1t is, perhape, readily seen now that this
,reat bureau of the government has in its
lasds macs of facts, the result of careful
and experiments of master
minds. Now, the duty of the department
, at once seen. All this information must
70 used for the public good. The crop re-
orts must be made out. The current sta
;stics of this and foreign countries must
% compiled; the translation Of foreign re-
orts and papers must be gene through
nth.
No one will gainssy the fact that such
,ass of valuable material ss has been
nown to to be in the hands Of the bureau
hall not be utilized-shall not be spread
roadcast, or at least put directly before
10 people, for whom it is especially IN
,nded. To do this properly 100000 per
mum was appropriated to get the matter
arranged, ably compiled and
roperly illustrated by ergravings and
rawlings. Sometimes special work outside
as required to be done, and at euch times
10 special work was paid for. Within the