The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1877-10-05
Agricultural Department.
BY ALBERT CHAPMAN
The Department of Aer,cul,ure.

1t is to be hoped, after the statements
in our preceding number regarding
this little department of great gov
ernment, that the dead past may be al
lowed to bury its dead, although we
may from time to time dig up bone
or so for our museums, or as n speci-
men from which to derive better
knowledge of the has been. We pro-
pose, however, to give the most of our
attention to the needs of this depart
ment, and to discuss those matters
which the public have right to inquire
into, and whose proper criticism in
wolves duty.
The department of agriculture
should stand in the same relation to
our government as the department of
state, or that of the interior, modified
only by the differences brought about
of its duties. That is to say, it should
have a relation to the executive branch
of our system, whereby correct and di-
rect intelligence of the wants and needs
of the larger part of our productive
population may be obtained for the
purposes of legislation, and through
which the effects of legislation may be
traced, noted and corrected. This idea
involves responsibility which is neith-
er light nor of small consequence, EN-
bracing as it does the operations of such
varied causes. AS it is now, agricul-
ture is but little needed in our legisla-
ton, and whether it is benefited or in
jured depends in great degree upon the
accidental circumstances of the hour,
or the fancied requirements of the COM
mercial and mercantile classes. What
the farmers should demand, not only
as class, but as citizens, is that gov
eminent should act in its legislation
with the data of agriculture in view, so
tina: its laws should not cripple one in
dustry by aiding another, and it is to
the department of agriculture that our
law-givers should look for that general
information which would prevent spec
ial branches from influencing unduly
through onc-sidcd and partial efforts.
Who has ever heard of n committee of
congress going to the commissioner of
agriculture for information bearing on
any intended legislation? There is no
antagonism, in the matter of laws, be-
tween the true requirements of the far
mer and the factor. What congress
and the people need concerning all our
industries, as well as agriculture, is the
facts even as they exist, and then there
can be no questioning but that produc-
tive industry is at the foundation of
prosperity, and the only question will
be in what manner to legislate to meet
certain well-known requirements.
This idea also covers other secondary
duties of a department, which, impor-
tant as they undoubtedly are, will, I'M
der proper management, find their
place. Such is the idea of experiment
tai research for the good of the whole,
in similar way that the government
takes the scientific exploration of its
territories in charge, encourages special
branches of education, tests boilers and
explosives, and other duties concerned
with the protection of life or allevia-
ton of injury.
What, however, is the first duty up
on which all cditors-both agricultural
and those who treat of political econo-
my-should insist upon, and keep be-
fore the public, in order that progress
may be assured, and responsibility to
the public fixed? 1t seems to us, with
out fear of mistake, TO be in the annual
report. Let us all insist, and let all
true friends of agriculture join us in the
effort, and the report of the department
shall be a report of its operations-all
it is doing and what it expects to do,
with full details. The public will then
be able to judge of its usefulness and
can criticise its operations so that it
may force improvement. The past re-
ports are unworthy of criticism and
thus have fallen dead on the public.
Let us insist that eXtrancous matter
shall be omitted, matter which now
may be obtained elsewhere, which costs
the government much to distribute,
and which tends to blind the public to
the real operations of the department,
or to its usefulness.
To accomplish this one thing would
be long step towards improvement.
i f. l.. 5. in Scientific Farmer.