The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1877-1885, 1878-02-21
North Carolina Agricultural De-
partment at Raleigh.

DdX LIA4SLA g.
While passing through Raleigh Is
Gently wc h,d 4 few hours to wait Tor
tram. and spent a little time IN the
STATE Ayr cultural Department. col
Polk. the Conmls-iOntT.an apt. /. =
Robinson the Secretary, are alwaEs
polite and attentive - visitors. and are
giving their whole time l. the noble
work Of promoting the agricultural.
manufacturing and mining Interests
Of the State.
The most interesting part OF the De
partment il the collection Of specimens
of the products Of different counties ~
the state In a room % or - feet long
there are -four rows or tiers OF shelving
divided off into compartments,
each county being allotted three
shelves about four feet long Tor
a display of its products IN a compact
form. We were pleased to see several
of the compartments full, but many
were nearly empty, ana some hdd
rothinr ut all. For instance, such
fine producing counties "a CASTOR.
Lincoln. Iredell. Caldwell, Polk. Gran
Vile and New Hanover. had no specl-
mems or their productions. Union was
represented by a few broken pieces Of
| slate. even Mecklenburg by only a lit
tie corn. millet. rye, oats, wheat and
potatoes. and hat not OF the best quail
ity.
We call attention to this matter with
the hope of arouslng the pride of some
BODY in the counties named. and in
ducing the sending of specimens To
the Department. Send by Express.
and Col. Polk will pay charges Of
transportation. Farmers, miners,
mechanics and manufacturers. give
the matter your attention.
Among the counties represented we
noticed partially Catawba. Arson and
GuilfOrd-the collection from CataWba
being very fine.
Col. Polk is preparing a Statistical
table for publication, which is lmpor-
tant to the whole State and particular
ly SO to each county. The table IS to
contain the number of churches III
each county. and also the number of
schools, bridges, mineral springs, Wa
ter powers population OF towns, kinds
of timber, factories, mills, manufac-
tories, character of soil, gold, silver
and copper mines, &C., turpentlne dis
tilleries, fisheries, whatf fruits are best,
staple crops, ETC., etc. lie has pre-
pared a circular and sent 1T out for the
purpose Of securing tile above infor-
IndllOh. Out hlo IIISt WIN a Wv
cess. There is no report at all from
Mecklenburg-frOm CASTOR the report
is partial, the extensive Mountain Is
land Mills not being mentioned among
the Factories of that county-and 50
with many other counties.
The Department earnestly begs that
some one in each county will aid the
good cause in land by procuring and
forwarding to Raleigh, without delay,
the information wanted. Send to Col.
Polk for the proper blanks to be filled
out and he Will answer promptly. We
have a few blanks which we will give
to M one in this county o. a adjoining
counties who will fill them up with
the information desired. If some we'll
informed citizen or citizens OF Neck
lenburg will aid us, we will help get
up the facts concerning the county.
We We're pleased with our visit to
the Department, and when we have
more time will 90 again. No man
ought to go to Raleigh without calling
on the Commissioner and examining
his work.-CbdrIotte Democrat.