The Waco daily examiner. [volume] (Waco, Tex.) 187?-1888, 1878-12-05
AeR1cuLTuRA1. INTERESTS.

vi ittORhitiOh VI hEticuitui0 III |
erests has made in the past year is I
tightly gratifying. The complexion {
II, half score OF legislatures has
been essentially modified, and other
gratifying results Secured. The
most gratifying is perhaps the views
expressed by the president in his
at considerable leigth. tits
evident that ere long agriculture will
gain a position in government con-
sideration, which II requires and
demands. The sentiments of the
President are worthy of all praise,
and his endorsement of the value and
work of the agricultural departmeta
iust and deserved tribute to that !
mulch maligned and misapprehended
institution. We append that part of
tho message devoted to the agricul-
tural interests with the remark that
twill repay, Q careful reading.
: "From the Organization or fhe gov
ernmcnt, the importance of encour-
aging by alhmeans the increase of
our agricultural productions has been
acknowledged and urged upon the
attention of congress and the people
as the surest and readiest means of
increasing our substantial and en-
during prosperity. The words of
Washington are as applicable to-day
as when in his eighth annual message
he said; at is not to be doubted that
with reference either to individual
or national welfare, agriculture is of
primary Importance" In proper
ton as nations advance in population
and other circumstances of maturity,
this truth becomes more apparent,
and renders cultivation of the soil
more and more a subject of public
patronage. Institutions for promot-
ing il grow up supported by the pub
lie purse, and 10 what object can it
be dedicated with greater propriety Z
Among the means which have been
Iemployed to this end none have been
attended with greatersuccess than the
establishment of boards composed of
proper characters charged with col
Letting and diffusing information,
and enabled by premiums and small
pecuniary aids TO encourage and as
sist the spirit Of discovery and inn
provement, this species of estab-
lishment contributing doubly to the
increase of improvement and stimu-
lating to enterprise and experiment
and by drawing to common center
| the results everywhere of individual
skill and observation, and spreading
them thence over the whole ma
ton. Experience accordingly hath
shown that they are all cheap instru-
ments of immense national benefit.
The great preponderance of the agri-
cultural over any other interest III
the United States entities it to all the
consideration claimed for ii by Wash
ington. About one-half of the pop
uiation of the United States is en-
gagged in agriculture. The value OF
the agricultural products of the
United States for the year 1873, is
estimated at three thousand million
of dollars. The exports of agricul.
tural products fol the year 1877, as
appears from the report of the bureau
of statistics, were 1924, 100000, The
great extent of our country, with its
diversity of soil and climate, en-
ables US 10 produce within our own
borders and by our own labor, moi
only the necessaries, but most of the
luxuries that are consumed in civil
lied countries. Yet, notwithsiand.
ing our advantages of soil, climate
and REORGANIZATION, it appears
from the statistical statement in the
| report of the commissioner of agri-
culture that we import annually
from foreign lands many millions OF
| dollars worth of agricultural pro-
duets which could be raised in our
own country. Numerous questions
i arise in tho practice of advanced az
riculture whichican only be answer
cd by experiments, often costly and
sometimes fruitless, which are be-
You'd the means Of private individu-
ais and are a just and proper charge
on the whole nation for the benefit OF
the nation. II is good policy, espec-
tally in times of depression and I'M
certainty in other business pursuits,
with vast area of uncultivated,
and hence unproductive, territory,
wisely opened toiAhomestead settle
ments, TO encourage by every proper
aud legitimate means the occupation
and tillage of the soila The efforts
of the department. of agriculture to
stimulate old and introduce new az
| ricultural industries, to improve the
quality and increase the quantity OF
our products; Ito determine the value
of old or establish the Importance OF
new methods of culture, are worthy
of your careful and favorable consid-
GRAFTON and assistance by such appro-
priations of money and enlargement