The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1877-1885, 1879-08-07
A Few Words About the Farmer
and Mechanic and Its COnnec-
ton With the Board of
Agriculture.

With the present NUMBER the leSend de-
cIarIng this paper to be the "Oficial Organ
Of the Department of Agriculture" is
Withdrawn from the caption of our edito-
rial columns. We nave not received the
six months "notice" which the legal
contract, made by the Board Of Agricul-
ture Signed by the Governor and the Com
missioner) formally requires, and we may
therefore retain it, or not, as we see proper;
but as the Department for a long time ig-
nored the use of its page, preferring to
spend large sums for printing useless circu-
lars. and Reports" which nobody read
or cared to read, we see no necessity for
keeping up an empty title, which, in a
measure. restrained us from criticiSinS the
defects and mismanagement of the Depart
ment. 1t is true. those who know the edi-
ter will acquit him of erer playing the
''organ "-grinder, and for this reason he
was no doubt early found to be a poor Sc
lection to preside over the "organic" bel
lows. The very title became SO distasteful
that he changed it to "Official Reporter"
Nevertheless the Department Of Agri-
culture has never had, nor has now, a truer
friend than this writer. From its very in
cipiency lie has worked for it. As associ-
ate editor of the .SouthelW Home he was
among the first of the State press to adyo-
cate the projected experiment. AS a mem
Der of the Legislature he worked for it, and
sitting with Hon. Montford McGehec, and
Gen. w. p. Roberts. who (aided by the
suggestions of Prof. Kerr were fighting It
through the House, he voted Aye -
upon each of the two or three doz Il sec
tions of the Act creating the Department
six months later he left a home to which he
was much attached, to come and take charge
at merely a nominal salary, of the paper,
which the Department publicly declared an
all important adjunct of Its work. Any
reader of the FARMER AND MECHANIC dur
Ing the past two years and a half can tell
whether it has worked faithfully and zeal
uusly for the Department, for the encour-
agement of immigration, and for the up
lifting of the intellectual, moral and mate
rialinterests OF our people.
So much by way of personal explanation.
Thus much also to show that we have no
~antagonism for the Department OF AgTlcal-
ture-provided it be properly administered
At present il is in bad condition, and very
much crippled of usefulness, ii we be able
TO indge. Two years and three months
has passed,-about forty five thousand dot
lars Including printing bills not yet audi
ted have been spent-and how meagre are
the results. compared with the possibilities
Of such an expenditure of time and money
Let us say here. moreover, we have no an
tagonism against Col. Polk. On the contrary
our relations ore, as they have been, uni
formlv pleasant. We know that he receives
ceusure for some things which his superiers.
the Board, ordered, and against his protest.
lie was our choice at the outset Tor Com
missioner, and we have many times had
occasion to compliment his Zeal and ettici-
ency in the work. But that was IN the past.
That was when he had the manager ent-
virtually. ard in name, if not IN reality
OF the whole Department.
At present we consider his office q S2.U0.
s~yuecure. The duties Of the Treasurer
were transferred to State Treasurer WORTH,
50 that Secretary Robinson Is reheyed q
al. duties except answering letters ana keep
ing a few accounts. For tins ne receive!
81. 800. and we esteem him an excellent mar
Tor the place. But rs Commissioner LtdouN
salary -, 900, with three assistants, draw
ing about -. 500 between them) has ful
control of the Fertilizer ana Analyzlne
Department, and as Commissioners >. y
Worth, with one or more assistants, has fui
Charge, Of the Fish Department., there
would seem to remain to COMMISSIONS
I9.k nothing in particular to do, except u
assist Secretary Robinson in answering let
tiers, aud exhibit the Under Museum tho
FfoT. kerr's museum, which is up stalrS(
ana to make an occasional picnic speech
IN this no ~disrespect is intended toward
Ool. Polk, who fills the position about a
We'll as 1t is possible, we suppose. SOM
persons have said that Capt. Sydhham d
-IeAander, one of the most intelligent
popular and successful young farmers Q
Mecklenburg formerly Grand Master 0
tue state Grange, and State Senator,
might have more procticot kno'rledge Q
agriculture and stock-raising; and tina
hon. Montford McGehee would be bette
posted on scientific and kindred subjects
"ut we feel assured these suggestions wer