The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1877-1885, 1879-08-14
What's the Matter

Col POLK and the Department of Agricul-
tnre some hits We do not like to see
him acting so. We are sure Col. Polk has
done his best TO advance the agricultural
interests of North Carolina. He has done
more than any other man could. and 1t IS not
right for any paper to throw filings at nm,
if they are actuated by personal motives.
Come out square and say what you, nave
against the Department, so the people may
know what's the matter, and SO the oolnnlis-
sioner may have a chance TO defend 1t. Don I
hint around and leave Us IN any DOUBT put
ssblab 'er out if you have anything TO
tell. or hereafter hold your peace. lie
Dee HTatd.
As Mr.. Patrick has often said kind things
of the FARMER \ MECHANIC, we shall set
down the above to hasty writing, and mo-
mentary forgetfulness of the fact that the
editor of the FARMER AND MECHANIC is en-
titled 70 edit his own paper, and is able to
do If. Tpon reflection Mr.. Patrick will see
that this paper does not make filings, and
is not actuated by personal motives. Nor
has it been lacking in plainness. Perhaps IN
this connection we may be excused tor copy
ing the courteous remarks of the Charlotte
Dahl OJserrer, and other papers,
The Raleigh FARMER AND MECHANIC,
late the official organ of the State Agricul-
tural Department, has opened fire upon that
institution and announces that 1t IS not yet
through. Disclaiming any hostile feeling,
personal or otherwise, toward Col. FOLK, the
paper says the Department has been mis-
managed, and the results have been nothing
to compare with what the public had Alright
to expect. This is charged as being due,
more than anything else, to the division of
the work of the bureau, all the work OF any
Importance having been taken out OF Col.
Polk's hands and distributed around among
so many different people that the Commits
sioner is a mere fgure-head. The FARMER
AND MECHANIC says that SO far from being
an enemy of the Agricultural Bureau, it is
and has always been its friend, and its present
criticism is not captious, but is INDUCED in
only with a view to increase its efficiency
Charlotte Observer.
From its inception, the landmark has OPP
posed the system of State Board of Agricul-
ture. Not through any mercenary motive,
but because we believe it to be an incubus
and of no particular benefit to the farmer.
1t is well known that this Department is sup
ported by an oppressive tax imposed on fer
t~ilizers sold in the State. As soon as this
tax was imposed, the fertilizer companies
who were able to respond to the oppressive
exactions did so, and formed a combination
and raised the scale of their prices. Our
lands are poor, and without the aid of this
commodity a fair crop annot be grown.
Thus it is apparent that the farmer is run
ming this concern, and derives no benefit
therefrom.
We would not advert to this subject at this
time but for the fact of some new depart
ures. When the Board of Agriculture was
organized, it was thought that it should have
an organ and to this end the FARMER AND
MECHANIC was established. Now this excel
lent paper has been discarded. and the De-
partment will run a sheet at the States ex-
pense.
The officers of this Department, by the
way, are becoming painfully numerous
StdtesriWe Landmarks.
We omit a portion of Bro. Ramsey's caus-
tic remarks. We cannot go SO far as to say
the Department is "a fraud and of no
benefit to the State, but we wish it were Of
gre alter benefit, and we think it might be.