New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1880-03-29
RELoRu ~ ~ - BCREIC


During the discussion OF an appro-
prIation bill in thc House the Other
dly Massachusetts, ST. csmIn alluded
to lie Department of Ancul urc as nod
ng m its hands the mos. imronint indus
'tiyof the American people. tn Agricultural
Department was certainly Organized for
less ambitious purpose than TINS, but the
rampant pattern Ism of man OF IFS Sc elect
cd champions has accomplished great deal
IN the way of generating "a popular d.s'rust OF
the. c,tabli .hment. These lnjudicIOus ciioItS 10
induce the General Government to assume the
ro,ltipn and functions of a brcyct providence
ovrrAcri,ulture. and scheme 10 expand the bu-
an into tie dimensions and political cOn>e-
qucncc of a iull grown executive department have
done so mach to prejudice people agalus,
the work. 81, Of the office that they are SLOW
to discover any service winch it may render
or 10 make any grateful recognition of re-
iolm, attempted in lis methods.
Tai, bureau ever since lis creation has
found n cons dcrabe outlet for It's ac-
tiyit, il the distribution Of seeds, out 1t must
be allowed that the hundreds of thousands OF
dollars thu, expended have brought no adequate
return. Indeed il Is only by an elastic con
\ III non Ol law tlltl H''L u'''ii'NN'H -
fo,mcrlv cani, ID ON could be classified among
the duties of a Department established to
acquire end dii1nse among the people useful
information ON subjects connected with agrl-
culture. If any useful information VS. disSem-
mated il must nave been in limited Quantities.
If WAS Eot altDgctier di-agrccab!o TOR the
rural postmaster to secure mailbag full OF
seeds. for he could sell hem, or ut least feed
them to hi pis, and poultry whom they could
not he uti lied rs ie.ai tender for votes Nor
were the wives AMI daughters of Il prudent
CongIcsSmAn's cOnstl ucnta dispensed with
donat.c., of marigOld and holy hock seeds.
Buf after all, The educating influence ot wash
Iuglon seeds WAS always and necessarily OF the
sicndcrcst Ii Is PLAIN that # any addition To
fine sum total of agricultural knowledge Is to
lac made IN this way, the distribution must be
administered under reformed conditions.
# il worth while to test new varieties of cereal
Grains or vegetables, or forage plants obtained
by hybIldizlng or selection. IL the seeds oil
,no.o were iudiclously distributed over the
country, carefully treated In different soils and
climates. and the results accurately reported,
the experiment might prove OF some lasting
,dv,n.agc. Under the old plan nobody ever
rcnortcd or was expected to report. Indeed
az a general thing there was nothing to report,
for agriculturiss knew all that was to be
said of tho seeds distributed, which were mainly
we'll known varieties OF established merit OF
demonstrated worhIcssncss.
The law which relieved Congressman of all
duty as seed dis.eminators wasan advance upon
the old system. These gentlemen are so busily
,..;,,r Ia LAYING nIDp4 for denomination
and in other duties, that they have little energy
left TO be experdcd to good purpose in the
diffusion of agricultural knowledge This duty
will certainly be performed more efficiently if it
deyolyes upon a single responsible head.
And now Commissioners lie Due announces
another reform III the line above indicated. He
nroposes to select from ten to. twenty trusty
farmers in each county, who, together with
the agricultural societies and kindred organ
izations are to be intrusted with the seeds sent
ont for experimental planting, and 1t Is cujoined
upon them to make thorough tests and to
report results 20 the Department. Any system
attic distribution must be an Improvement
upon tha.old broadcast and haphazad method
of seed-sOwing upon stony ground, among
thorns OF by the wayslde, as luck directed.
If Mr.. Le Due is fortunate in making
his selection Of recipients, and if he
will send out only such seeds as
promise to have an economic value. the $G5, 900
which Congress annually appropriatcs for this
purpose may bring some experience and
information worth having and paying fol.
When the Democrats are anxious to divert pubic
a th.ir in,