The patron of husbandry. (Columbus, Miss.) 1875-1883, 1880-08-14
The National Department OF
Agriculture.

Editor Farmers Fyfend:-The farmers
OF PENNSYLVANIA and all States were the
| Grange organization exist signed and for
warded to members of Congress thousand:
of memorials asking that the Departments
of Agriculture should be made equal II
rank with others departments of the Uni
ted States Government. These Congress
men who ought to represent fairly the far
mers have treated our petitions with the
same kind of contemptuous neglect that
the British Parliament showed the Amcri-
can colonists some hundred years since.
The lawyer politicians, who crowd them
selves into the National Legislature
through the fundamentally of party
machinery, were not contest with refusal
to elevate the Department of Agriculture,
but have dealt deadly blow at its useful-
ness.
My purpose in writing at this time is to
bring to public notice the man who had the
hardihood, and, | might say, the ingrati
tude, to asSail the best interest of the farm
ers of America.
The Department. of Agriculture.f from the
period of its creation up to the time that
General LIE Due was appointed Commits
sioner, had never been brought into inter
course with farmers. Such favored parti-
| SSilS DIS ICSSlNcu
| some specimens of SEEDS or plants suppos-
ed he ow d the favor to a member ofCon
gress, and therefore he must run his legs
| otto secure his reelection. The fact that
annual appropriations of comparatively
small sums were authorized for the pur-
chase and distribution of rare seeds ami
plants was really concealed from the mass
of the people.
The present Commissioner of Agriculture
being practical farmer, and fully aware
of the inefficienty of past administration
determined to make the Department use
| full to the class of people for whom it was
| created by faithful execution of the law.
Bear in mind thatup to the presentCongress
the law made it the duty of the Commits
sioner of Agriculture 70 purchase rare lad
valuable specimens of seeds and plants and
distribute them. Former incumbents ofthe
department gave seeds and plants to mem
bers of Congress, some of whom appear
to have considered them part fthe emolu-
ments other office, and while books fesnd
supposed to have gone to seeds stores.
The plan adopted by Gen. LIE Due, the
present Commissioner, for the distribution
of seeds and plants, is the proper one, the
very best that could be devised. The plan
comprises a registered list of all the agri-
cultural societies, county and State, with
their officers names. All the farmers clubs
with the names of their officers. Every
subordinate Grange in the United States,
and a list of ten of the principal farmers in
each county called the sheriff list. because
he procured the DANES by writing to these
officers Throughout the United States. Be
sides the organized associations, members
of Congress in both houses, could make
Al. brN,, 4
would forward the different kinds adapted
to the climate and soil of the different To-
cality, to which they were to be addressed.
This admirable plan to make the distri-
button general and directly to the farmers
has been supplemented to injury of all
our people by Mr.. Harry White the mem
Der of Congress from Indiana county,
who succeeded in getting provision at
tached to the Appropriation Bill COMPEL
ing the Commissioner of Agriculture to
hold thrse- fourtkS of aHthe seeds purchased
BY him subject to the order Of members of
COngysss. If this is any better than the
salary grab business so universally con-
demened few years ago, point it out to
me, if you please.
Under the terms of this law what will
Mr.. Harry White do with his share of the
cotton seeds? The almond roots of olive
trees and other semi-tropical seeds and
plants on hand for distribution? If the
present custom of trading the quota of
public documents prevails, we can Judge
what Mr.. White will do with his two thirds
semi-tropical seeds and plants.
desire 10 say to the farme of Indiana,
Jefferson, Clarion and Forest counties, do
not give your votes TO re-elect this man
White. Retire the hero ofthe Kiskamina-
tas aDDropria tiOn and send . enn~ IN b,e
place to the next Congress that will listen
TO the farmers and not go into the see
business on his own account. Your friend,
V. E. PIoLLKr,
Master PeessylUania State Grange