The National tribune., 1881-04-01
A Department Of Agriculture.

establishment of Department of Agriculture
His statcsman-like mind quickly recognized the fact
that out Of the fruits Of the earth must grow the
strength Of the Empire. Agriculture, he well knew,
the essential backbone to the prosperity of any
state a wcll-fed and weclothed people he knew
were generally conteated and vigorous people a I'd
how TO develop France to her ultimatum, in regard
to her grains and grasses her fruits, her domestic
animals &c, should be- be resolved, the primary
concern Of one department Of his government The
result was he clearly antisipAed. While his vast
armies were in the fed, fighting at tine almost
against combined Europe, France, to its mountain
tops, was cultivated as never before In the alb
sence Of her soldiers her women and children be-
came the tillers of the soil, the gatherers Of the
grain and fruit and the tenders OF the aocks. Now,
if the establishment of such department. in France
country smaller than a number of our States and
Territories, was attended with such profitable re-
suits what far greater benefits light reasonably he
expected from the introduction of like department
ia the United States For many years we feel con
fdent that public sentiment on this subject has har
monized with the views recently expressed by
President Garfeldin his inaugural address in which
he says
The ine of agriculture require attention from
the Government than they have yet received The farms
OF the United States afford homes aud employment for
than one-half people, and furnish much the
largest part Of our exports As the Government lights
our coasts or the projection of mariners and the hene
OF commerce SO should give the ers CT the sod the
the best lights of practical science and experience.
/ Now. we think it is an indisputable fact that our
system of tage our treatmont Of crops, our method
of fruit culture our general agricultural manage.
ment is much as it has been practced for more than
/ of our wonderful agricultural machines-the admi-
ration Of every peope-we have made but little adj
vance in the discovery Of the methods for in
creasing our unhounded agricultural wealth Do
we have any clear conception of the specific proper
ties Of soils adap.ed to various grains grasses
| fruits Have we any satisfactory plans for culti-
waiting said grains, grasses or fruits What do we
known to the best method for growing and pre-
serving forests? Are we educated to understand
what fertilizers should be used for soils of varied
combinations? Are we acquainted with the diseases
of animals and the remedial agents therefor Are
not all our views on those subjects crude and ex-
ceedingly limited? Wen, this lack Of knowledge
we hold the Government should by every legitimate
course seek to supply When we consider the vast
agricultural population of the United States and
how deeply they are concerned in this matter as
well as oil whom they might supply-the non-pro-
ducers--we claim that millions of money could be
most justly, wisely and advantageously expended
by this department. But the cost of the department
10 the Governmentneed not be an enormous amount
Our Agricultural colleges, our State and County
Agricultural Societies could shed much light upon
many Investigations and the multitude of facts Sc
cured through such organizations could be compared
J,4a I;ol,
lished number of bureaus might be suggested
in connection with this department. 1t should have
one devoted to the preparation OF vast region Of
our country now almost worthless for profitable
culture by means of irrigation either through the
means Of artesan wells or the turning Of chan
nes Of water-courses. 1t should have one de
voted especially to the interests of fruit culture the
varieties of trees suited to various soils and diff