The weekly clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1863-1882, 1882-05-31

In i recent article replying to q CON
munication signed Anti Consolidation, =
opposing bill to create a Department
Of Agriculture, We stated that though
agriculture is the principal source Of the
wealth and power of our government, it
has given It's interests less consideration
than any of the leading countries of the
world. The evidence of what other Ma
tons are doing for Agriculture, is fur
nished in the following extract Of a
speech BY member of Congress from
Ohio:
Ia passing to the consideration Of nay second
proposition i. Is important for US to remember
that all the grea. nations Of Europe have made
the agricultural an executive department e1-
cept Great Britain ani Russia. The former is
50 situated By nature "a to oblige her to rely
mainly upon commerce a. l manufactures, and
yet she has given greater governmental aid to
agricultural interests than have We.
The latter, although the most despotic Of civ
lied nations, and possessed ola great class Of
farm Iaborers but recently emerged from sarf-
dom, has, neyerth slsss, placed her sgricGl,ur-
81 affairs under the control of an executive de-
parln ant agricultural in everything but name,
possessed Of ample means and clothed with ex-
tensiye powers.
Austria. France, and the Dominion of Cana
da have executive departments exclusively
agricultural, while Hungary, Prussia, Italy,
Spain, and Switzerland have like departments,
in which agriculture is the great central figure.
To this latter list may be aided the greatest
Of South American nations, the enterprising
AMI progressive Empire of Brazil.
In Prussia tho minister OF agriculture, do
mains, and forests is member of the cabinet
and ting executive department of which he is
the head controls the expenditure Of about $l2,-
/ O00,G0) annually. and is charged with the fos-
tering OF Agriculture, the control o. the public
lands, the management of an experimental
/ farm IN each province connected with each
/ of which are horse-5reeiing stations.
! 1t collects information through Piuss;an
consals in foreign countries, and from other
sources and imparts it to the public through
IN official paper published and circulated by
/ the government aul also by meaus Of a vast
number Of public officials, all OF whom.
/ from the county up,rinEcnient to the
rural police. are under he direction Of this
department. and are required to both gather
aud disseminate information in relation to the
pursuit ola griculture.
Ia addition to this force, when tae public
interests demand, as in case Of II ols, the
prevention Of he spread of contagious disea-
sec among cattle, aud in other EN- rgencies
where vigorous and concerted action is re-
quirel, the Army may b. cal.eI into its
service In case Of the total failure Of bar
ves.s over large districts seeds are distribu ed
without charge. Il also coaiuc,s govern
mental school OF agriculture and oae Of
forestry.
In France the head of the department of
agriculture in a cabinet minister, and the
annual Appropriations for its support are over
100000 Tne policy of The Department is
broad and liberal end9ayoring to give aid
aul encourag .mcnt to every thing appertain-
/ ing to agriculture,
| Agricultural schools are opened, in counec-
/ ton with which are taught trades and the arts
Model farms are conducted; stations are es-
tablished for the improvement OF sheep, cattle,
and horses; veterinary schools are under its
! care; professors % agricultural science travel
! from place 10 place giving instructions to the
/ farmers; rare sec1s are distributed, and the
planting of shade AMI nit trees is encour-
| aged. These efforts have resulted in great
! good to the agri;ui.urists Of France, and the
| development Of her silk and baet-sugar indus
/ tries illustrates the beneficial effects of the
application of scientific Investigations aud
methods to agricultural pursuits.
| have tha5 "a ,nt2ned briefly the organiza-
tioa and methods Of like departments in two
of the great nations Of Europe TO show that the
measure before us has beoa fully tried ana
has stood the test o experience. The organi-
zation Of the departments in the other coun-
tries named is Of the same general character.
The experience of all these nations has de-
moustrated the wisdom Of the action proposed
and among their enlightened statesmen but
one opinion, and that favorable one, is en-
tertained or expressed.
In none Of these countries Of we except
RUSSIA is the pursuit Of agriculture to be-
compared with our own in point Of magnitude
and looking to the near future, even that ex-
ception becomes unnecessary.