The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1885-06-03
The United States Department
of Agriculture.

| ture, the department seems TO nave
fallen into the hands of a very plain,
practical person in Agricultural Editor
Colman-a business man who means
business, as well as one who knows the
needs and wants of the farming COM
munity, and has that respect for their
intelligence which no one could expect
from the heightened, fancy-farming
Massachusetts politician.
As the Ne,C England Farmer puts it,
I" he appears to be seeking to bring the
department nearer to the people, and
to undertake to make its operations of
real value to the agricultural commu-
nifty" In evidence of this, he has just
established in the agricultural depart
ment bureau whose business it will
be to investigate all questions affecting
its exclusive attention to collecting the
latest statistical and other information
relative to the dairy industry, and will
give especial attention to the matter of
the manufacture, sale and consumption
of oleomargarine and other spurious ar
ticles sold as butter
nalized himself by the promptness with
which he grappled with the question of
the contagious diseases of cattle, and
other live stock. AS another evidence
of his sagacity, he has called conven-
ton of representatives of the state ag
ricultural colleges, to meet at Wash
ington, for consultation as to the best
means for promoting the agricultural
industries of the country. The following
is from the text of his circular letter,
copies of which have been addressed to
the officers, not only of the so-called
agricultural colleges, but also to those
of the various industrial and techni-
cal schools throughout the country:
Recognizing the importance of closer
and more intimate association of the
different agricultural colleges and other
industrial and educational institutions
with the department over which have
been called to preside, l have concluded
to call convention of representatives
of the different agricultural colleges
and allied state institutions. There are
many ways in which the department
and the industrial colleges can cooper
ate to their mutual benefit, and such a
convention, it seems to me, cannot fail
to be productive of great good. The
question of familiarizing our people, as
whole, with some of the fundamental
truths of agriculture, by teaching these
in the public schools; the question of
agricultural experiment stations, and
the relations they should hold to this
department: the best means of bringing
about congressional action, and harmon
ling the interests of the different
state institutions and the national de-
partment, and many other cognate
questions will suggest themselves. The
value of experiments in agriculture is
due largely to the uniformity of methods
by which they are made, and it is be-
lieved that by the comparison of methods
which such a convention will permit,
much can be done to simplify and unity
the processes now in use. Much valu-
: able time and great deal of money are
now lost in desultory and unmethodical
experiments, which, by concerted action
! among the various stations and colleges
/ of the country, could be made produc-
tive of great good"
We trust that our Vermont State
, Agricultural College will be represented
at this meeting by its professors of ag-
riculture and horticulture, and that
they will present before the meeting a
, few of their many valuable contributions
| to agricultural progress-thus demon
strating that the generous gifts of con-
, gress, at the instance and by the eXer-
, tons of our honored senior senator
have not, in his native state, failed to
be productive of those benefits to hel
, toiling thousands which he fondly hoped
! to secure for them. How satisfactory
it is that the conjoint efforts of former
president of one of our literary colleges
2 with the present president of the other
9 to prevent, at all hazards, the estab
D lishment of a third institution in the
state" so signally failed of success. But
{ perhaps we are dreaming of what might
? have been.
q As illustrating the folly of placing s
/. vain, selfish, incompetent man in a bust
e ness position, where hard sense ant
,, hard work are so sorely needed, the
e statement which has lately appeared o.
e the condition in which the department
t was left by the ex-commissione is in
e structive. We copy again from thu
n NeU England Farmer
: A dispatch from Washington to tn,
G Associated Press on Wednesday con
= firms the opinion that grea m
y farmers have held and freely expressed
during the past few years, that the af
e fairs of the department were iniudi
T ciously and extrayagantly managed