National Republican., 1885-11-21
GOV. COLMAN'S CORPS.
SOME ACCOUNT or THE AGRICULTURAL
DEPARTMENT..
Tho Organization and Work OF the
Farmers' Branch ofiho Government
Mr.. saunders's "Reminiscences OF His
Long Service.

Long Service.
Mr. William Saunders delivered an ad
dress in Boston on Tuesday before the Ma |
tional Grange of the Patrons of Husbandry |
on the history and organization of the |
United States department OF agriculture,
with which he is connected as chief OF
the horticultural division. After referring
to the work on behalf Of agriculture for
merly done by the patent office, he cited
the main provisions of the act OF May, 1862
by which the department of agriculture
was created, and stated that in the per
formance of the duties imposed upon the
commissioner Of agriculture by that act |
and in the gradual enlargement OF the |
range Of the operations Of the department |
body of assistants had been organized |
which now embraced a working force OF |
nearly 400 persons-specialists, clerks, |
laborers, and other employees. "This work. |
ing force" said he, "is Systematically ar
ranged in divisions, each one OF which is
directed by responsible head. These di- |
visions are the seed division, the entomo-
logical division, the horticultural, pomO-
logical, and propagating division, the sta
tistical division, the botanical division. the
and the veterinary division. Through those
divisions the commissioner Is enabled to
execute the various duties prescribed and
contemplated In the organic act creating the
department, as approved May 10, 1862"
THE SEED DIVISION.
Treating first Of the seed division he
said: "The primary object OF the distribu
ton Of seed is to give increased value to
production, to introduce new industries, to
establish principles In regard to climatic
influences on seed races, and from these de-
duce facts which would point to the best
geographical distribution of varieties, and
more rapidly introduce the best varieties of
seeds Of farm and garden plants into new
states and territories"
He spoke of the value of the results often
obtained from procuring seed grown In
climate or on soil favorable to its highest
perfection, showing that for number Of
wears such seed would continue to yield
large crops after being placed under less
favorable conditions. In illustration OF
this point, he mentioned q case in which
300 bushels of oats grown in the north of
Europe, and weighing llfty-One pounds to
the bushel, were imported for distribution
in this country, aud produced crops which,
us regards both weight Of grain and bushels
per acre, were far above the ordinary yield
of oats in the localities in which they were
sent Similar results were obtained
from the distribution of Fultz wheat,
twice as much as the common wheat
of the locality, growing In adjoining fields.
A further important object of seed distribu-
tion, he said was that Of quickly testing
the merits OF new or valuble seeds i'll dilfer-
ent parts of the country and on n diversity
of soils He stated that under resolutions
of Congress requiring that two-thirds of all
seeds for distribution should be equally
divided among the members of that body,
seeds had in some cases been sent to places
where they could be Of little value, as in
the case of cotton being sent to Maine: but
these provisions have since been amended,
so that the commissioner can now exercise
his Judgment as to the localities In which
seeds can be used to the best advantage.
THE CHRONOLOGICAL DIVISION.
The division Of entomology was estab-
lished in 1868, but for some years only
$4,000 per annum was appropriated for its
support and its range of work was cOnse-
ouently very limited. Since 1873, however
it has been gradually increasing In extent
and usefulness, the appropriation for this
year being upwards of $4,000. The i'm
portance of this division, he said, became
apparent on considering the vast number
of insects-which are said to outnumber
plants by five TO One-and the extent of the
losses, amounting to millions of dollars per
annum, which are sustained by farmers
through insect rnvages. To learn how this
great loss may be avertcd or reduced to
life, history, and habits of the different
species of insects injurious to agriculture,
involving direct and careful inductve
research, carried on sometimes for many
years.
may be destroyed, this division gives a part
of Its attention to insects of useful char
acter, and now embraces n section of bee
culture and another Of silk culture, while
n section Of economic Ornithology has also
been established with view to making re-
searches into the habits of birds, and their
relation to irsects and to agriculture. AS an
illustration of the practical character Of
the work Of this division, Mr.. Saunders
referred to the present general use OF the
kerosene emulsions which have emanated
from 1t in recent years, and their applica-
tion by the improved cyclOne-spray-nOZZle
This important advance in our knowledge,
he said has given us the means of success
fully and economically protecting our
orange groves from their worst troubles
rust and scale insccts-while the improved
methods Of using the arsenical insecticides
and pyrethrum powders has given us such
mastery over many of the worst insects
thut some of our chief crops like cotton,
potatoes cabbage, and most of our fruit
and shade trees are easily and cheaply pro-
tected Great advances have lately been
made in this line, and the department has
kept the lead In 1t.
THE HORTICULTURAL DIVISION.
In treating of the division of horticul-
ture, pomology, and plant propagation he
stated that Chinese sorghum or sugar cane
was introduced and first grown in this
country In 1855 In garden established
under the auspices OF the patent Office, the
Chinese potato or yam being also intro
duced during the same year. In 1862 this
garden was transferred to the newly-formed
department, and enlarged both in area and
range Of operation. The objects proposed
in the organization of this division, as set
forth in the first annual report OF the super
intendent, were stated as follows: 'To
procure and encourage the transmission OF
seeds, cuttings, bulbs, and plants from
all sources, both foreign and domestic, fol
the purpose of testing their merits and
adaptation in general, or for particular To-
Calties in the United States; to procure, by
hybridizing and special culture, products
OF a superior character to any now eXisting
to ascertain by experiment the influences
of varied culture on products, and the mod
ificatiOns effected by the operations of prun
ing and other manip ulatlons on trees and
fruits; to investigate more thoroughly the
various maladies and diseases of plants, and
the insects which destroy them; to provide
ample means for thoroughly testing sam
pies Of seeds and other contributions that
may be received; to cultivate specimens Oi
the various hedge plants, so as to exhibit theil
availability for the purposes Of hedges tC
cultivate a collection Of the best fruit trees
and plants, such as grapes, apples, pears
peaches, strawberries, raspberries, cur
rants, &c., so to compare their respective
merits and preserve their proper nomen-
clature to plant n collection of choice
shrubs and trees adapted for decorating
gardens and landscape scenery to erect
glass structures for the twO-fOld purpose
of Aflordlng the necessary facilities for cul
tlvatlng exotic fruits aud plants, and tC
furnish examples Of the best and mos
economical modes Of constructing, heating
and managing such buildings
These objects, he said, have been very
closely adhered to during the past twenty
years or more, some having been success
fully carried out, aud Others only partially