The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1885-08-19

vestigating the history and habits of
insects injurious to agriculture and hor-
ticulture, experiments in ascertaining
the best means of destroying them, and
for the promotion of economic ornithol-
ogy, or the study of the inter-relation
of birds and agriculture" and so on.
1t has been the policy heretofore to use
a portion of the fund paying entomolo-
gists in various parts of the country to
conduct investigations in their own To-
calties. Judgment is exercised in Sc
lecting persons who have a taste for
this branch of science, and who have
established some reputation for scien-
tifc attachments.
In manner similar to that just men
toned, forestry agents are appointed
in various sections of the country. A
fund of $4,000 is at the disposal of Mr..
Colman to experiment and to con-
tinue an investigation of the report
upon the subject of forestry, and the
collection and distribution of valuable
economic forest seeds"
Few people have any conception of
the attention given by the department
to the collection of agricultural statis-
tics. This is not the bureau of statis-
tics, recently placed under the charge of
Colonel w. f. Switzler of Missouri, but
the source from whence emanate the
monthly crop reports. Just now the
statisticians are furlcrghed; but after
the first of July Mr.. Colman will COM
mence to spend the S109, 300 appropri-
ated for this division. The appropriation
provides for quite force here, and also
for the payment of statistical agents, to
the number of forty or more, scattered
through the. country. These agents re-
ceive from $500 to 81 400 year, accord
ing to the amount of work expected
from them.
Tea culture, of which so much fun
has been made, has not been wholly
given up, although the appropriation
has been cut down considerably. Mr..
Colman will have SO, 200 to spend on it
for the next twelve months.
Silk culture is the new craze. The
last congress, without any urging, set
apart $4,000 for the encouragement
and development of culture and raising
of raw silk" The new commissioner
is not an enthusiast on the future of silk
raising, but he says he is willing to give
the ladies' new employment the full
benefit of the appropriation.
The sum of "a ,120 is allowed for the
maintenance of the department mu-
scum, and the sum of $1S,450 is ex-
pected to keep up the grounds and
greenhouses during the year.
For the new bureau of animal in
dustry clean 100000 is given, " and
the commissioner is hereby authorized
to use any part of this sum he may
deem necessary or eXpedient, and in
such manner as he may think best, to
prevent the spread of pleuro-pneumo-
mia, not to conflict with existing law"
OF course the distribution of seeds
is big feature, and it is in this division
that Mr.. Colman expects to work one
of his most important reforms. The
schedule for purchases out of the next
years appropriation of sos ,240 is now
being made up, and the commissioner
is revising with great care the recon-
mendations of the chief of the division.
1t is safe to predict, he says, that after
the planting season closes next spring
there will not be stacked up in the
seed-room eight hundred bushels of
peas, representing an investment of 81
per bushel, thirteen thousand pounds
of beet-sugar seed, beyond all possible
demands, and hundreds of bushels of
sorghum seed, bought at five tines the
western price.
For the item of repairs, new furni-
ture and such matters the sum of 81 800
is allowed, and for the library, to add
the latest agricultural works, 81 800.
To maintain the proper quarantine
stations for imported cattle the sum of
$50, 900 is appropriated.
The postage of the department is eX-
pected to come within $4,000.
A contingent fund of $4,000 swells
the aggregate to be disbursed by Mr..
Colman during the next twelve months
to S5S0,790.
All of this money is set apart in funds
for specific purposes, but the details of
disbursement are largely left to Mr..
Colman. He must exercise his judg-
ment, but congress puts this check
upon him-that he shall make to that
body an itemized statement at the open.
ing of each session. - Exchange.