Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1886-01-05
Maine Farmer.
DEPARTMENT or AGRICULTURE.

COMMISSIONER COlman, la his annual 10.
port 20 the President, says the year which
opcned In gloom. Threatening distraction
OF winter crops by the severity OF the TEN
peraturc. IL closing with bright prospects
OF abundance produced At cost which IL
not hurdeu - the producer, and TO bs
sold al price which IL not barrier 10
the poor consumer. For many years u
has become more and more apparent that
the great need OF the agricultural Interests
OF the Uniisd States ls better understand
lng and more ultimate relation between The
several agricultural And experiment sta
tions, And more practical CO operation
between these Institutions and the Depart.
msni of Agriculture. These colleges were
endowed by Congress, and they are now
separately Carrying on experiments Al an
sx .,,nse % time and means, aud YET With
oai any ccntrA heal ihrough which u re-
port ani oomp,rc results with each other.
lie submits that The department should
have full authority AMI ample means 10
avail Itself Ol the peculiar Advantages or
ferci by these endowed Institutions In order
q test 10 q mAnacr Ani on scale sun.
Clent - determine AL questionable points
og the .iapiAbllliy OF uew and rare seeds
10 The vArioas sections OF The country.
lie describes the serious eject upon our
foreign trade In live stock resulting from
TIE existence OF contagious diseases among
cattle. sheep ani swine ani says the rc-
sirlctl0ns upon our lnsisrsiAic commerce
from The sane cause have been = very
great burden. and ihA, the reduction 10 The
value OF cattle In the Affected districts has
been enormous.
Ofthe work of the dlvlslon OF chemist
nv. The Investigation of the iunlsnec OF
climate aud soil In the competition OF ce-
reals has progressed fsr enoaga u seicn'
ideally determine what parts OF The coun-
iry pr)iacc the best cereals.
The annual report OF Mr. Dodge. stalls
uclAn OF The department, fof The prcseni
rear contains review of The course of
agricultural prOiaciion danng - years
which shows an estimated Increase Ia corn
OF gs.OoO,OoO acres. or 20 per cent Ia
wheat OF 81. 90. 900 acres, or 10, pr cent
In oats, 100000 acres, OF iI2 pcs cent.
AMI All cereals taken together 6I,oop,OoO
acrrs. or ~ per cent. The enlargement OF
The wheat area wAs extraordinary daring
The period Of the partial failure OF the
crops OF western Eufope The extension
OF breadth in maize was aided by reserve
of the lOrelgu trade In becycs aud fresh
meats. ard by The sudden enlargement OF
The exports OF pOrk products and Induced
by the chespncss of corn aud the culiiSa-
uon of oats. 10 has received an especial
Impetus from the seeding OF rust proof va
rletlcs In The South. and from necessity
OF less heating food Tor horses than too
exclusive maize raiions. Increased from
Cl. 900 900 acres OF cereals in 1870 10 1885,
OJl ODO ACRES means the seeding aud hsf-
ycstug OF an additional area ,q1sl 10 The
entire surface oi Iowa and North Caro-.
Ina
The average o.tlnltei pfoiaci OF The
principal food crops Of the last i've years
I. compared with TIE average OF tue ten
years preceding. from isiO 10 lssy lnelu'
sive, showing an enormous anu ln.
crease ln Aggregate as well ~ per acre.
The average Yield of corn, be continues,
Per acre, Ia. been .5g Bushels against
~ f1r prvce ilng Period. aud tie Average
value therefore has been hlgher-u : cts.
per bashel Instead OF &C. and The average
value OF the acre. slO.67 Instead OF sll5i.
The average Weld Of wheat la The two pc.
ROD. are nearly Identical, but TIE price
has averaged Dol cts. Instead OF lO'?,
the demand no, belng equal 10 The sup
ply.
The Commissioner describes the result
OF the work OF the microscopic division In
the discovery OF method OF detecting
counterfeit butter. and In this connection
the unparalleled increase during the past
few years OF the manufacture and sale OF
yarioas compounds Of animal fats, yegeia-
Die oils aud other substances whleh are
fraadalenily represented 10 the publie a.
butter. thrca.ens the destruction OF legiii.
mate dairy business Interests which are OF
the largest magnitude and Affect AL sec
lions OF the cOuntry. IL Is not competition
dalrying that il deprecated, but stimulation
OF true dairy products, the deception or
misleading names, use OF impure subs,An.
ces and dishonest sale at Ligh rates or
products otherwise OF little yalae, prae.
ices whloh demorallLe trade, defraui hon.
est industry and deceive The buyers. To
protect the public from these deceptive
practices. he earnestly recommends the
prompt passage OF q stringent law by Con.
gres. % prevent the continuance OF this
bus.ness except under such regulations s.
the necessities OF the case demand, the en-
forcemeni OF this law, II thought adyisa-
Ole by Congress, 70 be placed under the
control Of the Internal Revenue Depart.
ment
Ia conclusion. the Commlsslo ner says
III beg 10 represent that the Department
OF Agriculture growing In importance and
usefulness as our Agricultural population
Increases aud its wants aud necessities
multiply. should obviously be progress
slve Institution In order 10 keep pace with
the Increasing demands made upon H. IL
Is for the legislative branch 10 determine
how FAR It's importance shall be recognized
and With what powers IL shall be clothed
70 enaole IL 10 partially meet the obligation
which the country always owes TO its agri'
culture"