Middlebury register. (Middlebury, Vt.) 1886-1937, 1891-02-06
SOME AGRICULTURAL PROB
EMS

OGeIr.
Thirdly and lastly had intended tC
have had a firstly and secondly; had in
deed written them out, but found they
crowded so much upon my thirdly that
it was necessary to omit them that es.
pecial attention may be given to the more
important part of what | wish to present
1t had been my purpose to speak, first
ly, of some agricultural problems that
present themselves to our country fol-
solution and, secondly,to note the means
and forces available for their solution
and then to pass on to thirdly and lastly,
taking up certain problems in which bee
keepers are particularly interested.
But, as already stated, firstly and sec
ondly grew to such proportions that they
had to be dropped out, yet must save as
much from the wreck, from firstly and
secondly, as may be necessary to make
thirdly Ineligible.
First, then, | will briefly enumerare
some of the problems, some of the sub
iects, that are demanding the attention of
agriculturists, as well as the careful in
vestigation of scientific men.
Put into the fewest words they appear
thus:
How to keep up the original fertility
of the soil? Where to market our sur
plus products? How to maintain our
present industries? How to introduce
new ard profitable industries? How to
pr otect our herds, locks, gardens, orch
ards and fields from enemies seen and
unseen? Can the silk industry become Il
profitable and permanent one for our
country? Shall tea and coffee be import
ed or home grown? Shall the olive with
its fruit and oil always be imported 1?
restored to our villages? Can we raise
crop that will take the place of wood
pulp for paper making? Can the sugar
industry be so managed that from the
cane, the sorghum. the corn, or the beet
or from all these, our sweets may be pro-
cured? Can 100000, 900 acres of arid
lands, by irrigation be made over into
arabic lands, producing the best of crops !?
We may stop here because we are out
OF breath, not because we haye reached
the end. Indeed when we have got breath
| wish, later, to bring up other problems,
some especially related to matters con-
nected with Bookkeeping.
Now, second, what means and forces
have we at hand by which these ques-
tiOns can be settled.
Unless one has had his attention direct
ed to this matter he will be surprised at
the forces, at the army of men, engaged
in agricultural investigation. At the IN
stltution of our government no special
provision existed for forwarding the in
terests of agriculture. But almost with
in the recollection of the present genera
ton there has been evolved govern
mental department, that of agriculture,
with its cabinet officer. 1t has its bu-
reaus, its divisions and its officers under
immediate supervision at Washington.
Added are the agricultural colleges, col
leges in name or in fact, established by
the bounty of the government; and Of
more recent organization, the generously
endowed experiment stations, one or
more in almost every State and territory
of the union.
A little more in detail. There is at
Washington department of agriculture
which, in theory at least, has official
oversight of the grand field; that of the
agricultural industry of the country.
This department parcels out its work and
assigns Investigations to certain sets of
observers. These groups of men and
their attendants are known by various
names, chiefly the following: Bureaus,
DIVISIONS, sections, offices. The names
attached will give at once an insight into
the activities of each.
There is bureau of Animal Industry.
Then of each of the following subjects a
division; A division of Botany; division
of Chemistry; division of Entomology;
division of Forestry; division of Micro
scopy division of ORTHODOXY and MAN.
malogy; division of Pomology; division
of Statistics; division of Vegetable Path
ology. There is besides an Office of Ex-
perimental Stations.
Besides its own resources the depart
ment of agriculture calls to its aid the
department of State, which furnishes
through its consuls III foreign lands the
conditions of trade, and especially of
markets and crops. The department of
the interior contributes through the vari-
Gus surveys, particularly the topograph-
zeal and geological surveys.
Besides these centralized forces at
Washington there are agricultural col
leges and experiment stations in the diff
ferent States, each with its corps of ear
nest, trained scientific men.
| cannot at this time tell how large a
number of men are distinctly engaged in
this matter of agriculture investigation:
think, however, one hundred at Wash