The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1891-04-01
sta.e bureau Of Agriculture.

From the Farmers Friend
A bill 20 establish a Bureau Of Agriculture
in connection with our Stale Government
was presanted in the Senate by Senator
Cntch6eid from Somerset county, last week /
which we consider a move in the right d. 1
rootion. Il is true that Pennsylvania has |
beeome one Of the leading manufacturing |
States Of the Union, but the fact still re-
mains that our agricultural interests are
second TO no other interests OF the Common
wealth. While our mountains are under
laid with rich ores and our coal fields are
practically inezhaustible, conditions which
Of Themselves have given to our State rare
advantages for the establishment and main
tenance Of the diversified manufacturing IN
terests for which she is noted, the rich lime
stone soil so common in all the valleys Of
the state has given her a. equally high rank
in all the interests Of agriculture. Ill that
is needed 10 make Pennsylvania The eqnsl,
if not the superior, Of any State in the sister
hood with respect to the diversity and value
Of her farm products, is to bring into tais
industry the same system and care that
charac;erizes some Of the other industries
10 which our people are turning their atten-
ton.
The establishment Of q Bureau Of Agricul-
ture will, ST the project succeed, be an inn
portant step in this direction. Farmers
have come to realize the necessity Of more
improved methods Of treating their soil and
adapting their products to the varying con-
ditions Of the markets they aim TO supply.
They are beginning to realize more and
more that farming is science and that be
who wogld avoid failure and achieve success
must acquaint himself with the laws upon
which his Gli.ure or success depends. They
begin to feel as they have never felt before,
the necessity OF coming closer together that
they may get help fnum each others expert
ence.
4 Bureau Of Agriculture organized and
administered upon the plan proposed by
( Senator Critchdeld's bill will prove great
+ help in this respect Ii provides for the
I election Of a Commissioner Of agriculture
gEosh have a practical knowledge Of that
important industry, aud whose duty il Shall
be 10 gathor and publish information on all
matters relating 20 the raising OF live stock,
.he diseases 10 which they are subject and
the means Of preventing and curing the
sSme he is TO gather statistics relating to
( 49, anliu a..s'u., ny ~ntrs may De
seen the relation Of their real or actual value
10 their assessed value. He shall inquire
into and make public, by reliable statistics
/ the relation that tie profits realized from
capital invested in farm lands bears to the
profits OF cspital invested in other branches
Of business He shall have charge of and
direct the distribution Of all moneys that
may hereafter be appropriated by the State
for tie Improvement of public roads.
We do not have time TO notice all the pro-
visions Of the bin. bat after giving II a care
/ fui examination We are satisfied that il
meets g want that is being felt more and
more every year. There can I've no doubt
but that farmers as a class are placed at a
disadvantage which Others DO not suffer for
the reason that they do not have any rogu-
larly organized head, authorized by law,
through which 70 work for their own spe-
cial interests. The establishment of such a
Bureau viii afford advantages for securing
legislation which farmers do not nov pos
sess Recommendation coming from the
head of such a department viii carry more
weight and have more influence with our
law making power than the farmers OF the
State under present circumstances can hope
70 command.
This is Mr.. Cntchfeld's first term in the
Senate, and he is proving himself to be a
true representative of the agricultural inter
ests, not only Of his own Senatorial district
but Of tie State at large. Let his bin for
State Bureau Of Agriculture receive due con-
aderaiion and, If amendments are deemed
advisable in any way to perfect the measure
we have no doubt that the Senator viii
cheerfully receive all suggestions Of that
kind made in the right spirit.