The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1893-05-28
HIS NARROW VIEW.
Farmer Morton Talks at
Length.
WORK OF THE DEPARTMENT.
Special Interest Taken
in California.
WORK OF THE DEPARTMENT
Special to The MoRNINa CALL.

WASHINGTON, May 27-Secre,ary Morton
says lie would make The trip to California we're
he not so occupied IN getting his department
work In shape. Mr. Morton could not do better
than make this trip, for In his discussion OF the
committees plan to establish a branch of the
Agricultural Department on the Pacific Coast
he shows some lack of familiarity with Calfor-
MIA conditions. The California Congressman
unite in declaring that branch OF The Agricul-
tural Department is nerded on the coast be-
cause of The diversified agricultural conditions
and interests so different from those on this
side OF the continent, and they believe that II
lhe people and press OF he Pacific Coast would
take this matter up earnestly there would not
be much difficulty III impfessing Congress with
the idea that such an enterprise is justIti d by
The climate soil and other conditions that pre-
vail In California aud other coast States.
CamiDetu will renew his efforts 10 secure an
appropriation for The purpose at the next ses-
sion of Congress. but with Little hope of sue
cess If Morton Is still opposed to the scheme
Morion's argument against Camnet:Is propo-
sitlon Is here given in order that Pacific Coast
people and the press may he up the matter
and know how 10 combat his views. He says:
lyon show that the products of the Pacific
States aud If California are peculiar 10 those
localities. and you state further that obServa-
items relating to field culture of the Pacific
Sloi can only be made on the ground. and that
the territory of The United States Is too large
and its products too diversified To have them all
looked after simultaneously from The central
office at " ashngton You claim that because
the climatic and soil diversitieS OF the Eastern
and Western sections Of the Union are divided
by a north and south line cores ponding with
the western boundary OF the State OF Colorado
there should be special branch of The Depart
ment of Agriculture estab lished for the Pacific
Coast generally and California particularly.
line reasons given are NOT, In my judgment,
sufficiently cogent TO support the demand based
thereon. The American union embraces other
varieties of soil, and climates as marked in
differences as are those between The Pacific
and Atlantic coasts. 1t would be, therefore.
quite as necessary and az proper hat each sec
ton into which the country may be divided,
because OF differences in latitude and products.
should have also a branch of the Department
OF Agriculture. The OBJECT aud design of the
department, as defined by law. is to acquire
collect and distribute among the people of the
United States useful information on subjects
connected with farming, with arborcuIure,
win horticulture, with Horticulture and with
agriculture. in the most general and compre-
hensye sense of the word. and, furthermore,
TO procure, propagate and distribute among the
people OF the American union, new and yalu-
able seeds and pl MS. The Department of
Agriculture is charged with the duty of procur-
ing and preserving all information concerning
agriculture which may be obtained by cor
responding, by practical and scientific expert
ments, by the collection of statistics and by
other approved means.
''Tbe Department of Agriculture is also en-
powered TO collect new and valuable seeds and
plants, and to test them by cultivation and then
10 propagate and distribute among agrieultur-
lists such as may be deemed of value The
power 10 purch Sc and distribute seed and
plants ought to be confined, If it is to be exer-
clsed at all, TO such varieties as are rare and
uncommon, or TO such as may be made more
profitable by frequent transition from one part
of the country TO another: and Furthermore,
trees. plants, shrubs and pines if purchased at
all at the public expense, should be OF such
varieties as are adapted to general cultivation
and capable of promoting the general interests
or agriculture and horticulture throughout the
United States. To collect statistical iuforma-
lion the department has correspondents In
every county, and In addition to that has sta