The morning call., 1893-01-28
THE STATE AND AGRICULTURE.

The Department OF Agriculture at Wash
ington constitutes one Of the most impor-
tant branches of the public service, mas
much as in every State agriculture is still
in some form the leading industry, and
every State is benefited by the information
diffused aud the experiments conducted by
the bureau. In addition to the work done
az Washington, however, nearly every
State gives some scientific attention to agri-
culture on its own account. The farmer
is never without advice as how to make the
NEST OF his land, and what crops to plant,
but with the best ad vice he will not flourish
unless be works hard and keeps ceaI Of
mortgages. In California the Universt at
Berkeley possesses an admirable expert
mental station in economic botany. The
student has as much opportunity to acquaint
himself with plant life and arboriculture
suited to this climate as he can possibly de-
sire. He might find more 10 study at Kew
in botany as science, mountainous in
Technology, but practical kno Wedge for
career in life is preferable.
Other countries have gradually taken up
agriculture as department of government
England only the other year created a
Minister of Agriculture with a seat in the
Cabinet. Formerly the Nice-P President of
the Council looked after education and cattle
diseases, and in some way, either by this
official or the Board Of Trade, sllpshod eSti-
mates of crops were furnished. This mix
ture OF duties was a reprOach. France,
under the republic. has gone the right way
about organization. Just as the enemies Of
the republic are striving to cast it into the
throes of dissolution. a report appears
showing what has been done for agriculture
under the republic, and the peasantry are
enabled to perceive that royalty and impe-
riaism never did anything for H. This
must produce a good impression in the
rural districts.
Four wears ago the AgrOn0mical Institute
of France was much improved. II has now
trial stations for seeds aud agricultural
machinery and stations for vegetabi physi-
0l0gy and animal physiology, and labora-
tories for the study Of fermentation and
fungi, and one for agricultural technology.
Besides this AgronOmical Institute, France
had last year the following agencies IN
operation: Taree national schools of agri-
culture a Grandjouan. GriguOn and Mont
pellieT; a national school of agricultural
Industries at D0uai; two national sheep
folds; thlrty-hve national schools OF agri-
culture or yitIcuture; one national dairy
school; two practical daTy-schOoIs for boys
and one for girls; ten cheese making
schools; one school of maguanerie silk
worm breeding; one school of aylcuture;
sixteen farm schools; practical instruction
~ pisCicultuTe in the national schools; ninety
departmental professors Of agriculture; five
pTofesS0rships OF agricultural chemistry in
connection with the faculties; fGrty-six
agronomical stations or agricultural lab0ra-
tories. and fields for research or demOnstra-
ton in almost all the departments. The
state also provides rural sanitary police,
who take c0gnizance Of outbreaks Of disease,
and il gives assistance IN what is termed
agricultural hydraulics, which doubtless in
cludes drawing off water when there is too
much. ard irrigation when there is too
little. as well as the repair OF river banks
and dredging. This IS ali useful work. cal
culated to reconcile the French peasant to
the blessings Of good government.