The record-union., 1896-12-08
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE.
Should Receive the Care and Encour
agement of the Government.

The Department of Agriculture is SO
intimately related to the welfare of our
people and the prosperity of our Nation
that it should constantly receive the
care and encourag cement of the Govern
ment. From small beginnings it has
grown to be the center OF agricultural
intelligence and the source of aid and
encouragement to agricultural e1orts
Large sums of money are annually ap-
propriated for the maintenance of this
department and it must be confessed
that the legislation relating to IT mas
not always been directly in the interest
of practical farming or properly guard
ed against waste and extravaganza. so
far, however, the public money has
been appropriated fairly and sensibly
to help those who actually till the oil.
No expenditure has been more pofita-
bly, made or more generally approved
by the people.
Under the present management of the
departments it's usefulness has been en-
hanced in every direction, and at the
same time strict economy has been en-
forced to the utmost extent permitted
by Congressional action. From the
reports of the Secretary it appears that
through careful and prudent financial
management he has annually saved
large sum from his appropriations, ag-
gregating during his incumbency ard
up to the close of the fiscal year nearly
one fifth of the entire amount appro-
priated.
The Secretary reports that the value
of our exports of farm products during
al 70 -
000, 900, an increase of $11 ,OOO, 900 over
those of the year imediately preceding.
The large and increasing expectation
of our agricultural products suggests
the great usefulness of the organization
lately established in the department for
the purpose of giving to those engaged
in farming pursuits reliable informa-
ton concerning the condition, needs
and advantages of different foreign
markets. Inasmuch as the success of
the farmer depends upon the advar-
tageous sale of his products and mas
much as foreign markets must largely
be the destination of such products, 1t
it quite apparent that a knowledge of
the conditions and wants that affect
those markets ought to result in SOW
ing more intelligently and reaping with
a better promise of profit.
Such information points out the way
to prudent foresight in the selection
and cultivation of crops and to a re-
lease from the bondage of unrea soning
monotony of production, glutted and
depressed market, and constantly re-
| curing Improbable toll.
In nv opinion the gratuitOuS diStri
button of seeds by the department as at
present conducted ought to be discon-
tinued. No one can read the statement
| of the Secretary on this subject and
doubt the extravangance and ques-
| tionable results of this practice. The
professed friends of the farmer and
certainly the farmers themselves, are
naturally expected to be willing to rid
department devoted to the promo
ton of farming interests of a feature
which tends so much to its discredit.
WEATHER BUREAU.
The Weather Bureau, now attache I
to the Department of Agriculture, has
continued to extend its sphere of use
| fulness and by an uninterrupted inn
provement in the accuracy of it's fore
casts has greatly increased its efficiency
as an aid and protection to all whose
occupations are related to weather con-
dtons.
Omitting further reference to the op-
erations of the department, / commend
the Secretary's report and the sug-
gestions it contains to the careful con-
sideration of the Congress.