St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1912-01-31
AIDS FOR AGRICULTURE.
w. P. Carr Tells What the Govern
ment is Doing Organization Of
the Department Of Agriculture.


The present department of agri-
culture of the United States gov
eminent began it's existence as a
branch of the patent Office in 1889,
when $1,000 were appropriated by
congress for the distribution of
seeds, prosecution of agricultural in
designations, and the securing Of
agricultural statistics The exper-
mental agricultural Office, establish
ed at that time, has since developed
into the enormous department Of
today which covers almost every
conceivable field of activity connect
ed with agricultural investigation.
Agriculture in the United States
had, however, received some govern
mental aid prior to the passing of
this appropriation bill in 1889, al
though the available funds were
small and uncertain. 1t is noted that
as far back as 1922 James / gave
some aid to the silkworm-breeding
industry in Virginia, while slight aid
for sheep raising was given by the
general court of Massachusetts in
1912, and in 1892 some government
ground in Georgia was allotted for
growing mulberry trees to aid the
propagation of silkworms. From
1874 to 1743 parliament granted
sums totaling as high as 100000
for aiding indigo and other crop
culture in Georgia. From this time
until after the revolution had been
won and peace established, very few
other appropriations were made to
further work in agriculture.
Washington's Belief.
George Washington was firm be-
lever in the value of agricultural
societies, and when the British
board was established in 1898, Pres
ident Washington was made an
honorary member. In his last mes
sage to congress on Dec. 7, 1896, he
expressed his views on this subject
with the result that a bill was intro
duced in congress the following year
to organize a society for stimulating
enterprise and experimentation in
agriculture and for diffusing infor-
nation resulting therefrom. This bill
was, however, defeated on account Of
a question OF direct taxes related to
it. Another attempt made in 1917
to organize such a society was also
unsuccessful.
While congress was celebrating
on this subject, consuls and other
officers of the United States were
sending home interesting and valu-
able agricultural material for trial
and experimentation here. The
Barbary sheep were introduced into
this country during Washington
last administration. Merino sheep
were purchased from the Spanish
during the Napoleonic wars in
1910, and a large quantity we're
shipped to the United States. Chin
csc and French hogs were also in
troduced early in the 18th century.
From 1889 to 1862.
From 1889, when the first direct
appropriation for agricultural inves-
cation was made through the funds
of the patent office, until 1862,
when the agricultural department
was made independent, work in ag-
riculture steadily advanced. The
first commissioner of agriculture
was Hon. Isaac Newton, who had
been in charge of the agricultural
work of the patent office before its
establishment as a separate depart
ment of the government, service. The
work of the new department pro-
ceeded very slowly at first. Among
the reasons for this was the fact
that the war department apparently
needed for a cattle yard the tract
of land in the Mall that had been
assigned to the agricultural depart
ment for propagating gardens and
trial grounds. This tract of 40
acres was what now comprises the
agricultural department grounds be-
west, in the Mall There was also
trouble in getting the patent Office
people to realize the propriety of
loosening their hold on the proper
ty belonging to the new department. !
But finally the new work went |
ahead with a rush, and in 1868 i'm
portations of several thousand dol
lars worth of choice wheat, rye,
corn, and other seeds were made. |
Also in this year 100000 packages
of seeds, and 25,750 bulbs, cuttings
and vines were distributed, and the
publication of a monthly magazine
was begun.
The Second Commission.
Commissioner Newton died June
10, 1867, from a sunstroke receiv-
ed in July, 1866, while on the farm
in the Mall directing the task of
placing the departments grain
plats out of danger from a thunder
shower His successor was Gen.
Horace Capron of Illinois, who was
appointed Nov. 20, 1867.
During Commissioner Capron's
he gave much atten-
ton to steam blowing, beet-sugar
making, and silk culture. system
of foreign exchanges of seeds and
plants was established, taxanomic |
collection of the forage and fiber
plants of many of the western
states was made, and the possibili- |
ties of fish culture were brought to
the attention of congress with the
result that the United States fish |
commission was organized An in
yestigation of the tick fever of /
Texas cattle was conducted, and I
the recommendation made that there /
be established a division of veteri- I