Year: 1875

arrangements are Dellg made TO nave ap-
propriate representations made at the Cen
tennial Exposition by the various divisions
Of the Department.


We give the following extract, which
forms the opening paragraphs of the report:


''That branch of the industry of the
country which is SO largely committed to
the care of this Department presents wide
field for the exercise of learning and science,
the ingenuity Of practical experience, and
the application of sound Judgment; and
am pleased to believe that all these are at
this moment greatly stimulated by the man.
itestly valuable results of the practical opera
tions of agriculture which are constantly
attained by their aid. Farmers and planters
now realize that there is something else in
this important work besides the mere drudg-
cry OF sowing, reaping and curing Men Of
science and learning have turned their atten-
ton to the subject, and have so plainly and
Interestingly illustrated the nature of plants,
the purposes to which they may be applied.
their cultivation and products, as well as the
injurious insects which depredate upon them,
as to make the subject ineligible to the





great satisfaction to know that the work OF
this Department has kept pace with all the
light which knowledge has east upon the
subject, and made it practically available to
the agriculturists of the country.


The Department Mas taken the utmost
pains to keep itself informed of all improve
ments or new discoveries which affect the
interests OF the farmer, whether it be in the
kind or quality Of seed. the best mode of its
cultivation, the implements best adapted to
the purpose, and the quality Of soil and con-
dition of climate congelial to it's growth:
and in The distribution of seeds the Depart
ment takes no risks as to the quality, al
ways taking care that they shall be the very
1 best Of their kinds and adapting each to that
locality where the product will bc the most
profitable, impressing upon the minds of all
to whom they are sent that their community
will be benefited by the result of their ex~
periments. A correspondence with all parts
of the country gives me the assurance Of the
wonderfully beneficial results which have
been attained by this distribution of superior
seeds. Farmers are now more than ever





in a great measure dependent upon the quail
ity of the seed they SOW. / do not hesitate
, to say that the crops Of wheat and oats in
. this country have been increased many mill-
ions Of bushels by reason of the qualities Of
r seeds distributed by this Department. The
occupation of the farmer necessarily isolates
! him from the sources Of information with
regard to the progress and Improvement
which are always being made in his busi-
ness; hence the inestimable value of the
! central point which this Department affordB
!, for the collection of facts and seeds, and their
: periodical distribution to those who have no
other opportunity Of obtaining them. And
! when we consider how the hopes and inter-
) ests, and, indeed, the prosperity Of our coun-
: try, are dependent upon the success of agri-
6 culture, it is not wonderful that Congress
: should exercise guardian care over it.
s During the past year, a most destructive
+ dispensation of grasshoppers was visited
q upon several of our western States Missouri,
+ Minnesota, Kansas and Nebraska, and, to


some extent, Colorado and Dakota. In many
! places, the destruction of all vegetable life
d was total, threatening not only the existence
g of the population for the time being, but de-
s priving them of all hope of the Means OF
Of planting for the next season, tlepossble re-
80 suit OF which was the depophlation OF the
of. whole country thus afflicted. But Congress-
n wisely interposed, and through the instr,,-