ON THE PROGRESS OF SCIENCE. XIII 



tion of astronomy, anil one in the section of botany. The first place in the 

 astronomical section, made vacant by the death of Schumacher, was filled by 

 the election of Mr. Hind, of London. To the second place, vacant by the 

 death of Svanberg, Mr. W. C. Bond, director of the Cambridge Observa- 

 tory, -was chosen. Among the candidates were Messrs. Adams, Galle, Las- 

 sel, Struve, and Gasparis. To the section of botany, in the place made 

 vacant by the death of M. Kunth, M. Blume, professor in Leyden, was 

 elected. Messrs. Asa Gray and John Torrey, of the United States, \vere 

 among the candidates in this section. 



In the report of the Secretary of the Interior, communicated to Congress 

 December, 1851, the establishment of an agricultural bureau, in connection 

 with that department, is strongly recommended. From this report we 

 make the following extracts : " Agriculture is, unquestionably, the great 

 interest of our country, whether we have reference to the number of per- 

 sons employed in it, or the value of their productions. It appears, from 

 the census cf 1840, that the whole number of persons at that time engaged 

 in this pursuit was 8,719,951 ; in manufactures, 791,749 ; and in com- 

 merce, 117,607. More than four-fifths of the entire population were, there- 

 fore, employed in the cultivation of the soil. At present it is believed that 

 the proportion is still greater, in consequence of the change in the policy 

 of the government, which has induced many to become agriculturists who 

 were formerly engaged in manufactures. Respecting the duties of such a 

 department, it should be charged with the duty of collecting and dissemi- 

 nating information in regard to the cultivation of the soil, in all its branches. 

 It should investigate every proposed improvement in the tillage of the earth, 

 or in the construction of implements of husbandry. It should collect, from 

 our own and foreign countries, every variety of seed, fruit, plant and vege- 

 table, and distribute them, with full and accurate information as to the 

 soil, climate, and mode of cultivation, best adapted to each. One or more 

 officers should be connected with it, thoroughly acquainted with the princi- 

 ples of geology, mineralogy, chemistry and botany, for the purpose of 

 investigating and reporting upon the character and properties of every 

 variety of soil, rock, mineral, and vegetable, and their adaptation to useful 

 purposes. To this bureau should also be entrusted the duty of superin- 

 tending the taking of each decennial census, and of procuring and classify- 

 ing from year to year all the statistical information which can be obtained 

 in respect to the agriculture, manufactures, commerce, tonnage, revenue 

 expenditures, financial and banking systems, improvements by railways, 

 canals, and roads, industrial pursuits, and general progress of every State 

 in the Union, and of the principal nations of the world." 



Such a department, conducted by competent persons, and established 

 under the authority of the general government, would undoubtedly do 

 much towards promoting a sound and practical system of scientific agri- 



