REPORT 



OP THE 



SECRETARY OF AGRICULTURE. 



To THE President: 



1 have the honor to report upon the work of the Department of 

 Agriculture for the year ended June 30, 1900. 



Beginning with the earliest days of the Republic, Government offi- 

 cials, including officers of the Army and Navy and consuls, together 

 with private citizens, interested themselves in importing plants and 

 animals for the general benetit. Congress began to help in 1839 by 

 appropriating $1,000 to be expended by the Commissioner of Patents, 

 since which time the enterprise grew steadily year after year until 

 1862, when Congress grouped the work along these lines into a Depart- 

 ment under a Commissioner. A succession of Commissioners since 

 that time have been instrumental in adding many Old World plants to 

 all localities in our country, and have developed the work along scien- 

 tific lines as the public demand required. Since 1888 the Department 

 has been in charge of Secretaries who have effected more complete 

 organizations of Bureau and Division staffs. These are now in inti- 

 mate touch with producers throughout the land. 



The present incumbent aims to bring the scientists of the Depart- 

 ment to the help of the producers, to ascertain what we import that 

 may be produced in our own countr}^, and to encourage its growth and 

 development; to search the world for grains, fruits, vegetables, grasses, 

 and legumes that ma}' be domesticated here and be an improvement on 

 what we have; to secure new varieties of plants by cross fertilization, 

 that we may by selection establish new hybrids; to cooperate with 

 the experiment stations of the States and Territories in research valu- 

 able to the people of the country in all sections; to seek new markets, 

 that our surplus products may bring better rewards to the husbandman. 



This Department differs from the others. Appropriations for its use 

 are investments. It makes direct returns b}' adding to the wealth of 

 the country. It gathers facts and spreads information. Much is added 

 yearly to the profits of our farmers and others as the result of its 

 investigations. Our Weather Bureau has become a necessity to 



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