No. 112.] • 497 



As this cannot be done by the ordinary modes of legislation, I re- 

 spectfuljy recommend the establishment of an agricultural bureau, 

 to be charged with the duty of giving to this leading branch of 

 American industry the encouragement which it so well deserves. 

 #* * By publishing the results of experiments, with suitable 

 explanations, and by tlie collection and distribution of rare seeds 

 and plants, with instruction as to the best system of cultivation, 

 much may be done to promote this great National interest." 



In his message last year, after again impressing on Congress 

 the fact that of the large majority of our people, "four-fifths" 

 are engaged i» agriculture, and alluding to the vast extent of land 

 approjmated to that pursuit, he adds : '-And yet it is a singular 

 fact, that wl list the manufacturing and commercial interests have 

 engaged the attention of Congress during a large portion of every 

 session, and our statutes abound in provisions for their protection 

 and encouragement, little has yet been done for the advancement of 

 (igiiculture. It is tvne that this reproach to our legislation should 

 he removed^ 



An Agricultural Bureau, charged with the duty of collecting 

 and disseminating correct information as to the best modes of cul- 

 tivation, and of the mostefffctual means of preserving and restor- 

 ing the fertility of the soil, could not fail to be, in the language 

 of Washington, in his last annual message to Congress, "a very 

 cheap instrument of immense national benefit." 



Thus we see that every President of this great agricultural 

 country, in succession, from its greatest and first to its last and 

 universally respected chief magistrate, have rang the same chime 

 on this theme, but to deaf ears. This may be said of our own 

 several State Executives, and whh like results. And why, gen- 

 tlemen, is it thus? Simply and solely, in my oy'inUm^ because ice, 

 the farmers^ are ourselves indifferent and inert. Shall four-fitthsof 

 our populati(jn find no advocates capable of demanding what 

 their chiefs recommend and thry neeil, or sliall three-quarters of 

 a century more roll by and the same tale l)e tuld that Fill.mae 

 ^ declared? Yes, if every other interest is to be represented in our 

 Letrislative Hulls but the acrricultural \ if our farmers have not 

 influence and f »rce enough to send some one to say, we too must 

 [As- Tr. '53] GG 



