C The Agriadtural Department of our Government. [Jan., 



acres of land in the United States, which have been already subject- 

 ed to this exhausting and depleting process. What a deplorable 

 condition is here presented of the inheritance which we propose to 

 transmit to our posterity. Instead of having our patrimony greatly 

 improved, which is altogether possible, we have wasted its substance, 

 and rendered it certain that if the same course is persisted in, star- 

 vation must finally ensue. And still the spoiler is on his track, and 

 traveling with giant strides westward. 



Shall we say that to protect these mighty interests Congress has 

 no power? On the contrary the constitution declares that ' Congress 

 shall have power to provide for the common defense and general wel- 

 fare of the United States.' 



The remedy for all this must be sought in science. The princi- 

 ples must be developed, and practice established by scientific men. 

 Until Science shall have performed for Agriculture what she has 

 for the Arts, it will continue to exhibit naught but confusion worse 

 confounded ; and our agricultural papers multiplied a thousand fold, 

 will only add, to the already labyrinthian modes and perplexities. 

 We have papers now publishing for the ninety-ninth time, the same 

 crude nonsense. One supporting pertinaciously the idea that wheat 

 turns to chess ; another, that shade is all that is necessary to give 

 nourishment, and insure large crops, according to which theory if 

 we could take a blanket and cover up our fields from the noxious 

 rays of the sun, it would do away with all necessity for any further 

 research, and any such institutions as we are attempting to establish. 

 If proper research was had, and the true principles of tillage de- 

 veloped, we should have solid ground to rest upon, some uniform 

 practice to guide us, instead as now, of one recommending to put in 

 our wheat two inches, another three, another six. One to plow it 

 in by all means, another harrow, another drill, all claiming superi- 

 ority, and citing a multitude of examples. 



Until institutions are established uniting theory and practice, we 

 have little to expect. And until our government has such co-opera- 

 tion and assistance, it were about as well the seeds distributed meet 

 the fate that many of them now do, as otherwise; or what would 

 perhaps be preferable, that an immense poultry yard be constructed 

 in one corner of the Capitol grounds, and thus save the labor of 

 distribution, and such ultimate disposition of it, after it has passed 

 through the mail-bags. / 



