1^^^-] Mr. Eolloway's Report. 421 



be able to conduct any system of investigations which shall fully and 

 successfully develop the great science of rural economy. Investigators 

 and experimenters must be paid for their time and labor. The me- 

 chanic is protected in the inventions of his genius ; but the experi- 

 ments and results of investigations made by the farmer are common 

 .property. State boards of agriculture and State agricultural societies 

 have been established, and in most instances have received in mere 

 pittances, aid from their respective State governments. A :Nrational 

 Agricultural Society has been organized by the enterprise of a few 

 individuals; but it is not, as its name would imply, the object of 

 government patronage. To sustain its exhibitions, a tax of from ten 

 to twenty thousand dollars has to be assessed upon i\ie liberality of 

 the people of the cities where it is proposed to hold iis annual fairs. 

 These associations have been vastly beneficial to the people and the 

 country, and are indispensable to future operations. They will prove 

 valuable auxiliaries under a department. But the opinion seems to 

 prevail to some extent, that nothing but bone and muscle are needed 

 by the farmer, and thus he is left to grope his way in the dark, ex- 

 cepting such aid as he receives through the various periodicals' and 

 societies devoted to his interests. Of the patronage extended to other 

 industrial pursuits the* agricultural interest has not complained; but 

 it now demands some share in the disbursements of a revenue to'ward 

 which it contributes by far the largest portion. 



'' To the inquiry, what good is anticipated from the creation of this 

 department, we reply, all that good which has resulted to every other 

 industrial pursuit toward whicli the energies of mankind have been 

 directed under the stimulus of honor and reward. The establishment 

 of a national observatory was once flouted at as a ridiculous and 

 wasteful outlay of money; but who is there that will not admit that, 

 under the charge of Lieutenant Maury, this institution has shed 

 honor upon the country, as well as conferred substantial benefit to the 

 commercial interests of the whole world? If, under the judicious 

 administration of the proposed department, investigations should 

 result in securing a prevention of the potato rot, or a discovery of 

 the habits of such insects as prey upon the cotton, tobacco, or wheat 

 crops, so as to secure these staples from destruction, the expense 

 attending these investigations alone will be but as a drop in the bucket 

 in comparison with the resulting benefits." 



