120 



1,400 to 2,000 pounds, according- to quality. In Simpson, most of the 

 crop is sold in tbe hand to speculators. Most of the western tobacco 

 is exported. 



EXPORTS. 



A statement of the exports of tobacco in all forms, since 18G6, is as 

 follows : 



A small quantity of cigars exported is not inclmled in this table. 



REPORT OF THE, HOUSE COMMITTEE. 



Mr. Begole, from the Committee on Agriculture of the House of Rep- 

 resentatives of the United States, to whom was referred, so much of the 

 President's message as relates to agriculture, submitted the following 

 report j which was ordered to be printed : 



The committee have spent considerable time in examining the working and opera- 

 tions of the Department of Agriculture, and find it in charge of a practical and expe- 

 rienced farmer and able and efficient officer, assisted by a corps of efficient heads of 

 divisions. Notwithstanding the Commissioner has been to some extent hampered by a 

 lack of adequate appropriations, the operations of the Department for the year 1874 

 show a very satisfactory exhibit. 



After a very unusual delay, Congress at its last session provided for the printing of 

 a small number of the annual report of the Commissioner of this Department. Fifty 

 thousand dollars was appropriated for this puipose. The Congressional Printer printed 

 and bound about twenty-seven thousand copies of the report for 1872, and one hundred 

 thousand copies of the report for the year 1873. Between forty-five and fifty thousand 

 copies of the report for 1873 have been delivered at the folding-rooms of the House of 

 Representatives and Senate, and are now available for the use of members of the two 

 Houses. 



The committee find that the delay in the printing of these reports was a great dis- 

 appointment to the farming community all over the country, as it is the only work is- 

 sued by the Government in which the farmers are personally and directly interested. 

 When it is remembered that the last census established the fact that one-half of the 

 population of these United States are either directly engaged in agricultural pursuits 

 or are wholly dependent upon them for their support, that would certainly be a wise 

 policy which would foster the only branch of the civil service devoted entirely to the 

 interests of this great producing class. The commercial and manufacturing interests 

 of this nation are of great importance, but they are both secondary when compared 

 with the important interests involved in agriculture. Notwithstanding the vast im- 

 I)rovements in agricultural machinery, the recent wonderful discoveries in agricultural 

 chemistry, and the still greater discovery in the growth and formation of plants, tho 

 Government seems to take less interest than formerly in fostering this important and 

 really paramount branch of industry. 



