133 



of Moutpellier, and reiterates the general wail of French agronomists 

 over the suppression of the ]S"ational Agronomic Institute of Versailles. 

 The regional schools, though excellent in their local sphere, can never 

 meet the necessities of agriculture, which demand a national agronomic 

 university of the highest character. 



The ministry of agriculture was reconstituted in its higher official 

 personnel as well as in its staff of inspectors. The Journal, however, 

 seems to draw but little consolation from this fact, as it suggests a 

 variety of abuses to which the new organization is liable. Among these, 

 political influence is especially dreaded. Yet great hopes are conceived 

 from the high character of the leading agronomical minds of France, 

 and the thorough organization of the agricultural interest. A more 

 intelligent use of capital and labor promises moie hopeful results for 

 the futui-e. 



SHiPPiNa CRANBERRIES TO ENGLAND. — Efforts have recently been 

 made by the New Jersey Cranberry Growers' Association toward estab- 

 lishing a permanent business in shipping cranberries to England. It is 

 hoped by this means to substantially enlarge the general market for that 

 article, and to check the downward tendency of prices consequent on 

 the increase in cranberry-cultivation. In the latter part of 1874, Mr. 

 P. T. Quinu, on behalf of the association, visited firms in London and 

 Liverpool with a view to trade arrangements. He found that American 

 cranberries were virtually an unknown article in <^'*e London market, 

 but better known in Liverpool. A business ho ' in the latter city 

 informed him that eight years ago five barrels of cranberries would have 

 filled demands of that market, and thai in 1873 over one hundred barrels 

 of the fruit were sold there. He remarks that one great difficulty in the 

 way of introducing the raw fruit into England is the entire want of knowl- 

 edge there respecting proper methods of preparation for table use. Mr. 

 Quinn concludes his report to the association by saying that it will require 

 time, perseverance, and some outlay to fairly introduce American cran- 

 berries into England, but that, with well-directed efforts, a large demand 

 for them can be created in that market. Other pa])ers emanating from 

 the association show that some small shipments made to England by that 

 organization at the close of 1873 were unremunerative, and that the late- 

 ness of shipment contributed largely to the result. At the time of Mr. 

 Quinn's visit cans of superior cranberry sauce or jam were distributed 

 by him among members of the English press and other parties, and elicited 

 warm commendation. More recently a certain London firm had been 

 constituted the foreign agent of the association. 



In a letter to the Commissioner, in March, 1875, from Mr. E. W. 

 Crane, of Caldwell, N. J., a gentleuian prominent in the cranberry in- 

 terest, he says : 



Until withiu the last eighteen mouths no organized efifoit had been made to intro- 

 duce American cranberries into European markets, though small lots had been shipped, 

 generally at a loss, by private individuals. My own firm (there being at the time no 

 organization disposed to undertake the enterprise) sent specimens of our fruit in the 

 natural state, and also prepared in various ways, to the Vienna Exposition, where 

 they attracted much attention and received an award. 



The large American cranberry, Vaccinium macrocarpon^ is not an in- 

 habitant of European countries. England, Scotland, and northern coun- 

 tries of the European continent possess, instead, the small cranberry, 

 Vaccinium oscycoccus, {V. palustris, or V. vulgaris,) which is found also 

 in our peat-bogs from New England to Wisconsin, and is not in this 

 country considered a marketable article. 



Protection to farmers. — The legislature of Vermont recently 

 passed an m't constituting a board of commissioners, whose duty it is 



