266 



too small, a tendency against which I have continually had occasion to labor. Some 

 critics have flatly disputed this tendency to overestimate the yield per acre, but they 

 have done it in ignorance of proven facts. From tliis consideration I have for years 

 believed that the reported cotton acreage might be proven by accurate enumeration 

 somewhat too low, but have not felt authorized to enlarge it without positive proof 

 that it is so— proof that I hope soon to be able to accumulate. I recognize fully the 

 importance of the utmost accuracy, as the Department figures for acreage of cotton 

 are the only basis for all published statements of such areas. As an illustration of 

 this fact, it will be remembered that during the war, great eftbrts were made to grow 

 cotton largely near the northern limits of its possible maturity, and the area was 

 estimated accordingly, and strange to say, though the efiort was long since mainly aban- 

 doned, those same figures, (ten times too large for the present day,) with annual per- 

 centage modifications, are still doing duty in journalistic statistics. 



But the subject is one of difficulty ; no authority is infallible, and the degree of 

 modesty with which it is treated will distinguish the superficial tyro from the expe- 

 rienced in statistics. Could annual enumeration be not onlj- inaugurated by. States, 

 with a common schedule, which should include only a fewplaiu and practical points of 

 inquiry, but be also thoroughly made and promptly published, current estimates on 

 such bases might be closely approximate and of greatly enhanced value. I would urge 

 upon this body the importance of laboring to establish uniformity, to encourage in 

 every State an annual census on such a plan, and to attempt the more difficult task of 

 educating public sentiment to the necessity of appreciation and careful and conscientious 

 co-operation on the part of the people. 



CONCLUSION'. 



In conclusion, allow me to express the hope that the wise deliberation and efficient 

 action of this body may tend to hasten the day when 25 per cent, of our people shaJl 

 furnish a better and more varied agricultural supply than is now obtained by the 47 

 per cent, employed in agriculture ; when the 21 per cent, now engaged in mining, 

 manufacturing and the mechanic arts, may become 42; when two blades of grass shall 

 grow instead of one, twenty-five bushels of wheat instead of twelve, and an acre of cot- 

 ton always bring a bale ; when clover shall appear in place of broom-sedge, the sun 

 cease to smite with barrenness the southern slope, and manj' fields shall be green with 

 mangolds for the fattening of lazy bullocks grazing on a thousand hills; when superior 

 and more various implements shall, while dividing, multiply the labor of human mus- 

 cle, and steam shall supplement and save the costly strength of beasts ; when a moiety 

 of the farmer's income may suffice to pay his taxes, his bills for commercial fertilizers, 

 and all purchases of farm produce that he fails to procure from his own fair acres ; 

 when railroads shall cease from troubling with unscrupulous exactions, and unnecessary 

 middlemen are ever more at rest; when the farmer's home shall be beautiful with 

 flowers, his farm a smiling landscape, and his barns shall groan with the burden ot 

 plenty ; and, finally, when the farmer shall in every section of a broad and prosperous 

 land be recognized as nature's nobleman, the most intelligent, just, healthy, and happy 

 of his countrymen — " an honest man, the noblest work of God." 



THE GERMAN EMPIRE. 



From a statistical memoir of the GeiTuan Empire prepared by T. Bodi- 

 ker, and published as an introduction to the official catalogue of the 

 German department of the late Vienna International Exposition, the 

 following notes have been compiled : 



Geography and CHORoaRAPHY. — As now constituted, the German 

 Empire occupies almost the entire center of the European continent 5 its 

 "western neighbor, France, extends to the Atlantic Ocean ; while on the 

 east, Russia stretches to the Ural Eiver, the frontier of Asia. The 

 transverse diameter of the empire runs northeastwardly, eight hundred 

 miles, from Metz to Tilsit ; its extreme breadth, from Hadersleben, near 

 the north border of the late Danish province of Sleswig, to Kempten, 

 near the Swiss frontier, is five hundred and thirty-four miles. The total 

 area is stated at 9,887.4 German square miles, which, according to the late 

 imperial standard of 7,500 meters to the mile, gives an area of 214,711 

 English square miles. 



