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ologistof the Department of Agriculture, to investigate and report upon 

 the habits of insects injurious and beneticial to vegetation, especially 

 those infesting the cotton-plant. Mr. Glover's first report was pub- 

 lished in the volume which appeared in 1855 ; another appeared in 1856, 

 and another in 1859. From his engagement, which was temporarily 

 interrupted in 1859, may be dated the origin of the entomological branch 

 of the Department. In 1855 an arrangement was made with the Smith- 

 sonian Institution, which is now in force, for procuring and publishing 

 meteorological statistics. In the same year a chemist and botanist were 

 engaged. Their engagements were not permanent j nevertheless, the 

 chemical and botanical branches of the Department of Agriculture Qiay 

 properly be said to have had their origin in this year. The report which 

 appeared in 1857 was more profusely illustrated than any of its pre- 

 decessors. 



Mr. Mason retired in August, 1857, and in the following month was 

 succeeded by Hon. Joseph Holt, of Kentucky, who served until March 

 14, 1859. During his administration two aunual reports were issued — 

 Id 1858 and 1859 — each edited by Mr. Browne, in accordance with his 

 previous views. In the report of Commissioner Mason which appeared 

 in 1850 much space had been devoted to the history and peculiarities 

 of the Chinese tea-plant, and the belief had been expressed that it 

 could be successfally cultivated in most if not all of the Southern 

 States of this country. Commissioner Holt determined to practically 

 test the adaptability of the plant to our soil and climate, and in his 

 report of May 11, 1858, he announced that an agent had been sent to 

 China to procure seeds of this and other plants. In the same year the 

 plot of ground previously api)ropriated to the culture of the Chinese 

 sugar-cane was thoroughly im])roved for the purpose of planting in it 

 the seeds of the tea-plant when they should arrive, together with cut- 

 tings of native and foreign grape-vines, which it had been determined to 

 propagate, with the view of stimulating and improving grape-culture. 

 The tea seeds arrived in Aj)ril, 1859, and subsequent eftorts to germinate 

 them and grow the young i^lants to matui'ity were crowned with the 

 most gratifying success. 



In 1858 Commissioner Holt extended invitations to a number of intel- 

 ligent farmers, residing in different sections of the country, to meet at 

 Washington for the jiurpose of considering the general interests of 

 agriculture, aud especially to inquire how these might be promoted 

 through the instrumentality of the Patent Office. These gentlemen 

 met at the Patent Office on the 3d of January, 1859, and continued in 

 session eight daj'S. The general plan of operations Avhich had been 

 pursued by the agricultural division of the office was unanimously 

 approved. 



Hon. William D. Bishop, of Connecticut, succeeded Mr. Holt May 23, 

 1859, aud he in turn was succeeded February 16, 1860, by Hon. Philip 

 F. Thomas, of Maryland. With the retirement of Mr. Holt, Mr. Browne 

 ceased to edit the reports. The leading features of Mr. Bishop's report, 

 appearing in 1860, corresponded substantially with those of the reports 

 for the preceding ten years. Agricultural statistics received no atten- 

 tion; the essay was more prominent than ever. It was announced that 

 there had been propagated and were ready for distribution 30,000 well- 

 rooted tea-plants, 12,000 foreign and domestic grape-vines, and many 

 other valuable exotic plants. Mr. Thomas resigned December 13, 1860, 

 and issued' no report. The report of the following year was edited by 

 Hon. Thomas G. Clemson, superintendent of the agricultural division. 

 It was an able document, but Mr. Ellsworth's favorite idea of giving 

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