265 



The first annual report of tlie Department Tvas a great improvement 

 on most of the reports which had preceded it. It treated mainly of 

 fresh topics in agriculture and connected fields of investigation and 

 development. But its most significant feature was the revival of the 

 long-neglected agricultural statistics, presented in connection with 

 observations on the leading facts they developed, and followed by full 

 tables of agricultural exports. The eighth census furnished the data for 

 the tables of agricultural production. The important feature thus 

 revived was specially required by the terms of the act creating the 

 Department, and it has never since been omitted. A statistical branch 

 was organized early in 1863, and to it was committed the collection and 

 analysis of all statistics. Mr. Lewis Bollmau, of Indiana, was ap- 

 pointed statistician. To ascertain at the earliest practicable period the 

 condition of the crops, their yield, the prices obtained for them, and other 

 facts connected with current agricultural operations, the Commissioner 

 issued, during 18G3, periodical circulars to farmerf in every county in 

 the loyal States. The results thus obtained were given to the public 

 through the medium of monthly reports, which have been continued to 

 the present day, with such modification of their original features as 

 time and experience have seemed to render necessary. The first niouthly 

 report was issued July 10, 1863. The publication in the monthly reports 

 of monthly and bi-monthly meteorological tables, furnished by the Smith- 

 sonian Institution, was commenced at the same time. These tables 

 were condensed for the ensuing annual report. The same arrangement 

 is yet in force. 



The employment of a skillful gardener was one of the most auspicious 

 incidents of the first year of Mr. ISTewton's administration. He was for- 

 tunate in procuring the services of Mr. William Saunders, who has ever 

 since given to the important duties assigned to him an intelligent and 

 conscientious devotion. In the first report of the Commissioner, Mr. 

 Saunders i:)resented to the public a comprehensive programme of the 

 uses to which he deemed it desirable to devote the experimental garden, 

 and this programme is observed to-day. 



In the second year of Mr. IS^ewton's administration, (1863,) the number 

 of packages of seeds distributed was 1,200,000, and of bulbs, vines, 

 cuttings, and plants, 25,750. Mr. Townend Glover was employed 

 as entomologist, a position which he has since continued to hold. 

 The report issued in 1861, embracing the operations of the Department 

 for 1863, contained the first attempt that had been made since the daj'S 

 of Ellsworth and Burke to ingraft upon the census returns the statistics 

 of the yearl^^ i^rogress of agricultural production. The tables given in 

 its pages, compiled from the monthly reports, showed the average yield 

 per acre of the several crops of 1863, and the average prices obtained 

 for them in the month of November of that year. From that day until 

 this the Department has aided greatly, by the publication of tables of 

 this character, in protecting alike consumers and producers from the 

 exactions of grasping speculators. A Maine farmer once wrote to the 

 Department: "Your monthly reports give me just the information I 

 have wanted for years. Knowing the supply and demand, I am able to 

 sell at my own ])rice, and we can also foresee what will i^robably be 

 wanted next year. Give practical farmers facts and let gentlemen of 

 leisure theorize." 



The annual report of the operations of the Department for 1861 con- 

 tained a i^iiper on " Pennsylvania barns," from the pen of Hon. Fred- 

 erick Watts, recently appointed Commissioner of Agriculture. In this 

 and the following year Mr. Henri Erni acted as chemist. In 1864 



