2U 



A summary of all the information which tlie ]3epartment has been 

 enabled to collect results in this conclusion : that Louisiana has a soil 

 and climate adapted to the cultivation of sugar ; that these lands are 

 generally in the hands of intelligent planters ; tliat they need but to pur- 

 sue the plain dictates of natural laws to restore the cane to its superior 

 excellence, and its product to its largest yield. 



It is a subject of congratulation that the Department has been advised 

 of the effort now being made to i^rocure a new importation of sugar-cane 

 into Louisiana, that the quality may be thereby improved. It may be 

 so, even under the uecessary process of acclimation and adaptation 

 through which it must go. But, if it is to be planted time and again 

 upon the same ground, and no selection of plants to be made, it, too, 

 must soon " go the way of all flesh." 



EPIZOOTICS AMONG SWINE. 



By the Commissioner of AonicuLTURE. 



In the monthly report of this Department for April last, under the 

 title " Diseases of swine," the attention of the people of the country was 

 called to the enormous losses which were annually sustained from epi- 

 zootic diseases among swine. All these diseases, however dift'erently 

 they may affect the life of the animal, are called " hog-cholera;" because 

 of our ignorance of tlie subject we cannot give to each case a name spe- 

 cific enough to indicate its true character. In our comparatively new 

 country veterinary surgery has not attained that degree of eminence as 

 a scientiiic profession which its importance demands; on the contrary, 

 we have actually suffered from the estimate which is put upon such 

 learning and practice. But we are now startled by the fact that for the 

 past ten years the loss of the whole country has exceeded ten millions 

 of dollars annuallj^ b}' e})izootic diseases, at which we fold our arms with 

 amazement, and wonder what it is. 



The June number of the National Live-Stock Journal, published at 

 Chicago, furnishes, under the title "Epidemics among swine," an excel- 

 lent article on this subject, in which, among other things, it says: ''Un- 

 der such circumstances it would seem as if the Department of Agricul- 

 ture would have instituted some investigation into the cause, nature, 

 and proper treatment of this malady, and have had something to offer 

 the country- in relation to the prevention and control of diseases which 

 Lave proven so destructive." But this is unmindful of the fact that this 

 Department has no means for the institution of such inquiry. Appro- 

 priations for its workings are all specific ; and it would be a violation of 

 the duty of the Commissioner to direct them to other objects than those 

 specified. The work is so important and so peculiarly scientific and 

 professional that it should call to its performance the greatest amount 

 of learning with the best practical skill the country can command. The 

 necessity for the action of Congress to make provision for the appoint- 

 ment of a commission which may thoroughly investigate the subject, as 

 it did with regard to the diseases of cattle, cannot be more strongly en- 

 forced than it is in the article of the National Live-Stock Journal before 

 referred to, and which we here quote as expressing the views of this 

 Department on the subject : 



We have never been more stronglj' impipssed with the necessity of a general investi- 

 gation of this subject by competent authority than when considering the details fur- 



