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FOREIGN CORRESPONDENCE. 



The Department has o'ccasiou to congratulate itself upon the continued 

 advantages of its extensive foreign correspondence, and the successful 

 results of the system of international agricultural exchanges which has 

 been established with numerous governments of this continent and 

 other quarters of the world. The Commissioner has had the satisfaction 

 to receive from the director of the agricultural department of the Argen- 

 tine Eepublie at Buenos Ayres the following interesting and highly en- 

 couraging communication : 



Argentine Republic, 



Buenos Ayres, April 10, 1872. 



Slr : I have the honor to state that, on the 1st of January of this year, the national 

 agricultural department of this republic was duly installed, according to law, decreed 

 hy government on the 2l8t of July, 1871. 



As it is of the highest importance to place itself upon intimate relations with similar 

 institutions in other countries, and especially those whieh have arrived at such an 

 advanced state iu agricultural pursuits as that which I have now the honor to address; 

 and as this country is as yet in its infancy, but abounding in agricultural wealth, 

 which will be developed and in course of time occupy a prominent position among 

 other countries of the world, I request the honor of mutual co-operation with the 

 Department of Agriculture of the United States, begging that information may be sent 

 to this department on all topics which concern the same, and which the prominent 

 position of that institution renders of such vast importance, such as : First. New in- 

 ventions of agricultural implements and machinery. Second. Discoveries with respect 

 to the cultivation of agricultural plants, observations on growing the same, principally 

 taking into consideration their peculiar nature and diseases. Third. Information as to 

 the breeding of animals. Fourth. Cultivation of woods, gardening, fruit-trees, vege- 

 tables, flowers, &c., &c. Fifth. Mining, shooting, and fishing, (artificial fish-breed- 

 ing,) or any other branch belonging to the agricultural department. This department 

 will be most happy to afford in return every information concerning agriculture iu this 

 country. 



The recently closed national exhibition in the city of Cordova has afibrded this de- 

 partment an excellent opportunity to make collections of the agricultural products of 

 this country, samples of which will be forwarded to foreign agricultural departments. 



A remittance to this department of agricultural seeds, especially different varieties 

 of wheat, barley, beans, oats, maze, cotton-seed, rice-seed, linseed, grass-seeds, &c., &c., 

 forest plants, shrubs, and fruit-trees ; also seed of same, (especially seed or plants of 

 Finns gigantea,) vegetable seed, models of agricultural implements and machineiy, 

 pictures of prize animals, pamphlets on agriculture, &c., &c., will be conferring a great 

 favor, which will be highly esteemed by this department. 



Trusting that the most friendly relations may henceforward exist between us to 

 mutual advantage, 



I remain, sir, yours, respectfully, 



E. OLDEXDOEFF, 

 Director of the Agricultural Deparlmeiit. 



The Commissioner of the Department op Agriculture 



OF the United States, WasMngton. 



In connection with its foreign correspondence, the Department is in 

 receipt of many publications from abroad, relating to agriculture and 

 collateral subjects. From this source much interesting and valuable 

 information is obtained in respect to the science and j)ractice of hus- 

 bandry in its various branches, as well as to the progress of agriculture 

 in other countries. From the Agricultural Society of the Argentine 

 Eepublie, accompanying a selection of valuable tree-seeds, including the 

 seed of the Nanduhay, {Acacia cavania,) a tree which is highly prized for 

 building and other purposes, the wood being exceedingly strong, and 

 of the IJspinillo, another variety of the acacia family, bearing an odorif- 

 erous aromatic flower, tlie Department has received a series of num- 

 bers of the "Annals of the Argentine Rural Society." This publication, 

 the organ of the society, is devoted to the collection of facts connected 



