EEPORT OF THE COMMISSIOXER OF AGRICULTURE. 13 



In tlie belief, however, tliat this want will be but temporary, it is hoped that 

 Congress will make a permanent appropriation of it for the use of this depart- 

 ment, with sufficient means for its improvement. 



Entomology being one of the subjects mentioned in the act establishing this 

 department, and the destruction of fruit and other crops by insects having now 

 become so serious, I determined to make it an important branch of the depart- 

 ment, and have employed a gentleman well known throughout the country as a 

 skilful, practical entomologist, who has been paying special attention to the best 

 modes of extu-pating insects injurious to vegetation. Through him I have made 

 arrangements to place on exhibition, in the dejjartment, his large collection of 

 insects, accompanied with drawings and descrij)tious ; also his valuable collec- 

 tion of fac similes of all the fruits of the country, together with his complete 

 herbarium. 



But the space assigned to the Department of Agriculture, of a half dozen 

 rooms in the basement under the Patent Office, is too limited and inconvenient 

 for any department of this government, and it is not only insufficient for our 

 present accommodations, but is a positive bar to any increased operations which 

 I propose, and I call your excellency's attention to the matter. 



Congress having, at its last session, appropriated "$20,000 for investigations 

 to test the practicability of cultivating and preparing flax and hemp as a sub- 

 stitute for cotton," I proceeded to carry its intentions into effect as soon as the 

 appropriation became available. 



I found, by communications from every part of the country, that much in- 

 terest was felt in the matter, and that the people of the middle and western 

 States, especially, did not confine the meaning of the appropriating clause merely 

 to the preparation of flax for cotton machinery, but took the broader view con- 

 cerning the cultivation and preparation of flax generally, and with reason, grow- 

 ing, as they do, nearly all the flax in the country. With the view of placing 

 this investigation beyond all reasonable complaint or suspicion of partiality, I 

 determined to intrust it in the hands of a commission, and accordingly, on the 

 1st of July, appointed Hon. J. K. Morehead, of Pittsburg, Pennsylvania ; W. 

 M. Bailey, of Providence, Rhode Island; and Dr. J. A. Warder, of Cincinnati, 

 Ohio, as commissioners, whose names ai-e a sufficient guarantee of industry, 

 ability, and integrity. 



The commission met at the department, and, having organized, passed the 

 following vote, which was duly published in the papers, and, by circulars, 

 widely spread throughout the country : 



^^Resolccd, That the Commissioner of Agriculture be requested to issue an advertisement, 

 by circular or otherwise, calUng upon mauufacturers and experimenters to send to this de- 

 partment, on or before the ■20th day of November, samples of the fibres and fabrics prepared 

 by them, to be accompanied, in all cases, by precise statements as to the various processes, 

 and with estimates as to the probable expense per pound of the preparation of the material, 

 and of the proportion of fibre that may be produced from a given quantity of the stalks or 

 straw of flax and hemp." 



The commission then adjourned to meet here early in December, when, after 

 due action on its part, a report will be r-^ndered to Congi-ess. 



