REPORT 



OF 



THE COMMISSIONER OF AGRICULTURE 



Department of Agricultuee, 



Washington, D. C, Novemher'20, 1885. 

 To the President : 



I have the honor to respectfully submit a report of the affairs and 

 operations of the Department of Agriculture during the past year, 

 which have been subject to my supervision since the 3d of April last. 



This Department has in its charge the interests of an industrial class 

 far more numerous than any other in the country. With a territory of 

 such breadth, a climate so varied, a soil so generous; with a continuous 

 stream of agricultural immigration pouring into our borders; with the 

 constantly increasing advantages derivable from improved skill and 

 ingenious labor-saving appliances, there is necessarily a corresponding 

 enlargement of production. This renders necessary a wise distribution 

 of crop areas, the introduction of new products, and an increased supply 

 of those products which at present are notably insufficient to meet the 

 growing demands of home consumption. One of the most important of 

 these is sugar — an article of prime necessity. The development of an 

 industry which combines agricultiu'e and manufacture is slow and diffi- 

 cult ; yet the progress made in the Department's experiments during 

 the past season, as gauged by actual results, looking to the increased 

 production of sugar within our own borders, is more positive and sat- 

 isfactory than hitherto, and promises ultimately the highest success. 



There are fibers whose production can unquestionably be made profit- 

 able in this country, and whose utilization only awaits successful in- 

 vention and manufacture. There ar^ fruits and other edible products 

 which should enter into the variety of our agricultural productions and 

 enlarge our resources for meeting the demands of consumption. 



The year has been prolific of rural benefaction. Opening in gloom, 

 threatening the destruction of winter crops by severity of temperature, 

 its close is bright with the cheer and blessings of abundance for man 

 and beast, produced at a cost which is not a burden to the producer, 

 aaid sold at a price which is not a barrier to the poor consumer. Though 



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