n REPORT OF THE COMMISSIONER OF AGRICULTURE. 



the product of wlieat is less than for mauy years, the supply from pre- 

 vious harvests is aruple for domestic aud probable foreign requirements. 



The distinctively American product, maize, which dominates the till- 

 age of North and South, and, next to grass, is the source of our meat 

 production, is in larger supply than ever before; while cotton, the 

 money crop of ten States, has only once or tuicc before been exceeded 

 in quantity. The soil has yielded a generous return for the labors of 

 the husbandman, and the prospect for the future is bright before him. 

 It is gratifying to observe, as seasons pass and agricultural methods 

 improve, that the soil ameliorations effected by drainage and greater 

 thoroughness of cultivation are reducing the effect of adverse meteoro- 

 logical conditions of excessive moisture in spring, and drought in sum- 

 mer, equalizing the extreme results of good aud bad seasons, and giv- 

 ing increased steadiness and certainty to the eftbrts of the farmer. 



It IS also gratifying to note that upon every hand can be found an 

 increased interest of the farmer in his work. I^ocal societies in the 

 interest of agriculture are multiplying in number as well as augmenting 

 in size; interest in discussions ujion agricultural topics is everywhere 

 increasing; and, indeed, upon all sides can be seen encouraging evi- 

 dence of the desire on the part of the farmer for the latest information 

 upon timely subjects, which shall enable him to cultivate the soil more 

 intelligently and scientifically than those who have cultivated it before 

 him, and which shall also enable him to leave it richer and more pro- 

 ductive for those who are to follow him. 



For many years it has become more and more apparent that one great 

 need of the agricultural interests of the United States, is a better un- 

 derstanding and a more intimate relation between the several agricult- 

 ural colleges and experiment stations, and a more practical co-operation 

 between these institutions and the Department of Agriculture. 



Among my first acts of administration, therefore, was the request of 

 these institutions to send delegates to a convention to meet at this 

 Department in the month of July last. The result of that meeting was 

 most gratifying. All sections of the country were represented, and 

 throughout its deliberations there was a manifest desire to co-operate 

 with the Department in its eftbrts to develop systems which should 

 better unify results of experiments and reports upon them. 



These agricultural colleges were severally endowed by one and the 

 same act of Congress. They are now separately carrying on experi- 

 ments at an expense of time and 'means, and yet without any central 

 head through which to report and compare results with each other. 



United, these several State organizations, with their carefully tilled 

 soil, their line of mechanical appliances, their scientific methods of cul- 

 tivation, and their habits of observation of every stage of growth, could 

 engage in the work of developing new systems of agriculture, the neces- 

 sity for which is fast approaching; while in a divided condition, and 

 without united purpose, work will be often duDlicated. experiments will 



