4 
43 
; 
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REPORT OF THE COMMISSIONER OF AGRICULTURE. 4] 
kept for future reference. This work is of so much importance that 
the constant services of a skilled artist are necessary, and I hope to 
have funds appropriated for that purpose. 
The progress already made and the encouraging prospects for future 
usefulness are evidences of the wisdom of the establishment of this 
division. 
THE DAIRY. 
The work upon matters pertaining to this branch of the Department 
has been prosecuted during the year, but under discouraging condi- 
tions. The desire has been to obtain data sufficient to make compari- 
sons of the several averages of production in the dairy States and sec- 
tions. Iregret to find an indisposition, however, on the part of those 
engaged in this great industry to respond with alacrity to our requests 
for information. The dairymen in every section are seeking indi- 
vidually what the Department can not supply, because of the lack 
of unity ef interest among them as a class, in the efforts of the De- 
partment to secure statistics and facts of interest in this line of in- 
dustry. 
The Department will continue the investigation in this direction 
for a short time longer, in the hope that the above suggestion will 
result in a willingness on the part of those interested to devote the 
required time and impart the desired information for the benefit of 
the whole. Otherwise I shall abandon the investigation. 
GRAPE AND WINE PRODUCTION. 
s 
During the year there has been instituted inquiries into facts and 
figures relative to the grape and wine production of the country. 
Several circulars have been prepared, and fifteen thousand distrib- 
uted among those engaged in these twin industries. I am encour- 
aged to believe that this information, which will supplement that 
published by the Department some years ago, will be fairly complete 
to date and prove valuable to all concerned. 
THA. 
In accordance with the provisions of law, the interests of the Goy- 
-ernment at the tea farm in South Carolina have been closed out 
during the year, the property has been properly disposed of and 
accounted for, and, in accordance with the terms of the lease, the 
custody of the farm has reverted to its owner. 
ILLUSTRATIONS. 
Science and art have reduced the question of.illustration to a 
practical and economical! solution, and it has become a valuable’and 
almost indispensable adjunct to modern writings. There are now 
employed in the Department skilled draughtsmen and an engraver, 
