REPORT OF THE COMMISSIONER. 15 
ture can be successfully prosecuted whenever the perfection of machin- 
ery for its preparation may demand it. The jute plant, Corchorus capsu- 
laris, is also giving entire satisfaction as to growth and production. 
It is believed that the profitable extension of preduction, by the con- 
templated introduction of new plants, and the enlarged culture of crops 
now yielding only partial supply of the home demand, such as sugar 
cane, rice, grapes, and semi-tropical fruits, and possibly tea to the ex- 
tent of family supply in suitable latitudes, may increase the annual 
value of rural production to the extent of two hundred millions of dol- 
lars, thus accomplishing a revenue reform which, would save to the 
country that magnificent sum in addition to the amount of import duties 
which would be collected upon such an importation. 
Though such success should not be attained, there can be no doubt 
whatever that many new plants may be successfully acclimated, any one 
of which may exceed in value the total amount of all appropriations 
hitherto made to this Department. ‘ 
DISTRIBUTION OF SEEDS. 
The number of packages issued during eleven months of the year 
number 358,391, of which 133,043 were sent to menrbers of Congress, 
71,865 to agricaltural societies, 71,400 to the corps of statistical corre- 
spondents, 7,960 to meteorological observers. The distribution includes 
seeds of cereals, grasses, hemp, jute, ramie, opium-poppy, sugar-beet, 
tobacco, sorghum, forest and shade trees, and many of the rarer 
species of plants oleaginous, edible, medicinal, and fibrous. The most 
abundant and convincing evidence of the great economic value of this 
distribution can be obtained from tke archives of the Department, or 
gained from the sub-reports in recent annual volumes. 
' FINANCIAL. 
The total amount expended by this Department since N ovember 30, 
1869, the date of my last report, is $169,175 24, under the following 
appropriations, to wit: 
Compensation of Commissioner, clerks, and employés ....-..--..--.------ $68, 712 03 
Collecting statistics and material for annual and monthly reports ...-..--.. 14, 206 51 
Purchase and distribution of new and valuable seeds ...--...---.--.----- 20,739 31 
Experimental garden, for labor, repairs, purchase of plants, &c..-------.- * 10,195 58 
Contingencies—Stationery, freight, fuel, lights, for laboratory, museum, 
library, herbarium, keep of horses, &0.----------..-+--.---202 200 ene 15, 108 26 
Improvement of grounds, (reservation No. 2)..---..--.-------------- +++ 16,017 7 
Erection of glass structures for the cultivation of medicinal, textile, and 
Sesto EM ANGS S255 f.. Fay tebe foe bonus watches CEE Leta dents accume 22, 468 37 
ET IS AE ee 2 bas See Gees = ees ed ee de 1,727 39 
Lk by Reaches ee ae Oe eee ee aes Be 169, 175 24 
Leaving a total balance unexpended of the appropriation for the current 
fiscal year of $107,370. . 
* 
HORACE CAPRON, 
Commissioner of Agriculture. 
His Excellency U.S. GRANT, President. 
