REPORT OF THE EDITOR. RS 
Department, if it results in introducing a single variety, adapted like 
the Red Astrachan to every part of the country, or a variety which will 
endure the cold cf the Nerthwest, where the ordinary kinds fail from 
the severity of the winters, will be worth many times its cest to the 
country. : 
Among other objects specified in the circular by which the first meet 
ing of the Congress of Fruit-Growers was called together, is this: ‘To 
maintain a cordial spirit of intercourse among horticulturists;” and, 
although last mentioned, and to be effected rather by incidental and in- 
direct than by direct means, it has not been forgotten, as the joyous 
greetings and kindly partings, the generous hospitalities given and re- 
ceived at its meetings, bear witness. Nor has the influence of these 
amenities ceased with the close of our sessions, but remained with us, 
in pleasant anticipations of the time when we should again come 
together in mutual congratulations, as we hope and trust ever to do. 
MARSHALL P. WILDER. 
Hon. Horace CAPRON, 
Commissioner. 
REPORT OF THE EDITOR. 
Sm: The investigations and other labors of the Department, not 
reported either in the regular or special reports of the preceding pages, 
have been more numerous and more extended than in former years. 
Activity, approaching restlessness, is the predominent characteristic 
of agricultural thought in this country at the present time. The ambi- 
tious young farmer, with little capital in money and much in muscle, is 
seeking cheap land and promising branches of culture, while the culti- 
vator of advancing years and suecessful experience is turning from 
mere speculation in land to rational processes of scientific agriculture ; 
and this Department is daily called upon to lead the way in the solution 
of ‘knotty questions presented by workers in a broad field, laboring in 
every branch of rural avocation, trained to every degree of varied 
efficiency, and imbued with the teaching of every practical school of 
husbandry of the civilized world. It is made the province of the 
Department, by the organic act which instituted it, to aid in resolving 
these difficulties, and harmonizing the contrarieties in practice resulting 
from diverse education, occupation, climate, and other circumstances, 
by investigations, researches, and collocations of illustrative facts, more 
extended and persistent than individuals in these superficial times can 
afford to undertake. 
Necessarily this research is largely statistical, and the summary of its 
results must embrace material brought to light through its agency, as 
well as that communicated officially by coéperating societies, and to 
some extent the corroborative and allied facts presented in current pub- 
lications. In this view, the collection of ‘“ Current Facts in Agricul- 
ture,” and “Recent Farm Experiments,” made with regard to their 
intrinsic value for completeness and utility as a record for future refer- 
ence, is deemed a work of much importance, even though an occasional 
experimenter may have communicated the results of his labors to the 
public through some other channels. An eminent professor of practi- 
cal agriculture, in communicating his appreciation of this feature, 
