REPORT OF THE COMMISSIONER OF AGRICULTURE. 25 



several of fclie States wliere the disease was found prevailing inaugurated 

 measures for its suppression. Tireir eflbrts were but partially success- 

 ful, the failure beiug attributable alike to the insufficiency of the appro- 

 priation made for the purpose and a proper concert of action among the 

 States immediately interested. Upon investigation, the disease was 

 found prevailing, principally among dairy cattle, in the States of Con- 

 necticut, Eastern New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Delaware, 

 Maryland, the District of Columbia, and Virginia. 



In New York City and vicinity the disease was found to prevail to a 

 most alarming extent, and the legislature of that State at once adopted 

 measures providing for its speedy suppression. A corps of able veteri- 

 nary surgeons were employed, who commenced their work with an 

 enei'gy that gave promise of a speedy suppression of the disease by the 

 safest and only eJffectual method, i. e., by the condemnation and imme- 

 diate slaughter of all animals suffering with or infected by the malady. 

 A large number of animals were condemned and slaughtered, but it was 

 soon found that the appropriation made for this purpose was insuffi- 

 cient, and the work had eventually to be suspended for the want of 

 means to carry it forward. 



This was much to be regretted, for, however carefully precautionary 

 measures may be observed, until a further appropriation can be made it 

 will be t()und almost impossible to confine the disease to the limits it 

 occupied when the work was thus summarily suspended. 



Partial efforts for the suppression of the malady were also made by 

 the States of New Jersey and Pennsylvania, and possibly one or two 

 more of the infected States, but these efforts were not prosecuted with 

 that energy and determination that characterized the work inaugurated 

 by the authorities of the State of New York. Where the work of sup- 

 pressing diseases of this character is undertaken by the States sepa- 

 rately and individually many difficulties will be encountered, and some 

 of them will be found almost impossible to surmount or overcome. Un- 

 less there is perfect concert of action and entire harmony of purpose on 

 the part of all the States interested, but little good can or will be accom- 

 plished in the end. The authorities of New York, by wise and energetic 

 efforts and the expenditure of large sums of money, may extirjiate the 

 disease within its own borders, but so long as it is allowed to exist in 

 contiguous States it is liable any day to be carried again over the bor- 

 ders and into the herds from which it has just been eradicated. 



GARDEN AND GROUNDS. 



The chief object of the garden of this department is the propagation 

 and development of plants that are likely to prove of general utility. 



The area devoted to this purpose is entirely inadequate. 



The department cannot do justice to itself or the country until exper- 

 imental gTounds here and in different sections of the country are placed 



