30 REPORT OF THE COMMISSIONER OF AGRICULTURE. 



the mines wliicli demands more food than can be raised upon tlie lands 

 that are irrigated from these streams, and the .general welfare of that 

 seetioa requires that the government should take some active interest iu 

 ascertaining whether by artesian wells in different locations large areas 

 of the country may not be profitably watered and made productive- 

 The experiments recently made by the French engineers in the great 

 deserts of Africa are well worthy of imitation in this country v/herever 

 it would seem practicable. As preliminary to more extended opera- 

 tions, an appropriation of $50,000 to be immediately available should 

 be made to examine with the drill the practicability of irrigation from 

 artesian wells. 



A building for the exhibition of working models of agTicultural ma- 

 chinery is a want long felt, and which Avould be of the highest interest 

 and instruction to all persons visiting Washington from all parts of the 

 United States and from foreign countries. Such a collection could be 

 made, if the building was furnished by the government, with very little 

 expense. Nearly every manufacturer of agricultural machinery would 

 be glad to contribute a specimen of the tools or implements manufactured. 

 This building should occupy the southwest corner of the grounds, and 

 should be of sufficient extent to provide for some years in the future, and 

 should form part of the permanent building which the department wiU 

 necessarily require. 



In every county in the United States in which agricultural industries 

 are pursued, this department has or aims to have a principal correspond- 

 ent and four assistants. These should all be furnished with set« of in- 

 struments for taking the temperature of the air, the soil, the pressure of 

 the atmosphere, and the degree of moisture present in the atmosphere. 

 As the work of these correspondents is given gratuitously, the govern- 

 ment ought to supply the instruments necessary for making the observa- 

 tions, and an appropriation for this purpose, and for furnishing record- 

 books and other stationery, should be made. 



Very respectfully, your obedient servant, 



WM. G. Le dug, 

 Commissioner of Agriculture. 



The Tresidekt. 



