TERMS OF COMMISSIONERS WATTS AND LE DUG. 



15 



to collect aud publish meteorological information for the benefit of agri- 

 culture. 



The Division of Statistics at this time had about 3,000 voluntary cor- 

 respondents. Commissioner Watts in his report for 1870 called atten- 

 tion to the fact that tlie appropriation for this division had been cut 

 from $15,000 to $10,000, declaring that the work had been thereby 

 greatly crippled. The appropriation was restored to the usual amount 

 the following year. Commissioner Watts complained of delay in the 

 publication of his annual report. He was also hampered by the aboli- 

 tion of the franking privilege for the distribution of the report. 



The ravages of tbe grasshoppers in the West began about this time 

 and the Department sent out $30,000 worth of seeds to the devastated 

 districts. This was under a special appropriation. 



COMMISSIONER LE DUC'S TEEM. 



Hon. Wm. G. Le Due, now of Hastings, Minn., was appointed Com- 

 missioner of Agriculture by President Hayes, and assumed control on 

 July 1, 1877. He took strong 

 ground against the indiscrimi- 

 nate distribution of common 

 seeds. In his first annual report 

 he cited the sections of the Re- 

 vised Statutes bearing upon the 

 subject, and pointed out in italics 

 that the distribution "shall be 

 confined to such seeds as are rare 

 and uncommon to the country." 

 It was plain, he urged, that the 

 law did not contemplate the send- 

 ing out of such seed as may be 

 bought of seedsmen generally. 

 He made a comparison of the 

 small appropriations for the De- 

 partment with the sums given 

 other branches of the Govern- 

 ment and asked for more liberal treatment. He also pointed out the 

 need of a general index for the annual reports of the Department. 

 Such an index, comjjleting earlier indexes, was prepared last year in 

 the Division of Publications by George F. Thompson. 



Investigation of animal diseases. — Under a Special appropriation of 

 $10,000 in 1878 Commissioner Le Due directed an investigation of 

 diseases among hogs and other domestic animals, and in his annual 

 report called attention at length to pleuro-pneumonia among cattle, 

 which had already secured a wide foothold in this country. The 

 inquiry into animal diseases was kept up during his term with increas- 

 ing energy. A careful study was made of glanders aud farcy. At the 

 same time an investigation of the history and habits of insects impor- 

 tant in agriculture was maintained under a special api^ropriation of 

 ,000, renewed by succeeding Congresses. 



\. 



Wm. G. Le Due, 



Commiasioner of Agriculture. 



1877-1881. 



