COMMISSIONER LORING'S TERM. 



17 



The tea farm, as shown in a report by Mr. Saunders, the Horticul- 

 turist, gave little piomise, and Commissioner Loring cut down the outlay 

 in that direction as much as i)racticable uuder the lease already made. 

 The attempt to sink an artesian well at Fort Lyon, Colorado, undertaken 

 under Commissioner Le Due, was abandoned. Two other wells were 

 started on railroad lines in the plains east of Denver. The sorghum 

 experiments were brought to a close with disappointing results as to 

 the production of sugar. A report was secured from the National 

 Academy of Science on the nistory of sorghum experiments for twenty- 

 live years. Experiments with sorghum sirup were continued by the 

 chemist. The distribution of sugar beet seed on a large scale was 

 begun and the Division of Chemistry began a series of analyses to 

 determine the jiossibilities of producing sugar from beets. 



Origin of Bureau of Animal Industry— Commissioner Loring gave espe- 

 cial attention to the diseases of 

 domestic animals, and the appro 

 priation for investigations in 

 thai line was more than doubled. 

 A veterinary experiment station 

 was established at Washington 

 under D. E. Salmon. Inquiries 

 were carried on in Maine, Con- 

 necticut, Xew York, Xew Jersey, 

 Pennsylvania, Maryland, Vir- 

 ginia, Tennessee, Kentucky, 

 Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, INIissouri, 

 Kansas, Arkansas, and Texas. \^ 

 The study of inoculation, which 

 resulted in the discovery and 

 use of mallein and other forms of 

 vaccine made and distributed 

 by the Department was sug- 

 gested in the report for 1883. The control of quarantine against dis- 

 eased animals was transferred to the Commissioner from the Treasury 

 Department. In 1884 the Bureau of Animal Industry was established 

 by act of Congress with .$loO,000 to prosecute the crusade against 

 pleuro-pneumonia and other diseases. 



The problem of silk culture was taken up anew with an aj)proi)ria- 

 tion of 8l'J,000 in 1884. A special agent was appointed to conduct 

 experiments under the direction of the entomologist. 



The United States Entomological Commission was transferred to the 

 Department of Agriculture from the Interior in 1881 and continued its 

 reports on injurious insects. - 



Development of the work in statistics.— The Division of Statistics was 

 reorganized, with a view to a more complete and i)erfect system of 

 crop reporting. The appropriation was raised in 1882 to $80,000. 

 21091— Xo. 3 2 



George B. Lorixg. 



Commissioner of Agriculture. 



1 881-1885. 



