12 HISTORICAL SKETCH OF DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 



During Commissioner ^Newton's time tbe foundations were laid for 

 the Department library and museum. Tbe first api)ropriation for tbe 

 library was $4,000, in 1804, for tbe library and laboratory jointly. 

 Tbe Glover collection was bougbt for tbe museum in 1867 for 810,000. 



After ]Mr. Newton's deatb ]\[r. J. R. Dodge, wboliad succeeded Pro- 

 fessor Bollmau as statistician, became very prominent in Department 

 work and so remained for twenty five years. He edited tbe Annual 

 Eeports nnd tbe INIontbly Reports and wrote mucb of tbe most valuable 

 matter tbat appeared in tbem. 



COM3I1SSIONER CAPRON'S TERM. 



John W. stokes, cbief clerk of tbe Department, was acting Commis- 

 sioner after Mr. Newton's death till December 4, 1867, when Gen. 

 Horace Capron, of Illinois, who was appointed on November 29, took 



cbarge. He was a native of New 

 York, but in early life removed 

 to Maryland where be became a 

 farmer on an extensive scale, ap- 

 plying scientific principles to bis 

 operations. In 1847 bis receipts 

 amounted to more than $36,000. 

 In 1854 he removed to Illinois. 

 Tbeie he continued farming, es- 

 pecially as a breeder of Devon 

 cattle, till tbe civil war broke out 

 when be enlisted in tbe army, 

 wbere be rose to be a brigadier- 

 general. After tbe war be re- 

 turned to his farm, and at the 

 death of Mr. Newton was se- 

 lected by President Johnson to 

 succeed him. 



Commissioner Capron in bis first report paid mucb attention to steam 

 plowing, beet-sugar making, and tbe problem of silk culture. He 

 established a system of exchanges of seeds and plants with many of the 

 Governments of Europe, Asia, and South America. He had the chemi- 

 cal laboratory fitted up and made a large collection of native grasses, 

 and forage and fiber plants from Colorado, Texas, New Mexico, and 

 Arizona. In 1868 the Commissioner was asked by Hon. Seth Green, 

 tben fish commissioner in New York, by United States Treasurer 

 Spinner and others to bring tbe possibilities of fish culture to the atten- 

 tion of Congress. A number of articles published at this time and in 

 tbe years immediatelj^ succeeding made way for the United States Fish 

 Commission. 



The main building of tbe Department was completed and occupied 

 during Commissioner Caprou's term. Tbere was favorable comment 

 upon the fact that the cost was kept witbin tbe amount appropriated. 



Horace Capron, 



Commissioner of Agriculture. 



1867-1871. 



