CLAIMS OF AGRICULTURE. 45 



ing the means, the disposition, and the intelligence necessary for 

 the successful prosecution of this work. But without enlarging 

 on this topic, or meaning to intimate that the labors of this class 

 of agriculturists have been wholly useless, we have only to refer, 

 in proof of our assertion, to the pages of our agricultural papers. 

 These record a vast multitude of experiments, and they sometimes 

 announce stupendous results — 29 to 70 bushels of wheat to the acre 

 — but they are for the most part quite silent as to the expense of 

 production. We have read of composts containing from twenty 

 to thirty different ingredients ; now, not to speak of the costliness 

 of such a composition for enriching the soil, a circumstance which 

 puts it quite out of the reach of the mass of our farmers, the ex- 

 periment in a scientific point of view is worthless, because in such 

 a combination of agencies it is impossible to determine which of 

 them are hurtful or useless, and which are beneficial. 



The work, therefore, if ever done effectually, must be undertaken 

 by the state ; she has ample resources ; she will, of necessity, call 

 science to her aid ; and she will aim to elevate and benefit the 

 agricultural interest, not merely in a particular locality, but 

 throughout her entire extent. But the practical question arises, in 

 what way shall the state lend its aid ? In reply to this inquiry, 

 we beg to observe, 



1. That the general government owes a duty to agriculture — 

 to American agriculture, and this duty is all the more urgent inas- 

 much as it can be fully discharged without withdrawing one 

 dollar from the national exchequer. The pecuniary means of 

 performing the great work to which we have adverted, have been 

 furnished through the singular generosity of a foreigner. We of 

 course refer to the Smithsonian bequest. It certainly must be re- 

 garded as disgraceful to our government, that scarcely a single 

 step has been taken towards the fulfilment of the benevolent design 

 of the testator, though several years have elapsed since the money 

 was received. We do not mean to attempt an outline of the 

 entire system of instruction which should be pursued in the Smith- 

 sonian college : all that we mean to say is, that the diffusion of 

 useful knowledge in reference to that branch of human industry, 

 which is the basis of all others, and in which two-thirds of the 

 whole population of the United States are engaged, should be one 

 of the prominent objects of its erection. By the devotion of one- 



