LETTER FROM U. S. COMM'r OP AGRICULTURE. 71 



sired, with a statement of influencing circumstances, including especially 

 the hygrometric condition of the atmosphere, the dew points, elevation, 

 shelter, &c. For the Museum (or object library) of the Department, 

 specimens of natural history, of seeds, fruits, fibres, minerals and pro- 

 ducts of the economic arts, are solicited. It is intended, eventually, to 

 furnish State organizations with model duplicates of type specimens of 

 their most pojiular fruits. 



The building now in progress of erection for the Department will 

 furnish ample accommodations, also, for a separate display and classifi- 

 cation of products of Agriculture and the Minerals of the several States, 

 contributions for which object are now solicited. It is believed that 

 this will prove an interesting and useful feature of the Museum. 



In Entomology, incalculable good may result from correspondence 

 relative to insect depredations, with samples of the insects for identifica- 

 tion, description and experiment. 



The cooperation of State organizations, in the collection of Agricul- 

 tural statistics, will contribute materially to the success of Department 

 operations, and to the general fund of Agricultural knowledge. The 

 results of local associations and efforts, whether of County Society Ex- 

 hibitions, of Club Meetings, implement trials, sheep-shearings, or other 

 gatherings, might be presented in epitome, supplying facts that might 

 not otherwise be so fully received; and reports in detail of special Ag- 

 ricultural enterprises, of systematic experiments of individuals, and 

 other occasional data, would serve to enrich the national repertory of 

 industrial facts, and disseminate generally to other States a knowledge of 

 the peculiar resources and improvement of each. 



This cooperation might perhaps be extended, with advantage, to the 

 monthly crop returns, which form the basis of current approximate esti- 

 mates of growing or harvested crops, by recommendation of the best 

 men for reporters in those Counties which cannot be represented by 

 Secretaries of their Agricultural Societies, and by concurrent data from 

 other sources, and suggestions as to any peculiar or local subjects of 

 inquiry. 



The idea is also presented for the consideration of State Societies and 

 State Boards of Agriculture, of a still more intimate cooperation, in- 

 volving the direction of returns to the office of State Secretaries in these 

 States, their examination and consideration, and a report of results to 

 this Department, for incorporation in the general statement for the entire 

 country. 



Your views upon the above suggestions are respectfully solicited. 



In return, I shall always hold myself ready to answer any reasonable 

 demands upon the resources or courtesies of the Department. 



I am, very respectfully, 



HORACE C APRON, Commissioner. 



