612 AGRICULTURE. 



infesting the cotton plant. Mr. Glover's first report was pub- 

 lished in the commissioner's report for 1854; another in that for 

 1855, an d another in 1858. From his engagement, which was 

 temporarily interrupted in 1858, may be dated the origin of the 

 entomological branch of the department. In 1855 an arrange- 

 ment was made with the Smithsonian Institution for procuring 

 and publishing meteorological statistics. In the same year a 

 chemist and a botanist were employed. Their engagements 

 were not permanent ; nevertheless, the chemical and botanical 

 branches of the Department of Agriculture may properly be 

 said to have had their origin in this year. The report which 

 appeared for 1856 was more profusely illustrated than any of 

 its predecessors. 



Mr. Mason resigned in August, 1857, and in the following 

 month was succeeded by Hon. Joseph Holt, of Kentucky, who 

 served until March 14, 1859. During his administration two 

 annual reports were issued for 1857 and 1858. 



In the report of Commissioner Mason for the year 1855, 

 much space had been devoted to the history and peculiarities of 

 the Chinese tea plant, and the belief had been expressed that it 

 could be successfully cultivated in most if not all of the South- 

 ern States of this country. Commissioner Holt determined to 

 practically test the adaptability of the plant to our soil and cli- 

 mate, and in his report, dated May 1 1, 1858, he announced that 

 an agent had been sent to China to procure seeds of this and 

 other plants. In the same year the plot of ground, previously 

 appropriated to the culture of the Chinese sugar-cane, was thor- 

 oughly improved for the purpose of planting in it the seeds of 

 the tea plant when they should arrive, together with cuttings of 

 native and foreign grape vines, which it had been determined to 

 propagate, with the view of stimulating and improving grape 

 culture. The tea seeds arrived in April, 1859, anc ^ subsequent 

 efforts to germinate them and grow the young plants to matu- 

 rity were crowned with the most gratifying success. 



In 1858 Commissioner Holt extended invitations to a num- 

 ber of intelligent farmers, residing in different sections of the 

 country, to meet at Washington for the purpose of considering 

 the general interests of agriculture, and especially to inquire 

 how these might be promoted through the instrumentality of 



