National and Educational Interests. 



133 



and territory which desires these privileges, but it also main- 

 tains a large corps of experts in the Department of Agriculture, 

 whose duty it is to investigate the condition and promise of 

 nearly every branch of agriculture. There is a growing appre- 

 ciation of all these endeavors, a fact which proves that there is Depart- 

 a general awakening among the farming population. And ™|"* c ° f j 

 yet it is always needful to recall the advantages of our public ture. 

 institutions. The particular points in which the Department 

 of Agriculture appeals to horticulturists are set forth in the 

 following address by Assistant Pomologist W. A. Taylor, be- 

 fore the Michigan Horticultural Society :* 



' ' Though often hampered by lack of sufficient appropriation and by fre- 

 quent changes of policy, the history of governmental work in the interest of 

 agriculture, since its beginning in 1840, shows almost constant progress and 

 widening of field. During recent years, in consequence of more liberal ap- 

 propriations and the more judicious application of effort, made possible by 

 the rapid advances in agricultural science, the progress has been particularly 

 gratifying. Though the attention given to topics relating strictly to horti- 

 culture^has been comparatively small, there has been much accomplished in 

 the past, as will be found by reference to the reports issued in previous 

 years. For a time experimental work was carried on, and lists of varieties 

 of fruits and vegetables were made, and reports published, together with 

 cultural directions and advice concerning special crops. This work has 

 been mainly abandoned in consequence of a lack of proper facilities, and 

 the assumption of that work to a great extent by the experiment stations of 

 the different states. The distribution of seeds, though often the subject of 

 merited criticism, has resulted in general good. The best results achieved 

 in this line have been for the grain-grower rather than for the horticulturist, 

 apparently because the subject of grains has been more carefully investigated 

 and more systematically studied. With adequate appropriations, and the 

 application of scientific methods by trained workers now available, there 

 seems to be no good reason why as much should not be accomplished in this 

 line for the horticulturist as for the general farmer. 



"As now organized, most of the work that is of particular interest to 

 gardeners and fruit-growers is done by four of the sixteen divisions, which, 

 with the bureaus of animal industry and the weather, make up the working 

 force of the department. These are the divisions of entomology, vegetable 

 pathology, pomology, and gardens and grounds. 



"The scientific work of the division of entomology is devoted first, to 

 study and classification of insects, whether injurious or not A change of 

 habit often develops a dangerous insect pest from a species previously harm- 

 less. It is thus found necessary to study and record life histories of insects 

 not now injurious, in order to be able to discover more quickly the weak 

 point for attacking it, should the species become troublesome. Foreign as 

 well as native species are thus studied, and particularly those already trou- 

 blesome in other countries and likely to be imported unawares. As an in- 

 stance of the care exercised in this regard, there may be cited the case of an 



*See also Annals for 1889, 71. 



