ern States, by which the total loss of a plantation's stock of horses and mules not unfrequently occurs, with scarcely an effort or hope for a cure. The annual losses in swine cannot be less than ten or fifteen million dollars by the disease commonly known as "hog cholera," for which no remedy has been found; and prevention has proved difficult and uncertain.

On the breaking out of the splenic fever at the halting places of Texas cattle during the past summer, I commissioned Professor John Gamgee, of the Albert Veterinary College of London, to investigate its character and causes and the means for its prevention. The labor was undertaken at once and continued with zeal and activity in several western States, including the Texas cattle stations of Western Kansas. Post mortem examinations, not only of diseased native stock but of the cattle from Texas, were repeatedly made, and their results carefully recorded, all tending to connect the migrating herds of the Gulf coast unmistakably with the existence and spread of the disease. The report of this investigation, enriched with valuable material collected by the statistical division of this department for a history of the outbreak, will be presented to Congress at an early day, together with a statement of the previous history of this disease in this country, and chromo-lithrographs of internal organs of animals dying from the disease. The department has been cramped for means to conduct this investigation, having no fund from which to defray its expenses, except that for statistical purposes, which is quite too meagre for the absolutely indispensable demands upon it, and congressional aid will therefore be requisite for the completion of the work undertaken and for the proper publication of the report upon it. While it is deemed important to investigate the cattle diseases prevalent, and to obtain the best professional aid in seeking to diminish the extent of their ravages, it is evident that effort directed toward the cure of any disease which is well developed in any section of the country must be very unsatisfactory and ineffectual. Many of the diseases of cattle, as of men, have their origin and distribution in the unnatural and unhealthy conditions of their growth and management, naturally resulting from what is termed our civilization. These diseases belong to the class of ailments which are preventable. Their causes are known, and means of prevention are at our disposal; and if an enlightened state of public opinion leads to the formation of societies for the prevention of cruelty to animals, a higher appreciation of the dependence of domestic animals upon us, not only for food but for care and protection from discase, should lead to the formation of establishments for the study of cattle in health and disease, and the training of a class of practitioners who would bring the highest medical skill to the treatment of our domestic animals. If motives of humanity should fail to influence, self-interest, in view of the annual losses of millions of dollars in valuable property, should be a potential inducement to prompt action in this direction. The formation of veterinary colleges-not for the treatment of animals, but for the

education of a class of practitioners of skill and science, who might become beacons, warning the proprietors of stock of the approach of disease, and pointing out the means of prevention-has been adopted in many European States, from which much benefit to the community has been derived. I consider it eminently the duty of this department not only to point out the want of such an institution but to initiate its establishment; and I earnestly hope that Congress may authorize at an early day the creation of a division of veterinary surgery for the investigation and prevention of diseases of domestic animals, and for the advancement and diffusion of veterinary science and for its most efficient and beneficent practical operation.

GRAPES AND WINE.

The production of grapes for table use and for wine making has become an interest of great importance. The introduction of new and improved varieties is rapidly cultivating a discriminating taste in the general public, which must be gratifying to those who have labored long and faithfully in its dissemination. The difficulties to be encountered, and the conditions most favorable to success, are now pretty well understood, and such as still remain in doubt cannot long escape the investigations of the many intelligent cultivators now engaged in solving these practical problems.

For many years this interest was greatly depressed from a general belief that our native grapes were incapable of improvement, or that the foreign wine grapes were of so superior a quality as to supersede the fruits produced from American species. Vast sums of money, and much valuable time and labor, have been expended in the endeavor to make the foreign grape a success, but without exception it has proved a failure in open air culture. These failures, however, have had a salutary effect in directing attention to the improvement of our indigenous species, and the progress of amelioration is both marked and rapid, and must certainly at an early day succeed (if it has not already succeeded) in producing varieties of equal merit to those famed for their excellence in Europe. Notwithstanding these well ascertained facts, communications are frequently received from gentlemen of large European experience in making wine, who have come to this country for the purpose of entering upon grape culture, urging very strenuously the importation of the foreign varieties, and expending their own means in this futile effort. It is to be regretted that the hard-earned experience of others is not taken as a guide, but the fact will be learned, sooner or later, that east of the range of the Rocky Mountains no climate has yet been found suitable for the continued healthy growth of the foreign grape. On the Pacific coast the plant seems to find a perfectly congenial climate.

SUB-TROPICAL FRUITS.

Considerable attention is now being directed to the introduction and culture of tropical and sub-tropical fruits in the southern States. The

climate of Florida is especially favorable to these productions. The department has for some time past been collecting fruits of this description for the purpose of introducing them into the most favorable regions, and is in the possession of much information with regard to the climate, and its suitableness for these useful products.

CINCHONA PLANTING.

Among the "new and valuable plants" which the organic law of the department requires it to propagate, cultivate, and distribute among agriculturists, there may be included not merely those useful as food stuffs, or for industrial arts and manufactures, but also those which subserve the sanitary interests of the people. European governments, possessing intertropical colonies, have already taken the lead in the introduction and acclimatization of medicinal plants within their own limits. I would especially call attention to the necessity which has arisen within the last few years for the initiation of prompt measures by the government to obviate the results of the extinction of the cinchona forests on the Andes, which is caused by the negligence of the governments of Peru, Ecuador, and more northern Andean states. The experiments of England, Holland, and other countries, have shown how readily new plantations of cinchona trees may be established in suitable localities, how rapidly the species becomes acclimated, and how early it yields satisfactory returns, and how easily such enterprises are popularized and rendered profitable. The supply of quinine has become a necessity of existence, not merely as a cure, but as a prophylactic agent. During the late war many thousand lives were saved by its use alone. In view of the approaching extinction of the cinchona species, (unless intelligent governments introduce the cultivation within their own territories,) I would earnestly recommend that an appropriation be made by congress to introduce it, and to propagate and establish a cinchona plantation under the care of this department. The attention of the public has already been called to this subject in the annual report for 1866, and the present is a fitting time for carrying into effect the plan there recommended.

THE STATISTICAL DIVISION.

The operations of the statistical division include the collection of the facts of agriculture in its widest range, from all the States and Territories of this country, and the gleaning of similar data, for purposes of comparison and instruction, from European records of experimental science, the transactions of societies, and official bulletins and publications. It involves the tabulation and systematic arrangement of this matter, and the publishing of condensations or deductions from it in a monthly report. The compilation, composition, revision, and publication of the annual volume is also intrusted to this division. The importance of this work will readily be acknowledged, and it is to be regretted that it has

of late been cramped for means to carry out plans for its improvement and prompt issue. While the cost of publishing the last volume was about $160,000, the appropriation for its preparation, together with the matter for the monthly, the statistical data on file for reference, and all special statistical investigations whatever, was last year but $10,000. It is in no sense commensurate with the objects to be accomplished, and would inevitably fail of realizing any valuable results but for the untiring industry and perseverance of those engaged in the work.

The crop statistics of the present year indicate a more than average condition of agricultural prosperity. The wheat crop is somewhat larger than last year, the increase being about equal to that of the population, and may be estimated at not less than two hundred and twenty million bushels. The corn crop is much larger than last year, but may not be placed, on completion of the tabulation, at more than nine hundred million bushels. The cotton crop, although of slightly reduced acreage, would have been excessive but for the damage from army and boll worms, yet the result will exceed two million three hundred thousand bales. For details of crop reports, and numbers and condition of farm stock, reference is made to the report of the statistician.

THE CHEMICAL DIVISION.

During the spring and early summer of this year, the laboratory has been engaged in analyses of samples which had been forwarded by correspondents from various parts of the United States. In great part these examinations were directly in the interest of farmers, or of those whose avocations are connected with agriculture. The variety of work has been similar to that of preceding years, embracing the examination of minerals, ores, earths, products from various manufactures, special investigations in technical branches of industry, and analyses of field products. The amount of work which flows in upon the laboratory is necessarily large, from the great extent of territory whence it is derived, and the number of our correspondents. In former reports the numerous instances in which parties seek to use the laboratory to further private interests have been alluded to, and I take occasion to repeat with emphasis that the proper aims of an agricultural laboratory cannot be subserved under a practice which admits of a constant and desultory occu pation of the time of the chemists. A large force of practical analysts, with copyists and clerks, would be required to dispose of all the scientific work which has thus accumulated under the former interpretation of the duties of this division. In the future the increase of this species of service will not be deemed advisable, for, although it yields much information which is beneficial to localities, it absorbs attention which might otherwise be devoted to work of more general utility. From the month of July to the present time, but little analytic work has been done, owing to the transfer of the laboratory from the Patent Office building, and the necessarily slow performance of the work of refitting.

In compliance with circulars from this office addressed to various State agricultural societies, requesting samples of average quality of the cereal crops of this year, for the purposes of chemical analysis to deter mine their relative richness in food elements, returns are being received. When the number is complete, so as to represent the production of the whole country, this extensive investigation will be undertaken, and will form the burden of the work of the laboratory for the coming year. It is by means of such experiments, which no individual society or institution could successfully prosecute, that the department may be made most useful to the country.

The appropriation destined for the laboratory has been nearly expended in the general fitting up of the laboratory with new cases, shelving, tables, and in the renovation of the old work.

Through the courtesy of the Smithsonian Institution, the department has been enabled to purchase to advantage in Europe chemical apparatus and materials, which have been forwarded with care and have arrived in safety. The purchase was made in the most judicious manner, considering the sum which remained for use after the necessary expenditure in fitting up the cabinet, &c. The laboratory will be in a few weeks, when all shall have been put in place, in good working order, and well adapted for the general applications of chemistry to analytic purposes. As so much of the current appropriation has been expended on wood-work, the chemist has been unable to obtain all of the fine chemicals and chemico-physical apparatus which a government laboratory needs in order to be prepared for that variety and amount of general or special work to which such an institution should be devoted. It is proposed that the appropriation of the coming year be allocated to this purpose.

The necessity of connecting a chemical laboratory with the Department of Agriculture has been admitted; but it may be affirmed that the direction in which it should be employed is hardly yet appreciated. It is only by reviewing the work done in European laboratories, which are fostered by the several governments, that the right application of an agricultural laboratory is rendered apparent. That chemical science may be brought in more immediate connection with agricultural experiences, there should be established an experimental garden as a portion of the general farm, having for its special object the cultivation of plants or crops, under certain specified conditions, in which every element of growth may be under observation. It is by such co-operation of garden and laboratory that those researches of Payen, Boussingault, Ville, Hoffman, Corenwinder, and others, have been carried out; and I would therefore recommend that an appropriation be made for this purpose.

As an integral part of this division there has been commenced the formation of an economic mineralogical cabinet, which will serve not only to illustrate the relation of soils to the parent rock, but will also form the nucleus of an industrial collection, illustrating the lithological riches of the country which are available for architectural and other art purposes.