VOL. XIX.
INDIANAPOLIS, IND., SATURDAY/MARCH e, 1884.
NO. 10.
Written lor the Indiana Tanner.
THE NATIONAL CAPITAL.
What ls Being* Done for the Farmer at
AVashlngton.
BUI*} Before Congress -American Pork-
Farm Statistics.
The agricultural Interests have received
a large share of the time and attention ol
Congress during the past week. In addition to the pleuro-pneumonia bill, which,
after almost two weeks of debate In the
Hou.e, was Anally passed by that body on
the 21st, there have been bills introduced
both iu the House and Senate, and reported
favorably from committees of both those
bodies, which have for their object the
welfare and protection of agriculturists and
their interests:
THE PLEURO-PNEUMONIA BILL
passed the House, In the* shape it came
from the committee on agriculture, with
the exception of one clause. The portion
of the original bill stricken out is that section whtehf provided for declaring any
State or Territory in which contagious diseases among cattle exist, and which fails
to take proper measures for the extirpation
of such diseases,, in quarantine;~J___*.he
debate on the bill a great deal of opposition
was matiifested by representatives from
different sections on account of local interests. The strikingout of the fourth section
of the bill, giving the President of the
united States power to declare quarantine
against any State or Territory in which
contagious diseases of cattle exist, brought
to the support of the bill those who objected
to that section, and secured its passage by
a vote of 155 to 128.
IN THE SENATE,
Mr. Plumb, from the committee on agriculture and forestry, reported favorably
the bill creating the Department of Agriculture an executive department.
IN THE HOUSE,
Mr. Denster introduced abill providing
'or the appointment of a commission for
examination into the preservation and
cultivation of woods and forests adjoining
the sources of the navigable rivers, for the
purpose of preserving the same and increasing their growth by planting along
Jhe courses of the rivers where the land is
timberless. The object of the bill is to pre-
\ent the destruction of the woods, on the
ground that such destruction of the forests
°mS(? the land to become arid and unprofitable deserts. Mr. Ellis also introduced in
"ie House a joint resolution setting forth
the prevalence of diseases among the swine
ot the United States, and providing for an
examination as to the causes of those diseases, to determine the best means for their
eradication and cure. The last clause of
the resolution reads as follows; "That until
euch investigation can be had and rigid
regulations provided so as to guard against
"»> exportation of infected meats, it would
o« unwise and impolitic to inaugurate retaliatory measures against any friendly
h27.elfor simply endeavoring to guard the
wealth and well-being of its citizens."
SWINE DISEASE COMMISSION.
The Commissioner of Agrieulture has
Mbmuted to the President the report of
*ue commission appointed to examine the
lntr. .v,nduitry ofthe United States and
rioLi,*:., alIegations relative to the un-
rZil"!f ulness of pork products.   The re-
inH ,?*? tbat ""»numberof hogs raised
annually _ about ^(jqq^ijoq from whleh )s
™ae a total of cured meats, lard, and
tv,i^produetsof 4.725,000,000 pounds. It
W ?ut tbe Practicability of microscopic
tha of SUCD products, and says that
0 examination made by them shows our
pork equal if not superior to that of
France or Germany. In closing their report the commissioners say, "While we
believe that no legitimate ground exists
for the restrictions imposed in some foreign
countries on the importation of American
pork, we are satisfied that microscopic inspection of all pork for export can tie s^f.
cured at the packing houses, if such inspection should be demanded." The Legislature of Ohio a few days ago presented
to Congress a memorial praying for the
passage of a law providing for the inspection, by Government inspectors, of all
pork products designed for exportation
from the United States, and Senator Logan,
of Illinois, introduced in the Senate on
Monday last a bill providing for the appointment of Inspectors in each customs
district of the United States where such
inspectors would be needed, whose duty
should be to inspect all dressed beef, pork
and pork products intended for exportation, and to brand such articles with an
inspector's brand,"to show that they had
been so inspected.
STATISTICS.
The report of the Statistician of the Department of Agriculture for the month of
February gives some veryinterestingstatements of facts in regard to agricultural
matters. The report shows that the largest
increase of farm animals during the past
year has been ot stock cattle. The nuniber
of cows is steadily increasing with increase
of population, and is largest in the rapidly
growing Western States. The increase of
horses and mules has also been very large,
while the number of sheep has slightly
decreased in the older States, which is attributed to the decline in the value of
sheep and wool. The increase In the number of horses during the year has been 331,-
572; mules, 43,747; milk cows, 36*1,521;
oxen and other cattle, 1,000,024; swine, 930,-
807. Sheep decreased in numbers in some
of the States, but the enlargement of the
tlocks in the territories has more than
made up the deficiency, and the number'
has increased over a million in the past
year. Not only have the numbers of farm
animals increased during the year, but
their values have also increased, except
that of sheep and swine. The average
value of-horses last year was $370 59, while
this year it is placed at $74 64. Mules which
last year were rated at an average value of
§79 69, are now rated at 884 22. Milk cows
have increased in value from §30 21 to
§31 37; and pxen from §21 80 to §23 52. The
average value of sheep has decreased from
§2 53 to §2 37, and swine from §6 75 to §5 57.
The effect of the reduction of the tariff
on wool is referred to as a cause of discouragement to the wool-growing interests,
and it is stated that the belief that from
favorable legislation prices may rally has
alone kept this discouragem en ffirom assuming the phase of a panic and causing
the slaughter of sheep for the pelts and
tallow. In some places there has been a
dispersion of flocks. Sheep have been sold
by the thousand in Wisconsin, and In Missouri and other States, and the decline in
value has caused a great decrease ih numbers. ■ ■ '    .
The report shows that in Indiana the
total number of horses was equal to that of
last year; mules have increased in number
two per cent; milk cows have increased
one per cent; oxen one per cent ;sheep have
also increased in number in Indiana by
two per cent. The average prices in Indiana for the month of January were, for
horses under one year old, §35 68; between
one and two years, $54 68; between two and
three years old, §75 30; over three years
old, §98 25; mules averaged §110 for over
three years old, and §81 58 between two
and three years; milk cows, §35; oxen, three
years old, §40 73; two years old, §20 17; one
year old, §18 27; under one year, §10 62;
sheep, over one year old, §3 14; under one
year old, §2 15. ■ The total number of sheep
killed by dogs in Indiana in 1883, according to the report, was 12,829.
jjf' AGRICULTURE ASR OTHER INDUSTRIES.
1'The report devotes considerable space to
Showing the advantages accruing to agriculture from the other industries. It
shows that the condition of the agricultural
classes is benefited by the introduction of
other industries In their midst. It says:
"Commerce, mining, manufactures, anything bringing population'to be fed, aid
agriculture, itlon idlers may purchase a
surplus, but they would give no production in return. Paupers introduced might
consume a surplus, without aiding agriculture. Professional workers, necessary
evils, made necessary by ignorance, weakness and vice, also consume without producing. Traders are convenient, saving
time and loss from lack of mercantile experience, yet they sre only in a constructive sense producers. Commerce handles
millions, with few helpers, and therefore
fails to furnish population and make markets, except in a very limited degree.
Miners, mechanics, and especially artisans
and operatives engaged In productive occupations, are vastly more beneficial to agriculture for two reasons: 1. They augment
the numbers to be fed and increase agricultural values. 2. They make something
themselves, which farmers need, and reduce the prices of commodities hitherto
brought from a distance at unnecessary
cost. In Arkansas the number of manufacturing counties is one, with 73 other
counties, and the average value of land
per acre is §616. In Indiana there are
seven manufacturing counties and 85otlier
counties, and the average value of land per
acre is §3111, while in Ohio, with 12 manu-
facturirig counties and 76 other counties,
the average value of land is §45 97, which
shows the influence of home manufactures
upon the value of the farmer's possessions.
A further comparison shows that the value
of land in the manufacturing counties of
Indiana is §49 21 per acre, while in the
counties exclusively agricultural land is
only worth §29 66. The annual income of
the farmer in Indiana, where there is but
42 per cent of the population engaged in
agricultural pursuits, is §394, while in the
State of Virginia, with 77 per cent of her
population farmers, the annual income of
the farmer is only §160, and in Massachusetts, with but 18 per cent in agriculture,
the farmer's annual income is §457."
WAGES OP FARM LABORERS.
On the subject of wages of farm laborers
the report says: "The question has been
askecf, 'Is there increase of wages as the
non-agricultural population increases?'
There nas been an increase with the growth
of manufacturing and other non-agricultural population, as shown by investigation.
The Western district, which is agricultural,
with Cincinnati, Dayton, Springfield and
other manufacturing towns,averages §24 75.
The Eastern district has a larger agricultural element and thereforealoweraverage,
which is §22 65. Kentucky furnishes a fine
contrast with Ohio. A river dividing, one
State with four-tenths in agriculture, the
other with five-eight and most of the
remainder commercial and professional
rather than industrial,' the average has
been—Ohio, §24 65; Kentucky, §18 20.
-   Washington, D. C, Mar. 1.
THE AGRICULTURAL COLLEGE.
'     Ita Mission and Needs.
[Paper read before the State Board ot Agriculture
at Ita January meetlDg, by Prof. W. C. Latta, 6. Purdue University.]
[CONCLUDED.]
II. Seed* ofthe Atrrlraltural College.
I fear I have already dwelt too long on
the obstacles to agricultural education,and
therefore hasten to consider wttys and
means for meeting and overcoming these
obstacles. If these colleges of agriculture
are comparatively unknown, they must be
brought to public notice. If their charater
and purpose are misunderstood, these misunderstandings must be cleared up. If
these colleges have made mistakes, these
mistakes must lie corrected. If they have
not been adequately supported they must
have support.' If they have not been well
attended, they must have more students.
If there is a common belief that farmers
do not need an education, and that college
-
training makes a man too fine for the farm, '
this false and pernicious belief must be up-     ;
rootetj.   Here ls a world of worktobedone;
but I think all will agree  with me that it     -
is nearly all preliminary to, and hence, no   '.'-'.
part of, thelegitimatework ofthe agricult-.
ural college. More than this, from the very:
nature of the  difficulties  to be overcome,_
the college is  powerless  to  meet  them. >
This preliminary work must be done, but '■■?"
how shall it be done?   In other  words, in   _'
view of the many  hindrances to agricult-'
ural education, what are, to-day, the press-.
ingneedsof the agricultural college? ' '  ■ ' .;„'
1. CO-OPERATION OP AGRICULTURAL SOCIH*-
TIES.
The first great need is the active, united,    ;
unwavering support and  co-operation of   •
the various State and National agricultural •■'
associations.   At the present  time "these .■...-.
societies are  generally  friendlv  in their
attitude toward the agricultural colleges; ',
but I surmise they might be more actively ,
helpful in pushing this  new education to   "•.
the front.   With the backing of the various.  .
agricultural societies of the country, these
colleges are bound to succeed. Without this
backing, they are as certainly bound to fail.    ,'
I believe that most of these societiesalready ' •
feel the responsibility resting upon them,  *
and are desirous to assist  the agricultural1 v
colleges . in  their arduous  work.   I will -
therefore suggest  several  ways in which,-.
these associations can   be greatly helpful, f;
HOW TO AID THESE COLLEGES, f     '  -
Of the many ways of co-operating with "   .
thesecolleges'thofollowingareheresuggest-    :
ed: First: These associations can render as-!,
sistancein becoming thoroughlyacquaint- x
ed with the work of these colleges, and in ■'■'.-'
making practical suggestions for increasing
their cniciency. In some States,commi .tees
of the State agricultural and horticultural
societies and theStateGrange,meetannually
in joint session with the trustees of the ng-   .
ricultural college, to consider the work and.   '*
needs of the institution, and todevise plans...
for organized,  co-operative  effort in promoting the great  agricultural interests of
the State.   Would it.not  be well  forthe
various farmers' organizations to follow the' .
above example in all the States where there; •
is a farmers'college? '.  * ' ■
Second:   The various agriculturalsocl- "f
eties of whatever name can do a great work,.-
through their  organization  and by indi--   -
vidua! effort, ineducatingpublicsentiment ../
In favor of  agricultural  education.   Will   f
the agricultural  societies  of Indiana take
hold of this work  with a will, and help_to;
dispel the false notion  now so prevalent?    ,
Third:   These  societies can be useful in .*-
bringing the colleges  before  the farmers.
I know of no better way of accomplishing. ;'
this, than by holding  farmers'  institutes
at which the professors of the agricultural'
colleges may  address the farmers on Ja-
milar,  practical and  scientific  topics re-. \,
Iating to  agriculture.   Indeed,  I suggest
nothing new in  this, as  these  institutes   -
have been organized and maintained in se v- ,
eral States with most gratifying results.
And I firmly believe that live farmers' in-   '
stitutes will do more towards  filling -the ->
halls of our agricultural colleges with the -
right kind of students—those of the Indus-.'
trial classes—than any other. means that v
maybeadopted. But these colleges, with the
limited funds at their command, cannot in-,
cur the expense of sending their professors
over the  country  to do  this  missionary  -
work.   Cannot the State Board of Agricult- :
ure take the initiative in securing State aid
to defray the  expense of an"annual series
of four to six thoroughly, organized, well   '
equipped,  and  successfully  carried out
farmers'institutes?
Fourth:   The various  country, district,
and State  farmers'  Organizations   can be
very helpful in securing  students for the
'agricultural college.   They  can do this in
two ways, viz: by  individual work on the '\
part ofthe members, and by organized ef- '.
fort.   Who does not know a young man
that expects to enter college  soon?   Is it
a hard thing to say to such  an one  "We >*
have an agricultural  college  in our State
that affords a plain  practical education at
a very reasonable cost to its students; here
CONCLUDED ON  NINTH PAOE.