Rensselaer Republican, Volume 12, Number 14, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 19 December 1879 — National Agriculture. [ARTICLE]

National Agriculture.

Naw York, December IL Delegates to the Convention called to organize the American Agricultural Society met to-day in the Metropolitan Hotel. David Taggart, of Pennsylvania, presided in the morning, and General Curtis, of Ogdensburg, N. Y., succeeded him. The attendance was large. While the Committee on Organization was deliberating, Dr. A. S. Heath, President of the Farmers’ Club of the American Institute, read a paper entitled “How Shall We Increase the Value of Our Dairy Cows and Beef Stock?” The object, he said, could best be accomplished by care in breeding. If milch cows were desired, farmers snould breed for milk; if butter was required, they should breed together those animals whose special excellence strongly indicated that product in large quantities and also in superior quality. If cheese was the aim of the farmer, then he should strive to secure the best results, and use every effort to secure animals whoso milk is rich in the elements of cheese. The Secretary read a letter from W. K. Rogers, Private Secretary of President Hayes, informing the Society that, in consequence of previous engagements, the President could not accept an invitation to attend the meeting, and expressing his sympathy in the movement.

John Merriman, of Maryland, was chosen permanent President, with several Vice-Presidents, and H. Reall as Secretary. The first paper read in the afternoon was by Professor C. V. Riley, of Washington, on “ Agricultural Advancement in the United States.” After reviewing the proceedings of the Agricultural Departments and Societies in European countries, and their effect on farming industries, Professor Riley freely attacked the Department of Agriculture at Washington. It was a disgrace to the Nation, he remarked, and its scientific researches were far inferior to those of many private societies. Nothing short of a radical change in its character and scope would make it useful. The farming community had had, so far, no voice in the appointment gs its head. Agriculture, being non-sectional and non-political, the Department should be independent of politics. Heads of Department Bureaus should be men competent to act as a National Advisory Board, with sufficient power and means to carry on investigations in connection with the Faculties of Agricultural colleges. Reforms in the Department would result in real saving to the Government. Professor Riley was in favor of the bill now before the House for the establishment of a National Agricultural Board. The establishment of such a Commission would serve to increase the efficiency of the Department of Agriculture, relieve the Commissioner from too much responsibility, and prevent unwise individual action. P. J. Quinn, Secretary of the New Jersey State Board of Agriculture, in seconding the motion to publish Professor Riley’s paper, said, among other things, that the Department of Agriculture was an entirely useless institution. The question of pleuro-pneumonia as a cattle disease was discussed by RoberC J. Dodge, Vice-President of the Farmers’ Club, and Mr. Gentry, of Missouri; and a committee was appointed to draft a memorial to Congress with a view to enlisting the aid oi the Government in preventing the ravages of the disease.

—An interesting case has just been decided under the Civil-Damage law in Massachusetts. It was the first action brought under the law, and resulted in a verdict of two hundred dollars in favor of the plaintiff, a policeman, who was badly hurt by a drunken man whom he was attempting to arrest for drunkenness. Under this law the sa-loon-keeper who sold the liquor, and not the man who drank it and committed the injury, is held responsible for the damage done. —The Cincinnati Star thinks it time to begin hanging train-wreckers. A lady who had her train wrecked by an awkward man treading on it the other night entertained the same opinion for about two hours. —Horse-blankets with sleeves, accompanied by some eight buttons, like saucers in sine, are paraded in the form of overcoats.