THE LATE CATTLE SHOW.

Waikato Times, Volume X, Issue 696, 30 November 1876, Page 3

THE LATE CATTLE SHOW.

Sib,— lwm glafl to cc© the remarks of Aguola, for they quite bear out the geneiftl opinion that tht late c»ttlo show, instead of being worthy of Waikato, wub nothing more than any on? of iv prindpml divisions could have shown— nay leas, for not • •inglo pound of butter or cheese. ' neither grain, root, nor vegetable produce j wnt there. I 1 believe, myself, that Mr Jnmes | Runciman hit the right nail on the head j w hc» he attributed the fewness of the exhibits to the show being held away from tire population. Why, when held at Te Awamutu, there was afar better exhibition than on Tlmrselay last, and so there woul t hare been this timo, if it bad b<-en held ei'hor «t Te Awamutu, Cambridge, Hamilton, or cren at Alexandra. If the show were held at either of thfae centres of populat. on, we should huTe the people of that place at any rate doing its bt»i to make it a success, whereas in holding it at O oupo, to as to iavonr none, all are offe ided, or at any rate li f i far awny. Ido not set why we should not have a far baiter annual caltle and nijricultural pro uce sho>» in Waiknto than in any other country district, but to do so, we must, as Mr Kunciman said, take the show to the population, f cannot see why the principal centres of population cannot come to an amicable nrrangoment for the show beiDg held one year at one place and one year at another in turn. If thi» was done the thin* would, lum sure, be a great euccrsi. — J am, <te, AGRICtTLTURIST. Cambridge, Not 29th. 1876.

Thb Aobicultitbal Department of the U S. Government — AmoJtrn wr ter thu« describes the object and work of the depart ment of agriculture in the GoVernment of the Uuited Statei of America : •' It» functions in America are various, its mean* of accomplishment extensive. Its divisions embrace ut.iiistics, agricultural statistics, natural history, nnd practical horticulture. The statistical division is the office of publication, from which are issued the annual reports, the monihlj report upon subjects ot special investigation, and statements c»lled for by Congress. it utilises the correspondence of the departm nt, n|e. i»l and wgulur, pursue* origin's investigations through the aid of praot.cai expenm-nis and trained experts, employs consular facilities in obtaining die tacts of foreign ngncnlture, »nd appropriates what is valuable in the records o( dotnettie and for ign societies. A wellappointed chemical laboiatorj has been established, and is in acive operation ; and whatever light chera^try mny bo expetted to shew on agiiculture is hoped for from tbi« and other similar efforts to keep the science and practice of agriculture on an even line. Thkre is also a division of entomology, another of mHerology, and another of exp riment. A succeaslul system is inaugurated foi exchanges, of books and documents <it sciei tific and industrial societie-, and also exchanges of seeds and plants, extending to ull parts of the world, which plants nnd seeds, being handed to the experiment difisioD, are carefully tested in Tanou* parts of the State* and reported uponf This organisation embraces museums Of all sorts, illustrative of the products o agricultural industry, in all the processes of manufautare ani of nutural history. It includes, also, experimental gardens and ai'borctuius. O/er tho whole is the Commissioner ot Agri ■ulture, a man selected for an acute and fur-seeing mind, whose part it is to direct the forces at his command for the good of all concerned. From his exalted position he can direct the operations of the settlers ; he ea« warn them to avoid specialties that are likely to be overdone, he can introduce new plants in the fitting zjnes, he can call attention to improved machinery, and shield from dangers that are unseen save by himself."