Richfield Reaper | 1931-09-17 | Page 6 | Helping the Farmer

helping the farmer the department of agriculture had its origin in 1830 when the commissioner of patents began the distribution of selected seeds in 1854 an entomologist was employed the next year a chemist and a botanist were added to the staff and a propagating garden begun this work was taken from the patent offida by president lincoln in 1802 1862 and placed under the direction of isaac newton of pennsylvania as the first commissioner of agriculture during Clev elands administration in IM 1889 norman J colman the last commissioner became the first secretary of agriculture and a member of the presidents cabinet abinet c