Mr. SPRAGUE. I offer the following resolution: Reached, That the Committee on A sider measures to promote the cultivation of the mad de rroot in the country, and report by bill or otherwise. Mr. President, in 1859 the State Dept instructed the consular agents to investigate the subject of the cultivation of this article in the countries bOrdering on the Mediterranean. Their investigations were interrupted in consequence of the war. The consumption of this enlture conarticle, growing out of the uses to which it ils put, is perhaps $10,000,000 worth annually. It grows somewhere in the latitude of 35 or 40 derecs. It occupies the attention of nearly 200,000 people in France alone. It would occupy the attention of that number of people in this country if we raised it, and the article would be consumed in the country. It is easily cultivated. It is produced in the form of something like the potato; it has a vine something like the potato. It is planted in rows, and the 1st year the vine comes from the ground. Before the next year has passed, the vines are covered with dirt in order that the frost shall not interfere with the roots. That process is carried on for 18 months or 2 years or 3 years, and the root is then dug up, dried, and prepared formarket by kiln drying and grinding. I desire to direct the attention of the ComAg to this important branch of the nations industry, that the machinery of the agricultural Dept of the Government may have the matter under consideintion in order that we may, as far as we possibly can, have the various products known to the comsumption of this country raised here, and in order that we may find remunerative occupations for the people who come from abroad who are acquainted with the cultivation of this root. I consider it a matter of very essential impor tiince that attention should be directed to it at once. Its introduction in France was from a party who had traveled in Italy, and the people were so gratified at the result of that trial that in one of the provinces of France they erected a monument that now stands overlook in" the district that gives employmentnud profitable occupation to 100s of 1,000s of people. should be glad to award a monument or a reward of merit to any individual in this country that will introduce the article to successful cultivation in the U.S. I send to the desk a bag of the seed of the article that I would have go to the ComAg, that the may see what the article is in the form of seed: The resolution was considered by unanimous consent, and agreed to. J. B. RITTENHOUSI.