Mr. Foulk to Mr. Bayard .
Seoul, Corea , September 4, 1885. (Received October 30.)
Sir: It gives me pleasure to report that the so styled “American farm,” established by His Majesty near Seoul in 1883, upon the return of the Corean embassy from the United States, is in a thrifty, flourishing condition. The farm has been from the beginning under the superintendence of Mr. Chöe-Kyöng-Sök, a Corean military officer, who visited America with the Corean embassy and brought back a supply of seeds presented by the Department of Agriculture.
Last year almost the entire crop of the farm was allowed to go to seed, after a very successful season. Large quantities of all the varieties of seeds were thus obtained, which were later distributed in three hundred and five localities of Corea, accompanied by directions for planting and use; So far as has been learned the farming of these seeds this year has been very successful.
The farm near Seoul this year supplies very creditable quantities of all the common vegetables to the palace and the foreign residents. In this connection I may state that some seven months ago I was informed by the Commissioner of Agriculture that a new lot of seeds would be at once sent to Corea by his Department through the Department of State. To the great disappointment of the Corean Government farmer these did not arrive in time for use in the planting season, nor have they yet arrived.
His Majesty having granted the Government farmer a tract of land to be used for the purposes of breeding and improvement of the native live stock and horses, two lots of the best California breeding animals were purchased by the farmer and arrived in good condition two months ago. These included 2 mares and 1 stallion of the best obtainable blooded stock; 2 Jersey cows and 1 bull; 3 Shetland ponies for the use of the crown prince; 8 pigs and 25 sheep. All these animals are very superior to those of Corea except the cows, which are only superior as milk givers, and have attracted an immense amount of attention. Thus the farm is fairly well stocked with the necessary foreign importations, and but needs the advice of a competent Western farmer to become infinitely beneficial to this country.
While farming is a subject far removed from my profession, and my instructions contain no reference to the possibility of my having to deal with such a subject in Corea, I have felt impelled to advise and assist wherever I could in establishing this farm, as requested from time to time by the Coreans, who are and have been absolutely without any [Page 354] one else to do as they have requested of me. I have all the more willingly assisted through my conviction, formed after unusually extensive travel about the country, that in no other way than by improving their agricultural methods and increasing the amount and variety of agricultural products, by utilizing for adaptable Western products the great amount of upland now lying idle and profitless, can these people be more substantially and lastingly benefited.
I am, &c.,
Ensign, U. S. Navy, Chargé d’Affaires ad interim.