The National Agricultural Library (NAL) was created with the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) in 1862 and designated a national library in 1962. Located in Beltsville, Maryland, on the grounds of the USDA's Beltsville Agricultural Research Center, NAL is home to one of the world's largest collections devoted to agriculture and related sciences. Since the library has a dual role to serve the public and the USDA, it is committed to expanding online access to its collections. Many of the library's resources and treasures can also be accessed through the NAL Digital Collections.
This online collection features selected catalogs from American nursery companies. For an overview of the entire collection, visit the Henry G. Gilbert Nursery and Seed Trade Catalog Collection, a part of the National Agricultural Library's Special Collections.
The annual report on agriculture began in 1837 with a 2-page statement in the report of the Commissioner of Patents, and formed part of his report until the Dept. of Agriculture was established in 1862. Starting in 1862, the annual report was issued as the Report of the Commissioner of Agriculture. In 1889, the title changed to the Report of the Secretary of Agriculture. No report for 1846 and 1991.
The National Agricultural Library (NAL) was created with the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) in 1862 and designated a national library in 1962. Located in Beltsville, Maryland, on the grounds of the USDA's Beltsville Agricultural Research Center, NAL is home to one of the world's largest collections devoted to agriculture and related sciences. Since the library has a dual role to serve the public and the USDA, it is committed to expanding online access to its collections. Many of the library's resources and treasures can also be accessed through the NAL Digital Collections.