The Dallas daily herald. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1873-1887, 1885-07-15
NATIONAL NEWS NOTES.
LEAVES OF ABSENCE REDUCED.
Also Milage in the Navy-An Old Timer
Resigns-Appointments-A Black
Man Named Green Becomes
Chroo,c-GeneraiT Items.

What Dodge Knows About Farming
WASHINGTON, July A.-Some sd.
verse criticism of the governments ag-
riculture reports has called forth a
statement from Professor j. r. Dodge,
the statistical reporter of the Agricui-
tural Bureau. He says, in part:
at is not the province of an official
statistical service either to advance
or depress prices, but to tell
the truth. 1t Is repeated
ly proven that Misrepresentation
OF crop productions inures only to the
advantage off tho Speculator or wealthy
purchaser. Honesty is the best policy
for farmers in crop reporting. With
reference to tho wheat reports of
this spring, there is some
dissatisfaction on the part of speculat-
ing or dyspepttc extremists, There
always is. Either they do not want
the truth or they cannot use it when
materfslized. Calm, well-bal-
anced observers of the sta
tistical situatoDs Qike sQme
commercial and agricultural editors
whom 1t ls unnecessary to name), give
results nearly identical with ours.
Though really possessing and using
extensively original facilities for crop
reporting, they will continue to do
SO and next year all, including
the bureaus of the spectators
themselves, will quote confidential
ly and use for comparison the
official records as usual. Tho charge
of & reduction of one.half In our
indications from April to June,
by some critics is a
looeners Of statement
which has no foundation in fact.
The Grst report OF winter wheat,
made on the first of April, before tho
growth had commenced on d part
Of the area, and when several
States were covered in part by snow,
indicated probable reduction Of
93,OOO,OOO bushels, as compared
with the previous crop. This
was the least estimate ever
made in April. 1t voiced the opinions
of farmers in tho apparent status of
the crop at that date, but 1t stated fur
ther. "The real status of the crop will
be better shown q month hence, whom
the vitality of the roots has been
demonstrated and the character OF the
spring determined"
ON the LIST OF May, after an unfavora.
Die April, when the plant had pro-
crossed sufficiently to show the real
injury by freezing, the indication
pointed to crop OF 240, 900, 900 bushels;
a reduction of 23,000, 900 only.
On the LIST OF June the returns showed
that the discouraged farmers had
plowed up millions of acres
Of damaged grain In the
nope OF more profitable crop
OF corn, oats or other grain, thus re-
ducing the prospect again, for much of
TINS area would have brought par
tial crop.
The June returns showed promise
OF 2O7,OOO,0OO bushels-a reduction of
o6,OOO,OO0 bushels from the April
prospect, which was fully JUS
tilted by the fuller revelations
Of winter injuries, the bad weather OF
April and May aud the substitution OF
other crops on an immense area OF in
nred wheat. 1t IS reduction of
li9,OOO,OOO bushels froIl the winter
wheat report OF 1884, or most ~ per
per cent, of which over 26
per cent. was reported on
The lst of April. Less than
~ per cent. OF this reduction isthe diff
terence between april and June, due
10 the weather, substitution of other
crops for half of tho DESTROYED
acreage, and palmer demonstration
Of the holf-concealed injury to the
roots at tho date Of the 1st of April
N the northern latitude. 1t
g fair, just and reasonable
difference, which proves the in
accuracy OF judgment of our
observers, and puts to shame
ho efforts for distortion and misropre.
Ientation INDUCED by ignorance and
he speculative greed.
"Before dismlssing this subject, II
nay be well to say for the information
If all honest inquirers as to tho
,Ntent and efficiency of tho
department. system, that it includes
moro than 200 boards OF observers, is in
is many counties, farmers OF expert
nee and judgment, representative
nen of public spirit and promoters
II Intelligent agriculture In their
loighborhoods, and not stipendiarles
lamoring for plttancs of official