Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1885-11-30
OUR AGRICULTURAL INTERESTS.
Commissioners C0lman Calls Attention
to the Destruction Of the Forests.
HE RECOMMENDS LEGISLATION AGAINST FRAU
DULENT BUTTER.

Commissioner Colman, OF the Department of
Agriculture. in his annual report, which he has
submitted to the President, says that the year,
which opened in gloom over the threatened
destruction of the winter crops by frost closes
with bright prospects of abundance for man
and beast, produced, too, at a cost which is not
a burden to the producer, and to be sold at
price which is not a barrier TO the poor consul
mer. The restrictions upon foreign commerce
from the existence of contagious disease among
cattle has been a great burden, and the reduc-
ton in the value Of cattle in the affected states
has been enormous The experiments to check
the enormous waste of sugar in the milling pro-
cess are described. Important Investigations
in food adulteration are being made, and 1t is
proposed TO extend them. The work in respect
to silk culture has been much extended.
The statistics compiled by the department for
the present year shows an estimated increase
during the past fifteen years in corn of 81 ,OOO,-
goo goo acres; or SO per cent; in wheat Of 10000,
900 acres or los per cent in oats of 13, DOC, 600
acres, or LAP per cent; in all cereals taken to.
gether 67,OOO,OOO acres, or 81 per cent. The
average estimated product of the principal food
crops fthe last five years is compared with the
average of the ten years preceding, from 1870
10 1879, inclusive, showing an enormous an
nual increase in the aggregate as well as per
acre.
The commissioner says efforts should be
made at once to arouse and enlishten
the people as to the dangers which threaten
us through the destruction OF the forests.
"Arbor days" should be instituted i'm all states,
anu Ills SCIENCE Oh FORESTRY SnOulu DE III
The schools, and organization of local and state
forestry societies encouraged. The report OF the
consumption of forests shows that it requires
nearly seventeen million acres of woodland, or
per cent OF the woodland area of the country,
exclusive OF Alaska. to supply ties for the rail-
roads. He says it has become "A question
whether railroad companies might not see il to
their interest to plant trees along their road
ways or on land adapted to the purpose.
There has been an unparalleled increase dur
ing the past few years OF the manufacture and
sale OF various com pounds of animal fats. vege-
table oils and other substances, which are
fraudulently represented to the public as but
ter, threatening the destruction of the leglti-
mate dairy business. 1t is not competition
which is deprecated, but the stimulation of true
dairy products, the adoption of misleading
names, the use of impure substances, and the
dishonest sale at high rates of products OF little
value, which demoraliZe trade, defraud honest
industry and deceive the buyer. The commits
sioner earnestly recommends the prompt pas
sage by Congress OF a stringent law to prevent
the continuance of the business except under
regulations, and its enforcement placed under
the control of the internal revenue depart
ment.
In conclusion, he says, 81 beg to representthat
the Department of Agriculture, growing in inn
pOrtance and usefulness our agricultural
population increases and its wants and necessi-
ties multiply, should obviously be progressive
creaSing demads made upon it. 1t is for the
legislative branch to determine how far the i'm
portance shall be recognized, and with what
powers it shall be clothed to enable it To par
TALLY meet the obligation which country
always owes to its agriculture