Audubon County Republican. [volume] (Audubon, Audubon Co., Iowa) 1885-1894, 1886-12-09
AGRICULTURAL REPORT.
Progress Of Recent Years, and Results
Of Experiments.
Work OF tho Bureau ofAnimal Indus
try--Pleuro Pneumonia--For-
estry and Other Matters.

WASHINGTON, Dec. 2.-Norman j. Colman,
Commissioner of Agricultural, has submit
ted his second annual report to the President.
He descr bes in general terms the progress
made in agriculture during recent years, and
the conditions which contribute to make this
"the best fed nation on the globe" He sets
forth at length the benefits derived and to be
expected from agricultural experiments. The
stations and colleges of several States are con-
stantly urged to enlarged experiments and
often find themselves striking new leads which
they cannot follow, all for want of means.
Hence the general interest in the bill now be-
fore Congress for the establishment OF agri-
cultural experimental stations in connection
with agricultural colleges and the prevalent
opinion of its importance and the desire for
Its early enactment No measure, he says, Is
now pending or proposed OF greater import or
bearing brighter romise of deep seated and
lasting benefits to the agricultural interests Of
the United States in all their branches.
In commenting upon the work Of the bureau
of animal industry he descr bes the spread of
pleuro-pneumonia and says:
Every effort possible under the existing
laws has been made TO locate the diseased
animals, and isolate all that have been ex-
posed. 1t would have been most fortunate If
every animal exposed to the disease aud liable
to contract II could have been slaughtered
and the contagion thus eradicated. With
disease OF this character at Chicago 1t hes
been truly said that the animal industry OF
tbs country has reached a crisis. Where can
be no doubt that 1t will be soon and widely
disseminated unless prompt and effectual
action can be instituted for its speedy sup
preston. Ev,n now it may have been scat
cred to some extent In the West and the In
vpstigations of the next year will probably
bring other outbreaks to light. This matter
is most important one, overshalowiog In
urgency all others affecting our agricultural
ropu alton, and of vital interest, also, to
every consumer of beef, OF milk, Of butter,
and of cheese To prevent the spread of this
scourage, which has already greatly affected
oar foreign and interstate commerce, add
'onal legislation by Congress Is now essentigl
Much valuable work has alrea ly been done in
Maryland and the danger Of dissemination of
be contaglon from that State has been great
v lessened. No work has been done In the
State of New York. because 1t was evident that
The appropriation was not sufficient to secure
any favorable results there on &C count Of the
Infection. The disease also exists in New
Jersey, Pennsylvania and Virginia, but the
State authorities have not yet accepted the
rules and regulations Of the department of CO.
onerat on. greatly regret the n'c,ssity of
announcing the existence of this dangerous
d sease over such de area, but the serious
suits to be apprehended from 1t make 1t i'm
perative that the truth should be known in Or
der that snch legislative action may be taken
as is indicated by the emergency.
Upon forestry. he says there is practically
no reproduction attempted or forest planting
done worth mentioning In comparison with
the enormous annual consumption.
AS first step of reform, he SAYS, undoubt-
edly the land policy of the United States in
the tlmbered regions requires a change accor-
ding to the conditions of those localities. Be.
sides the good example which the Govern
ment may set in taking better care of its own
timber lands, it might appropriately extend its
operations by planting on a large scale in
bodies of the several contagious sections in
treeless Sites and Territories Of the West
The military reservations in these States own
ed by the general governm MT would form a
most desirable field Of operation. Only by
such extensive planting cen desirable modi-
fcation of the extremes Of climate on the wes-
tern plains be expected.
The commiss 'oner calls attention to the
need Of funds to be used in sending specialists
to foreign countries In response to the invita-
tons to like part in the investigations of all
sorts. He thinks the reports made from the
standpoint of needs Of this country, instead
of from the foreign view, would be very val
liable