New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1889-11-04
MR.. RUSK'S FIRST REPORT.
WHAT THE NEW DEPARTMENT OF AGRI-
CULTURE HAS ACCOMPLISHED.
ITS NEEDS. METHODS, WORK AND ACHIEVE
MENTs OUTLINED BY THE sECRErARY-
SUGGESTIONS TO CoNGREss-THE
BENEFIT OF PROJECTION
SCIENCE AND AGRICULTURE.


SCIENCE AND AGRICULTURE.
washington Nov. s.-The annual report Of the
secretary OF Agriculture, the first issued un-
Ger the newly constructed Department will
De made public tomorrow. The Secretary makes
the usual references to the work OF the several
scientific and other divisions in his Department.
and in addition deals at length with certain plans
for the thorough reorganization OF the Depart.
ment of Agriculture, and suggests several new
features In The interest Of the development OF
agriculture. The report calls attention TO the
fact that the first efforts toward a reorganization
were hampered because the appropriations for
the current fiscal year We're made entirely upon
the basis of the old organization no account
being taken Of the entire change in the status
of the Department. Secretary Rusk insists upon
the necessity for his relief from this embarrass-
ment, and for adequate appropriations to enable
him TO meet what he believes TO be the obligations
Of the Department to the country. The SecietiHy
anticipates portion Of his plan Of reorganiza-
ton in the estimates for the forthcoming fiscal
year. He says that the aggregate sum asked for
in his estimates must not be measured by what
is past but by what a great agricultural
country should do toward sustaining, pro-
tecting and promoting calling which
lies at the foundation Of its prosperity and power'
A striking contrast is drawn between this amount
and the appropriations for agriculture made by
those countries which, the report says. are the
most active competitors of American farmers
in the worlds market A comparison shows that
Great Britain appropriates for agriculture 81 500.
600; Germany, s2,s50,000; Brazil, $4,000, 900
for agriculture and mines; France, $4,000, 900.
and Austria more than 100000. The Secre-
tary finds that the provision for assistant SEQ
to- Al 1ox L. L..
utilized this he says, by dividing the Department
into two grand divisions ono embracing admins.
trative and executive work. the other purely
scientific work.
GETTING THE WORK BEFORE THE PEOPLE.
The problem which presented itself to the Sccre
tary Of getting the results of the work done by
the Department more promptly before the people
has been solved by the establishment OF a new
division, which furnishes promptly to the agri.
cultural and commercial a synopsis of the
main points of every bulletin and report published
by the Department The Secretary expresses graf
ificaton at the results obtained in this
direction through the cordial cooperation OF
the press generally. The Secretary regards the
plan as virtually covering the entire field, for"
he adds, the farmer who does not read some
paper devoted to his calling is beyond the reach OF
intelligent effort on his behalf
The Division Of Statistics, the character and
value of its work, is dweit upon at some length.
OF the crop reporting system, he says -. WhiN
approximate and valuable Gtl is in danger OF be-
coming discredited by the popular acceptance OK
it's results as exact in precision and absolute IN
authority 1t should be remembered that they
are not the conclusions Of thorough census
though they may be far better than the work OF
poor census, that they are the considerations OK
local estimates of agricultural experts and are in
tended as foil to the interested, biased and un'
truthful statements that spectators issue to mis-
lead their Victims
RESOURCES OF THE FAR WEST.
OF the rapid development Of agriculture in the
Rocky Mountain districts, the Secretary says that
the Division Of Statistics has been
directed to investigate their resources.
The results, he adds :" will surprise the Eastern
States with new views of the wealth and progress
of the great American desert of the recent past
The special suggestions in regard to this division
are the cvtension OF local statistical work and
enlargement of the crops of State statisticinns
by the appointment Of one in every State; also,
a comprehensive plan of agricultural surveys
of the States and Territories The intention il
expressed TO adopt some method by which the
relations existing between the Department and its
to secure representation of the Department at
the State and County fairs, I" for" says the
Secretary, everything that tends to a more
intimate acquaintance between the Department
and the farmers throughout the country must
be mutually advantageous
Referring TO the Chemical Division, the report
dwells with special emphasis upon the inadequacy
of the present laboratory facilities, and the
necessity for n special building. The condition
of the sugar industry is reviewed in detail, and
the results declared to be of a mixed character,
in some cases yielding well and in other cases
proving Disappointing The region where the
sorghum sugar industry may be attended with
success has been localized in The southern part
of Central Kansas, west and south Of Wichita,
and in parts OF the Indian Territory.
Special attention is to be given to the develop
ment of varieties of sorghum containing a higher
of available sugar. Important progress haa
already been made in this direction. Many local.
ties in the United States especially in the North
and on the Pacific Coast are known TO be specially
suitable to the production Of sugar beet rich in
saccharine matter. The interest in this subject
developed by the successful experiments in CALI
fornia will be met by the publication during the
coming winter of full report on the beetsugar
industry in the United States.
UTILIZING VARIOUS FIBREs
The Botanical Department is to be specially %
cupicd in an effort to solve the problem Of in
crcasing the forage yield on the 100000, 900 acres
Of the arid region outside Of possible irrigation
by promoting the producuveness Of the grasses
now growing there In regard to textile fbres,
the question now occupying the attention Of the
Department is the utilization of fax, jute ramle
and other fibres all Of which be cultivated in
certain sections Of this country by means OF i'm
provements in machinery such as will do away
with the excessive manual labor incident to ne
preparation for manufacture. special inve'"-
CATION into THIS field OF labor in Europe nov
being made by capable man commissioner ny 'ns
Secretary for that purpose.
In treating Of the office of cxper1mfho soauone