The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1889-11-13
Secretary Rusk'S Report.

The annual report of the Secretary of
Agriculture, the first issued under the
newly constructed department. reviews
the past work and suggests new features
in connection with the reorganization
of the department. Tie new division,
which furnishes promptly to the press a
synopsis of the main points Of every
bulletin and report, virtually covers the
whole field, "for," the Secretary adds,
.lhe farmer who does not need some
paper devoted to his calling is beyond
the reach OF intelligent effort in his be-
half" The result of the Investigations
of the rapid development of agriculture
in the Rocky Mountain districts will,
surprise the Eastern States with new
views of the wealth and progress of the
great American desert of the recent
past. The sugar industry has in some
cases yielded well and in other cases
proved disappointing. Sorghum is "a sue
cess in Central Kansas. Experimental
work devoted to the development OF
productive grass for the Southern States.
Special Investigations sSre being made
into the Civilizations slpf- -ttax~jJssse
ramie and other fibres. The Secretary
recommends that three hundred acres
of the Arlington estate be set apart for
the testing of new varieties of fruits and
other experimental work. A supply of
fine varieties of Mediterranean wheat
and also of Bermuda grass seed have
peen ordered from Europe, the latter
being designed specially for the South
ern States. The Secretary says the il
brary and museum of the department
could be put OIL creditable footing:
The department received and answered
nearly 100000 letters of inquiry in the
nine months ended October 80. Agri-
cultural organizations, and particularly
farmers Institutes, are referred to as
strong evidences of the growth OF the
spirit of self-help among farmers, and
the Secretary is in favor of aiding them.
Pleuro- pneumonia is under control, being
restricted to Kings and Queens Counties
in New York State, to New Jersey,
and a limited section in each OF
the States Of Pennsylvania and Ma
ryland. and the Secretary has the
most sanguine hopes of the proxlmate
complete eradication of the disease.
Texas fever is generally spread through
the channels of Interstate Commerce,
and therefore, can only be controlled by
the Federal government, for which leg
islation is necessary. The Secretary
pointedly and vigorously advocates
national meat inspection law. The dis
ease experiment station should be moved
to the Arlington estate and thoroughly
equipped. A series OF works on animal
diseases is promised. The dairy in,er-
est is to haSea special division devoted
to Ii. Poultry is also to receive more
attention from the department. As to
wool growing, the Secretary deplores
the reduction Of the tariff IN 1883. 10
it is attributed the great reduction III
the number of sheep, which has since
then fallen off by about seven million
head, while the importation Of wool
has increased from 7S,35O,6?1 pounds
in 1864 to 1875, ,4S7, ,729 pounds
the past year. "On behalf of this
industry" says the Secretary, II
recommend these facts to you, and
should they be submitted TO Congress |
ask for them intelligent and careful con-
slderation.' In conclusion the Secre-
tary shows that agriculture in this coun-
try produces an annual yield of nearly
four thousand million dollars, employ.
ing on the FIVE million farms ten million
persons, representing a population OF
thirty million people, while the value of
live Stock alone is estimated at S2,501,-
O0O, 900. Referring to agricultural de-
preston, the Secretary insists that the
farmer is entitled to the fullest enjoy
meni, compatible with the rights of his
citizens, Of the benefit of his pro-
tectiye system. For all such articles as
our own soil can produce, the farmer
Justly asks the protection which will
insure to him all the benefits OF our
home market. The report concludes:
':The great nations of Europe strain
every nerve to make science the hand
maid of war. Let it be the glory' OF the
American people to make science the
handmaid of agriculture.