West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1889-11-14
OUR FARMING INTERESTS.
First Annual Report of the
Department OF Agriculture.
a Summary of Secretary Rusk's
Facts and Suggestions.

The annual report OF the Secretary OF Ag-
ficulturo-tho first issued under the newly
constructed department-has been made pub
lie. Secretary Rusk says that the aggregate
sum asked for i'm his estimates must not DO
measured by what is past but by what n
great agricultural country should do toward
Sustaining, protecting and promoting n
calling which lies at the foundation OF its
prosperity and power" or those countries
which "are tho most active competitors OF
American farmers In the worlds Market"
Great Britain appropriates for agriculture
,500,0O0; Germany, $2,S50,OO0; Brazil.
20,OOOOOO: for agriculture and mines;
France, 5000, oo0 and Austria moro than
81, 600 600.
Of the crop reporting system, he says:
while approximate and valuable Il is I'm dan
ger OF becoming discredited by the popular
acceptance of its results as exact I'm precision
and absolute authority. ltshould bc remem-
berod that they are not the conclusions of n
thorough census. though they may be far bot
ter than tho work OF n poor census; they are
the consultations of local estimates OF agri-
cultural exports, aud are intended as foil To
the interested biased and untruthful state
mcnts that spectators issue TO mislcad their
victimsn
The report urges the duty OF the Govern
ment 10 assume more definite supervision
of such forest areas as arc still owned by it
and as occupy position of Importance I'm tho
Iekulhtlon Oh WNtei iioW ana Oh otnef cnfnntlc
conditions, and emphasizes the Importance of
the relations which the forests bear 10 the
problem of irrigation i'm tho arid lands and Of
their immense annual product
The subject of agricultural organizations
IL dwelt upon earnestly, their astonishing
growth during the past few years being cited
as strong evidence of the growth Of the spir
10 OF sclf-help among tho farmers The
farmers institutes are referred TO particular
ly as one of tho greatest movements In the
history aIn as,1 he
lever for raising and upholding tine work OF
superior agricultural education represented
by our system of agricultural colleges and
experiment stations The Secretary recon-
mends, without going into details, that the
department should be empowered to afford
aid and encouragement 10 this work
The sheep and wool industry secures spe-
cial consideration i'm the report. The
growth of the mutton interest is referred To-
as one 20 be greatly encouraged. As Co wool
growing, the reduction of the tariff In 1883 II
earnestly dcplored To IL is attributed the
great reduction In the number OF sheep,
which has since then fallen of by about
seven million head. while the importation OF
! wool has increased from ~, $50, ,65i pounds in
1884 10 126, 4ST,729 pounds the past year.
"On behalf OF this industry says the Becre-
tary, II recommend these facts TO you, and
should they be submitted TO Congress, / ask
for them intelligent and careful considera-
tion.n
The condition OF the sugar industry Is re-
viewed In detail, and the results declared TO
be of n mixed character. The region where
the sorghum sugar industry may be attended
with success has been localized I'm the south
ern part of Central Kansas, west and south
of Wichita, and in parts Of the Indian Ter
rltory resembling IL In soil and climate. The
Secretary Is seeking variety with q higher
amount Of available sugar.
The botanical department IL 10 be specially
occupied in an effort TO solve the problem Of
increasing the forage yield on tho 800, OO0, O00
acres OF the arid region outside OF possible ir-
| riRation by promoting the productivcEess Of
| the grasses now growing there.
The language used by the Secretary I'm re-
| gard 20 n national meat inspection law IL
| pointed and vigorous THE necessity for
| inspection at the time of slaughter Is, first,
| 20 enable the authorities 10 promptly locate
any cattle disease centres and, second TO
| avoid the anomaly of leaving the inspection
OF our own meat products 20 the officials of
other countries, thus giving foreign Govern
ments some show OF reason for the claim
| that they have better opportunities for learn
| ing Of disease among American cattle than
are enjoyed by our own Government He
accordingly advocates 'such an amendment
| 20 the law under which the bureau is at pres
ent organized as will provide for such official
national inspection as shall guarantee the fit-
ness Of our meat products for food CON
sumption, under the scale of the United States
COurtsp