The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1889-11-30
MR.. RUSK'S FIRST REPORT.

and the first issued under
the newly constructed department, was
made public on Monday. The Secretary
makes the usual references to the work
of the several scientific and other divs
ions in his department, and in addition
he deals at length with certain plans for
the thorough reorganization of the De
partment of Agriculture, and suggests
several new features in the interest of
the development of agriculture. The re
port calls attention to the fact that the
first efforts toward a reorganization were
because of the surprising fact
that the appropriations for the current
fiscal year were made entirely upon the
basis of the old organization, no account
being taken of the entire change in the
status of the department. A striking
contrast is drawn between this amount
and the apprr priations for agriculture
made by those countries which the re
port says ''are the most active competi-
tors of American farmers in the worlds
market" A comparison shows that
Great Britain appropriates for agricnl
ture. 81. 500 900; Germany. s., $50, 900;
Brazil, 50 600, 900 for agriculture and
mines; France. $S.000,000 and Austria
more than $4,000,000.
The Secretary tinds that the provision
for an assistant secretary in the new law
was wise one, and he has utilized this,
he says, by taxing advantage of the Pres
ldent's choice in selecting gentleman,
"com bining IA knowledge of scientific
agriculture with trained executive abil-
i:y," to divide the Department into two
grand divisions one embracing admins
nd II fhD az n,
purely scientific work.
Many localities in the United States,
in the North and on the Pacific
coast, are known to be specially suitable
to the production OF a sugar beet Itch in
saccharine matter. The interest in this
subject developed by the successful ex-
periments in California will be met by
the publication during the coming winter
of full report on the beet sugar indus
try in the United States.
THE SEED DIVISION
has received the Secretary's special atten-
ton, and he announces some changes in
the manner of purchasing seeds, and his
to closely observe the pro
ducts of other countries, in order that
the seeds of such as are found to possess
singular excellence may be secured and
with in this country. The
of a competent expert is also
one who can efficiently
perform the inspection and nomenclature
of cereals. A supply of five varieties of
wheat. and also of Der
muda grass seed have been ordered from
Europe, the latter being specially de-
signed for the Southern states.
The subject of agricultural OrganiZa-
tions is dwelt upon earnestly, their as
growth during the past few
years being cited as strong evidence OF
the growth of the spirit of self help |
among the farmers. The farmers iusti-
tutes are referred to particularly as one
of the greatest movements i'll the history
of agriculture, and as the strongest lever
for raising and unfolding the work OF
superior agricultural education repre-
sented by our system of agricultural col
leges and experiment stations. The Sec
rotary recommends, without going into
details, that the department should be |
to afford aid and encourage
ment to this work.
MEAT INSPECTION.
The language used by the Secretary in |
regard to national meat inspection law |
is pointed and vigorous. The necessity |
For inspection at time of slaughter is;
first, to enable the authorities TO prompt |
y locate any cattle disease ceuters, and |
secondly, to avoid the anomaly of leav-
ng the inspection of our meat products
20 the officials of other countries, thus
giving foreign governments some show
IF reason Tor the claim that they have
better opportunities for learning OF
disease among American cattle than are
,njoyed by our own government. He ac-
,ordiugly advocates ''such an amendment
% the law under which the bureau is at
organized, as will provide for
such official national inspection as shall
guarantee the fitness of our meat pro
iucts for food consumption under the
zeal of the United States government"
Authority and means are also desired
o enable the department to exercise a
lose supervision of the economic side OF
he cattle markets, the characteristics of |
took commanding the highest price, var
ations as to age, weight and quality, and
III facts bearing upon the cattle industry,
which will enable the bureau to supply |
o farmers such information as it is i'm
possible for them to obtain for them
elves.
WOOL AND SHEEP.
The sheep and wool industry receives
pecial consideration in the report. The
,rowth of the mutton interest is referred
o as one to be greatly encouraged. As
0 wool growing, the reduction of the
ariff in 1888 is earnestly daplored. To
is attributed the great reduction in the
lumber of sheep, which has since then
allen off by about seven million head.
While the importation of wool has in
reased from rs, $50, 651 pounds. in 1884
o 1876, 4S7. 727 pounds the past year. "On
ehalf of this industry" says the Sectre
airy, 81 recommend these facts to you,
nd should they be submitted to Con
ress ask for them intelligent and care
III consideration.
In conclusion, the report submits figures
howing the importance of agriculture,
7hich produces an annual yield of nearly
our Thousand million dollars, employing
n the five million farms ten million per-
ons, representing population of thirty
Million people, while the value OF like
took alone IS esl mated at 50 507, 900, 900. |
hat agriculture uuderlies all other in
ustries, it alone making our vast com
lerce possible and rendering the product
I our mines valuable, assigns to it the
rst place in considering the we'll being
nd prosperity OF our country. Referring
} agricultural depression, the report
oes not undertake the delicate duty of I
UT legislators in diagnosing its causes
nd analyzing proposed panaceas, but
ne right of the farmer to the fullest
njoyment compatible with the rights of
is fellow citizens, of the benefi of the {
system. which is a Tock-rooted {
Iinciple OF the Republican party, is
arnestly Insisted upon. For all such t
rticles as Our own soil can produce, the I
lrmer justly asks the protection which
i'll insure to him all the benefits of our s
ONE market"
The Department of Agriculture is an
ther of those agencies, already in {
which must be theoretically
nd jjudicously directed to aid the farmer
y supplying such an application of
,ience to agriculture as will enable him,
.pidly growing in intelligence and SELF
clip as he is, to increase the yield of r
very tillable acre fifty per cent, and to t
realty increase the area OF tillabe land.
he report concludes with this earnest
xhortation: "The great nations of
Europe strain every nerve to make