The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1889-11-20
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-
riculture-tbe first issued under the newly
constructed ddepartment-has been made pub
lie. Secretary Rusk says that the aggregate
SUN asked for in his estimates must not be
measured by what is past, but by what
great agricultural country should do toward
sustaining, protecting and promoting a
calling which lies at the foundation OF its
prosperity and power" OF those countries
which .tare the most active competitors Of
American farmers in the worlds market"
Great Britain eppropriates for agriculture
81, ,500.0 600; Germany, S2,s50, 600: Brazil,
SO, 900, 600: for agriculture and mines;
France, IS, ,0OO, 000 and Austria more than
$4,000 600.
Of the crop reporting system, he says:
''WhiIe approximate and valuable it is in dam
ger of becoming discredited by the popular
acceptance of its results as exact in precision
and absolute authority. 1t should be remem-
bered that they are not the conclusions of a
thorough census, though they may be far bet
ter than the work of a poor census; they are
the consultations of local estimates of agri-
cultural experts, and are intended as foil to
the interested, biased and untruthful state
ments that speculators issue to mislead their
victims"
Thereport urges the duty of the Govern
ment to assume a more definite supervision
of such forest areas as are still owned by 1t
and as occupy position of Importance in the
regulation of water flow and Of other climatic
conditions, and emphasizes theimportance OF
the relations which the forests bear to the
problem of irrigation in the arid lands and OF
their immense annual product.
The subject of agricultural organizations
is dwelt upon earnestly, their astonishing
growth during the past few years being cited
as strong evidence of the growth of the splr-
it of self-help among the farmers The
farmers institutes are referred to particular
ly as one Of the greatest movements in the
history of agriculture, and as the strongest
lever for raising and upholding the work OF
superior agricultural education represented
by our system of agricultural colleges and
experiment stations. The Secretary recon-
lnends, without going into details, that the
department should be empowered to afford
aid and encouragement to this work.
The sheep and wool industry secures spe-
cial consideration in the report. The
growth of the mutton interest is referred to
as one to be greatly encouraged. As to wool
growing. the reduction of the tariff in 1883 is
earnestly deplored. To it is attributed the
great reduction in the number OF sheep,
which has since then fallen off by about
seven million head, while the importation of
wool hes increased from 7S, 350, 651 pounds in
1854 to 6,4S7, 100 pounds the past year.
lon behalf of this industry" says the Secre..
tary, II recommend these facts to you, and
should they be submitted to Congress, ask
for them intelligent and careful consldera-
tion.'
The condition of the sugar industry is re-
viewed in detail and the results declared to
be of q mixed character. The region where
the sorghum sugar industry may be attended
with success has been localized in the south
ern part of Central Kansas west and south
of Wichita, and in parts of the Indian Ter
ritory resembling it in soil and climate. The
Secretary is seeking a variety with higher
amount of available sugar.
The botanical department Is to be specially
occupied in an effort to solve the problem OF
increasing the forage yield on the SOC, 00o0 0oo
acres of the arid region outside of possible II.
rigation by promoting the productiveness OF
he grasses now growing there.
The language used by the Secretary IN re-
eard to a national meat inspection law is
pointed and vigorous. THE necessity for
inspection at the time of slaughter is, first,
to enable the authorities to promptly locate
any cattle disease centres, and, second, TO
avoid the anomaly of leaving the inspection
Of our own meat products to the officials OF
pther countries, thus giving foreign Govern
nents 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
10 the law under which the bureau is at pres.
rnt organized as will provide for such off1clal
national inspection as shall guarantee the Mt
ness of our meat products for food con-
sumption, under the seal of the United State.