, 1890-11-13
AGRICULTURAL NEEDS
Secretary Rusk's Report to
the President.
BENEFIT OF THE LINEN TARIFF
7, Will Make a Home Flax Mar
ket-Growth Of Sugar
Beets.

WAsutYoroN, Now lo.--The secretar
of agriculture has presented his annual
report to the president BY comparing
prices ut Chicago for October 10 of 1890
and of 1889, he shows a marked increase
I'm values of agricultural products,
especialIy of cereals. a tabulated state.
\ ment OF agricultural exports for the
Inst fiscal year including live animals,
barley, hay, potatoes, hops, cheese,
eggs, flax, wool, tobacco wines, etc,
old and new tariff rates being given for
each. indicates a material increase In
the import duties on these articles
and shows each to have been imported
In considerable quantities. The secre-
tary asserts that, without ignoring the
effects OF natural causes enhancing
values, it is evident the economic
legislation of the last session OF
congress has directly benefited the
farmers, tho improved value of
cereals, as he believes, being largely due
TO silver legislation, which forever has
lessoned the influence of Russia and
India, our wheat competitors, in British
markets.
our increased export trade in cattle
and animal products is another cause of
congratulatlon.
lie speaks of the energetic and ef.
iec,ive measures adopted for the eradi-
: cation OF pIeuro-pneumonia and to
the growing appreciation at home and
abroad of the department ability to
suppress OF eilectually control conta-
Gious animal diseases. He declares that
not a single case OF contagious pleuro-
pneumonia has been alleged to exist
among American cattle shipped to Brit
ish ports since March. Similar energy
has been directed to our pork interests.
The secretary strongly recommends an
inspection law, more comprehensive
than the present one, of all animals
slaughtered for interstate or foreign
trade.
Tho outlook for home sugar industry
is considered favorable. Analysis by
tho department chemist OF beets grown
In various states from seed distributed
last spring indicate a high per cent. of
sugar, and afford what is regarded as
conclusive proof that large sections of
the country are adapted to the success
ful culture of the sugar beet. The prac-
tical results obtained in Nebraska and
Kansas, he said, demonstrated the feasi-
biiity OF home grown sugar manufact-
ure.
In bureau of animal industry, arrange
ments are perfected for the dairy diyis-
ion the establishment of which was
delayed somewhat by lack of necessary
legislation, The cooperation with ex.
pertinent stations has been undertaken
on important lines, on experiment with
grass In the arid regions and trial OF
the new economic plants, a collection of
agricultural statistics of the report
OF the growing crops and of the proba
bic supply oil staple products in the
markets OF the world.
The production Of raw silks as an In.
dlgenous industry Is referred to in not
very encouraging terms, though Its i'm
portance is emphasized by reference to
imports of raw silks, which have
largely increased during the year. and
are valued for the year at upward of
s2i, 100000 but necessity for favorable
legislation as well as Tor Improvements
III machinery is insisted upon. En-
couraging words are spoken with refer
ence to flax culture. Secretary Rusk
believing the recent changes in the
iarlu on linens will serve to encourage
manufacturers to provide II market for
home grown flax.
Irrigation and artesian supply OF water
arc made subjects of special reference.
Reference is made to the forthcoming
transfer of the weather bureau to the de-
partment of agriculture, with the declar-
alion oil the secretary's desire to widen
the present scope oil the bureau to in
crease its benefits to agriculture. He
also insists strongly upon the necessity
Tor more frequent representation of the
department at the meetings of agriCult-
ural and kindred societies. The possi-
bility of serving corn growers through
out the country by extending the market
ior indian corn in other countries has
engaged the secretarys attention,
with the result that he has ap-
pointed special agent abroad, have
ing special qualifications for this
du'y, to investigate and report upon the
possibilities of promoting the consump-
uon OF Indian corn in European coun-
uies. In concluding the report he says;
careful review OF the past year ana q
general survey of the agricultural field
to'uhy betoken marked improvement
III the condition oi our agriculture and
Promises fair tor their future well-being
nc ends by declaring that he looks for
Ward with confidence to the time when
III ihe high quality Of its work, as well
as III the magnitude of Its enterprise,
agriculture, OF all other industries in
u'is country, shall be the leader.
RuRknr II UISCnuN