Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1890-11-10
NATIONAL CAPITAL.
Interesting Report by the Secretary o1
Agriculture.
THE SILK CULTURE INDUSTRY,
Special Attention Being Paid to the
Insect Pests Which Affect the
Vine and Tree.
jspyc1lI DISPATCHES TO THE RECCRp-UNIoN,
NATIONAL CAPITAL.
THE SILK CULTURE INDUSTRY,
SPECIAL DISPATCHES TO THE REooRD-UNIoN.l !
DEPARTMENT. OF AGRICULTURE
Report of Secretary Rusk for the Fiscal
| Year Ended October 10Th.

Report of Secretary Rusk for the Fiscal
Year Ended October 10th.
WASHINGTON, November 9th.-The Secre-
tary of Agriculture has presented his an
nual report to the President. By compar-
ing the prices at Chicago for October 10Th
of 1890 and 1889, he shows marked in
crease in the values Of agricultural pro-
ducts, especially of cereals. A tabulated
statement of agricultural exports for the
last fiscal year, including live animals, bar
ley, hops, potatoes, hay, cheese, eggs fax
wool, tobacco, wines. etc, the old and new
tariff rates being given for each, indicates
material increase in the import duty on
these articles, and shows each to have been
imported in considerable quantities.
The Secretary says that without ignoring
the effects of natural causes in enhancing
values, it is evident that the economic leg
islation OF the last session of Congress has
directly benefited the farmers, the i'm
proved value of cereals, as he believed, be-
ing largely due to the silver legislation,
which, moreover, has lessened the influence
of Russia and India, our wheat competi-
tors in the British market.
Our increased export trade in cattle and
animal products-another cause for con-
gratulation-he traces to the energetic and
effective measures adopted for the eradica-
ton of pleuro- pneumonia and to the grow
ing appreciation at home and abroad of the
Departments ability to suppress or ef-
fectuslly control contagious animal dis
eases. He declares that not single case
of contagious pleuro-pneumonia has been
alleged to exist among American cattle
shipped to British ports since March last.
A similar energy has been directed to our
pork interests.
The Secretary recommends an inspection
law, more comprehensive than the present
one, for all animals slaughtered for inter-
state or foreign trade.
The outlook for the home sugar industry
is considered favorable. An analysis by
the Department Chemist of beets grown in
various States from seed distributed last
spring indicate high per cent. of sugar,
and sfford what is regarded as conclusive
proof that large sections of the country are
adapted to the successful culture of sugar
beets. The practical results obtained in
Nebraska and Kansas, he says, demon
strate the feasibility of homegrown sugar
manufacture.
In the Bureau of Animal Industry ar
rangements have been perfected for dairy
division, the establishment of which was
delayed somewhat by lack of necessary
legislation. Cooperation with experiment
StdllOuS DdS USetl Ou tilS llD-
portaut lines, including experiments with
grasses in and regions and trial of new
economic plants, collection of agricult-
nral statistics of reports of growing crops,
and of the probably supply of staple pro.
ducts in the markets of the world.
SILK CULTURE.
The production of raw silk as an indig-
enous industry is referred to in not very
80,
is emphasized by reference to the imports
of raw silks, which have largely increased
during the year. He says:
81 stated in my LAST report that in regard
10 silk culture the real question to be de-
termined as to the possibility of establish
ing this industry in the United States, is
that which concerns the reeling of silk and
conversion of cocoons into a marketable
thread. While have looked for assistance
in the solution of this problem and the i'm
provement of machinery for reeling silk, /
have nevertheless become quite convinced
that even with such machinery perfected,
it would be necessary for the manufact-
urers to have some encouragement, either
in the shape of duty on imported raw silk.
or bounty for such as might be produced
in the United States.
1.-THE importance of this subject, and
the desirability of establishing such an in
dustry, are beyond dispute, and as though
to strengthen its claim on behalf of home
grown silk, we find great increase, nearly
% per cent. in imports of manufactured
silk during the last fiscal year over the pre-
ceding one, the imports of this product for
the fiscal year ending June so, 1889, being
in value $40 333 ,229 and for the fiscal year
ending June 30, 1890, $24, ,331. 1857. Under
those circumstances, confess that it would
be source of great regret to me to see the
abandonment Of all efforts looking to the
establishment of silk raising in the United
States, but | cannot but reiterate my con-
viction that to all improvement in me-
chanical devices which American inge-
nuity can bring about, must be added the
benefit of legislative encouragement.
Should some bill embodying this idea be-
come law during the coming winter, it
will afford me great pleasure to be the in
sirument for executing it, anu creating for
this industry a brighter outlook than at
present exists
FRUIT INDUSTRY.
The division of vegetable pathology is
the first agency in this country to intro
duce the use of fungicides for grape dis
eases, and il is estimated as a result of its
work that nearly 5000 grape-growers in all
parts of the country treated their vine.
yards for mildew and black-rot in 1890,
and the amount of fruit saved in this way
will vary from so to 90 per cent. of the
crop.
The laboratory work has been pushed
forward with vigor, the principal subjects
under investigation being peach yellow,
the California grape disease, pear blight,
cotton disease, bacterial disease of oats and
so. called 'rots' of sweet potatoes.
The laboratory investigations Of the Cal
ifornia grape disease have been mainly in
the line of psychological study of the dis
eased parts of vine, supplemented by inoc-
ulation experiments with view to de-
termining the contaminous and non-con
taminous nature of the malady. Numerous
facts bearing on this subject have been ac-
cumulated, and these will be shortly en-
bodied, together with the result Of the
field observations and experiments, in a
report soon to be published
ION May of this year special agent en-
gagged in this work asked, and was granted,
leave of absence without pay for six
months, in order that he might visit
France, Spain, Italy and Northern Africa
r@F srf1 II, -. L..