The Sauk Centre herald. (Sauk Centre, Stearns County, Minn.) 1886-current, 1890-11-20
FACTS FOR FARMERS.
SECRETARY RUSk'S SECOND An
NuAL REPORT MADE PUBLIC.

SECRETARY RusKs SECOND An
NuAL REPORT MADE PUBLIC.
Increased Prosperity of ASriculturists
Commented on---Cuitare of the Sugar
tally Recommend ed---The Irrigation
Investigation.
WASHINGTON. Nov. IL. Secretary
Rusk, Of the department of agriculture
begins Lis annual report by calling att
tention to the increased prosperity of
the farmer within the past year. which
he attributes. to great extent to the
silver law. Prices of staple products
Oct, is, 1889, and the same date, 1890,
are given in demonstration of this fact
and show a large increase in every case.
A very large increase in the exporta-
tics of beef and hog products is cited.
The increase IN meat and dairy products
for the year was over $4,000, OO0. Mr..
Rusk says the steps taken to eradicate
pleuro- pneumonia have apparently been
successful. In regard to the new law of
- Live Stock Inspection .,
he says: The necessity of this inspec-
tion is shown by the exclusion of Amer
lean cattle, sheep and swine from Euro
pean markets On the plea of the danger
that disease will be introduced by them.
While this inspection alone might not
be accepted as in all cases giving a COM
plete guaranty against the appearance
of disease during the voyage, it is an
step in this direction and will
give us the means of knowing officially
the condition of the animals as they
leave our ports. In connection with
the inspection recently established by
me at the foreign animal wharves Of
Great Britain, it will also enableius to
trace back animals found to be affected
there, so that the nature of their malady
may be determined, and if found conta-
giouS the proper measures will be en-
forced for its eradication.
-. b. Regarding Beet Sugar.
In Nebraska a large beet sugar fac
tory, capable of using 800 tons of beets
per day, has been erected with the best
modern machinery, and is
now in successful operation. The finest
quality of granulated sugar is produced,
which finds a ready local market.
A careful study Of the soil and eli
matte conditions of the country favor
able to the production of sugar beets
has been made, and those localities in
the United States best adapted for this
purpose have been pointed out. This
area includes a zone of territory extend
ing from the Atlantic to the Pacific
with breadth of from 100 to 200
miles. 1t includes parts of the New
England States, Northern New
York, Northeastern Pennsylvania,
Northern Chic, Indiana, Illinois, Wis
consin, Southern Iowa, parts of Ne
braska and the Dakotas, and large por-
lions of the Rocky Mountain plateaux
and of the Pacific slope. Within these
areas it is confidently believed-and this
belief has been verified by actual pro-
duction of good beets-will be found an
adequate acreage for the production of
sugar on large scale, and from beets
as rich as can be grown in Europe. 1t
is not an idle prophecy to speak of the
production Of a quantity of beet sugar
In the near future to supply one-haf or
more of all the sugar consumed in the
United States.
Flax Culture
in the Northwest receives a hearty ap-
proval from the secretary. He says:
Among the examples of American flax
received by the department are several
fine samples grown in Wisconsin, Min
nesota, Iowa, and on the Pacific coast,
one of which, from the first-named state,
is declared by leading manufactured
to be good enough for even fine linens
A fine sample was also received from
Texas. A beautiful example of linen
thread, grass bleached in New Jersey,
demonstrates that this branch of the
linen industry can be carried on in the
United States as successfully as in
Europe; while the entire linen Ferries
proves conclusively that even fine fax
in any quantity, can be produced in
this country with skill and careful
culture.
AS flax culture is new and untried
thing with many farmers, the DEPART
ment will render all aid in its power
towards re-establishing the cultural
side Of the linen industry.
Artssian Well Irrigation.
After defining the work done BY the
recent irrigation commission in the Da-
kotas, Nebraska and other states, which
was fully published in the report to con-
gress last August, the secretary says:
Taking into consideration the time
this series of reports must
prove to be of decided economic value.
They form positive contribution to the
science of hydrognosy, or the phenomena
Of earth-waters, besides illustrating the
possibility of an extensive agricultural
of such valuable supplies. A
supplementary report relating to earth
waters, other than artesian, as defined
by this investigation, is now being pre-
pared. This report will deal largely
with the evidences of water underlying
The river valleys and uplands of the
Great Plains region, as under-sheet or
and by percolation, seepage,.
and drainage.
A commission is now investigating the,
subterranean water supply of The South
western states. The work is to be COM,
pleted by April so, 1891, and the final
report Of the department is to be sub
nitted to Congress hefoi.a .I11v 1901