Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1893-12-04

| off of about % per cent from the preceding
year, the decrease occurring entirely in the
last half of the year. This suggests that
the falling off may have been largely due
to an increase in the price of American ex-
port cattle.
During the year ending June 80. 1898,
exports of inspected pork aggregated 90
6H.41o pounds as against 3S,152,S74 pounds
for the preceding year. The falling off in
this export was not confined however, to
| inspected pork, the total quantity exported
for 1892 being 665.490.616 pounds, while in
| 1893 1t was only 52T, 30S, 695 pounds
| join the Secretary in recommending that
hereafter each applicant for the position of
inspector or assistant inspector in the bu-
reau or animal industry be required as a
CONDITION precedent to his appointment, to
eXhiplt TO the United States civil service
commission his diploma from an established
regular and reputable veterinary college,
and that this be supplemented by such an
examination in veterinary science as the
commission may prescribe
| Inc exports OF agricultural products from
the United States for the fiscal year ending
June ., lS92, attained the enormous figure
or SSOO,OOO,O0O, in round numbers. being
| 1874 per cent of our total exports. In the
last hscal year this aggregate was greatly
reduced, but, nevertheless, reached 6l5 mill
Ions, being I5.1 per cent of all American
commodities exported
| Agricultural Exports.
| "A review OF our agricultural exports with
special reference to their destination will
show that in almost every line the United
Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland alb
serbs by far the largest proportion. or the
cattle the total exports aggregated in value
Tor the fiscal year ending June 80 1893,
s@oooo,OoO, of which Great Britain took con-
sideraply over $25,OO0,0O0 OF beef products
Oh all KINDS our total exports were S2SOOO-
ooo, OF which Great Britain took $24 900 600
VI pork products the total exports were
| Sof,oVo,ooo, or which Great Britain took
$oS'ooo,OOO. In bread-stuffs, cotton, and mi
nor products like proportions sent to the
same destination are shown
| Inc work of the Statistical Division of
the Department of Agriculture deals with
all that relates to the economics of farm
ing.
| Inc main purpose of it's monthly reports
Is TO Keep the farmers informed as fully as
possible of all matters having any influence
upon the worlds markets, in which their
products find sale. Its publications relate
especially to the commercial side of farm
ing.
|
and vital concern to the farmers Of the
United States. who represent nearly one
| half OF our population, and also of direct
interest to the whole country, that the
work of this division be efficiently perform
ed and that the information it has gath
cred be promptly diffused.
| 1t is matter for congratulation to know
| that the Secretary will not spare any effort
to make this part of his work thoroughly
useful.
In the year 1889 the Congress appropri-
ated 81 ,OOO to be taken from the Patent Of
nee FUNDS for the purpose of collecting and
distributing rare and improved varieties of
| seeds and for prosecuting agricultural in
vestfSations and procuring agricultural sta
| tistics. From this small beginning the Seed
| Division of the Department of Agriculture
has grown to its present unwieldy and un-
justifably extravagant proportions
During the last fiscal year the cost of
seeds purchased was s665iS.61. The re-
mainder of an appropriat ton of s135OOO was
expended in putting them up and distribut-
| ing them. 1t surely never could have en-
tered the minds Of those who first sanction
ed appropriations of public money for the
purchase Of new and improved varieties of
seeds for gratuitous distribution that from
|
purchase and distribution by members of
Congress Of ordinary seeds. bulbs. and cut
tings which are common in all the States
and Territories and everywhere easily OBJ
tainable at low prices.
| Experiment Stations.
| In each State and Territory an agricu,-
tural experiment station has been establish
ed. These stations. by their very character
a fhn
pertinent with and test new varieties of
seeds; and yet this indiscriminate and
wasteful distribution by legislation and
legislators. answering no purpose unless 1t
| be to remind constituents that their repre-
| sentatives are willing to remember them
| with gratuities at public cost
Under the sarction of existing legislation
there was sent out from the Agricultural
Department during the last fiscal year
enough of cabbage seed to plant 10, 900 acres
| of land, sufficient quantity of beans to
plant 1900 acres beet seed enough to plant
900 acres, sweet corn enough to plant
| 1880 acres, sufficient cucumber seed to
cover 2,025 acres with vines, and enough
| muskmelon and watermelon seeds to plant
| 2,6I5 acres. The total quantity of flower
and vegetable seeds thus distributed was
contained in more than nine million pack
ages. and they were sufficient if planted. to
cover S9,596 acres of land.
| In view Of these facts this enormous ex-
| penditure without legitimate returns of
| benefit ought to be abolished. Anticipa tins
contamination so manifestly in the inter-
| est of good administration more than 500 :
900 has been stricken from the estimate
made to cover this object for the year end
| ing June 30 1895; and the Secretary recon-
mends that the remaining $4,000 of the
estimate be confined strictly to the purcha Sc
| of new and improved varieties of seeds. and
that these be distributed through exneri
ment stations.
| Thus the seed will be tested, and after
the test has been completed by the expert
ment station the propagation of the useful
varieties and the rejection of the yaluaIess
may safely be left to the common sense of
the people.
The Civil Service Law.
The continued intelligent execution of the
civil-service law and the increasing an
prevail by the people of its operation are
most gratifying. The recent extension of
its limitations and regulations to the en-
ployes at free-delivery post-offices, which
has been honestly and promptly accom-
plished by the Commission, with the hearty
cooperation of the Postmaster-GeueraI 10
an immensely important advance in the
usefulness of the system.