The morning call., 1893-12-05
MORTON ON AGRICULTURE.

MORTON ON AGRICULTURE.
The report OF the Secretary of Agriculture
will be found exceedingly Interesting and es-
pectally to that large body of our citizens inti-
mateiy concerned In griculturai occupations.
On The 7th day of March, 1898. there were
upon It's payrolls 2430 employees. This num-
Der has been reduced to 1850 persons. In view
OF depleted public treasury and the impera-
tive demand of the people for economy In the
administration OF the G0vernmentthe Secretary
has entered upon the task of ratio naily reducing
expenditures by elimination from the payroll of
all persons not needed for an efficient conduct OF
the affairs of ibe department. During the first
quarter OF the present yeaI the expenses oI inc
department aggregated S345 976 70, as agalns Sc
2.O21 AZ for the corresponding perloG OF
The fiscal year ending June 30, 1888. Inc
secretary makes apparent his intention 10 con-
tlnue this rate of reduction Dy suomiItng
es,mates est for the next fiscal year less by S994
@oO than those of the present year. among the
heads OF divisions In these departments the
cnanges nave been exceedingly rev. lnree
tion nave Deen filled by the promotion OF as
slstants In tie same divisions. These promo
lions OF experienced ana faithful assistants
nave not only been in the interest of efficient
Work, but have suggested to those In the depart
nents VINO look Tor retention and promotion
THAT merit and devotion TO duty are their best
reliance.
The amount OF appropriation for the Bureau
OF animal Industry for the current fiscal year
ha
year is $7000U0.
The regulations OF 1892 concerning Texas
fever have been enforced during the last wear
aud the largest stoekyards of the country have
been Kept free from infection. Occasionally
local outbIe eakS have been largely and etfec.
tually guarded against by the owners of the
anecied cattle. While contagious pleuro-pneu-
monia In cattle has been eradicated, animal
tuberculosis, disease widespread and more
dangerous TO human life than pleuro- pneumo-
mia, is still prevalent. Investigations have
means OF It's communication aud the method Of
lis correct diagnosis.
Much progress has been made in his direc-
tion by The studies of the division of animal
pathology, but work ought TO be extended in
cooperation with local authorities until the
danger to human life arising from this cause is
reduced to minimum. The number of AMI
mails arriving from Canada during the year and
Inspected by bureau officers was 462,002 and
the number from transatlantic countries was
1897. No contagious diseases were found
among the imported animals. The total num-
G brr OF Inspections OF cattle for export during
show failing of of about 25 per cent from the
preceding year, and the decrease occurs entir re-
ly in the last half of the year. This suggests
that the falling of may have been largely due
to an increase In the price Of American export
cattle.
During the year ending June 30 1898, ex-
porIs of inspected pork aggregated $40. .677, ,41O
pounds as against $50, ,152,3 ,374 pounds for the
preceding year. The falling of IN this export
was not confined, however, 10 Inspected pork,
the total quantity exported in 1892 being
Sos. .490.616 pounds, while in 1893 it was only
627 sos, ,696 pounds.
| join The Secretary in recommending that
hereafter each applicant for The position of in
spector or assistant Inspector In the Bureau OF
Animal Industry be required, as condition
precedent 10 his appointment, to exhibit to the
Upited States Civil Service Commission d plo-
ma from an established, regular aud reputable
veterinary college, and that this be supple
neDfed by such AL examination In veterinary
science as the commits sion may prescribe.
The exports of agricultural products from
the United States for the fiscal year ending
June 80, 1892. attained the enormous figure of
SS00,000,000 In round numbers, beIug 1877
per cent of our total exports. In the last fiscal
year this amount was greatly reduced. but,
neyertheless reached $3.50 ,o0o, 900, being 75.1
per cent OF all American commodities exported.
A review OF our agricultural exports with
special refer nee 10 their destination will show
that In almost ev ry 'lse~ the United Kingdom
of Great Britain and elaIsi sstss-Srbs by far the
| largest proportion. or catte, the f0&aLexports
aggregated 10 value for ths 1scaI yeal ensesssiDg
June 80, 1898, S26,000,S0o vi which Great
Britain took considerably over S25.000,00o.
or beef products OF ah klnes our total exports
were SIS, ,O00,0 600, of which Great Britain took
| S24 900, 600. Or pork pIodllcrs the total ex-/
ports were S84 100000 tf which Great Brtaya
took S53,OooOoO In orea1stuff,, cotton eknd
minor products like PROPORTIONS TO tD.e same
destination are shown.
The work of the statistcal diysion Of the
| Department of Agriculture. daaas with all that
relates to the economies ot,Xrming. The main
| purpose of lis monthly reports Is 10 keep the
| farmers informed as fully as possible of all
markets In which their products find sale. Its
publication reistes especially to the CONNER
cial side of farming. 1t is therefore of pro-
found importance and vital concern 10 the
farmers OF the United States, who represent
nearly one-haf Of our population, and also OF
direct interest 10 the whole country, that the
work of this division be efficiently performed
and that the Information IL has gathered be
promptly diffused. 1t is matter for congratu-
lation 10 know that the Secretary will not spare
any effort TO make this part OF his work thor
0ughly useful.
In the year 1889 Congress appropriated
$1,000 to be taken from the Patent Office
funds for the purpose of collecting and dis
tributing rare and improved varieties of seeds
and for prosecuting agricultural Investigations
and procuring agricultural statistics From
this small beginning the seed division of the
Department of Agriculturr has grown to its
present unwieldy and unjusIifiably extrava-
CANT proportions. During The last fiscal year
the cost of seeds purchased was S66, 6,54S 81.
The remainder OF its app OpriDton Of 1885, 600
was expended In putting them up and dis
trihutlng them. II surely never could have
entered the minds OF those who first sanctioned
appropriations OF public money for the pur-
chase of new and improved varieties Of
seeds for gratuitous distribution that from this
would grow large appropriations for the pur-
chase and distributor by members OF Congress
OF ordinary seeds, bulbs ana cuttings which are
common In all the States and Territories, and
everywhere easily obtainable al low prices In
each Stale and Territory.
An agricultural experiment station has been
es abshed. These stations, by their very
character and name, are the proper agencies 10
experiment WIN ana lest new varieties or
seeds, and yet this indisc inmate and wasteful
distribution by legislation and legislators con-
tlnues, answering no purpose unless IL be 10
remind constituents thit their representatives
are willing to remember them with graft ude at
the public cost. Under the sanction of existing
legislation, there was sent out from the Agr-
cultural DepaI rment during the last fiscal year
enough of cabbage seed to plant 1s,2oo
acres OF land, sufncient quantity OF
be ms to plant 1000 acres, beet seed
enough to plant $500 acres, sweet corn
enough TO plant 1900 acres, sufficient
cucumber seed to cover 2O35 acres with vines
and enough muskmelon aud watermelon seeds
TO pl mt 2675 acres. Ihe total quantity OF
flower and vegetable seeds thus distributed
was contained In more than 100000 pack
ages and they weie sufficient II planted to
cover SO, 500 acres Of land. In view OF these
facts this enormous expenditure without legitt-
mate returns of ben fit ought TO be abolished,
aud anticipating a consummation so manifestly
IN the Interests OF good administration more
than 100000 has been stricken from the esti.
mate made 10 cover this object for the year
ending June 80. 1895. aud the Secretary rec.
ommends that the remaining $50. 900 OF the esti-
mate be confined strictly To the pui chase or
new aud improved varieties OF seeds, aud these
be distributed through experiment stations.
Thus the seed will be tested and after the test
has been completed by the experiment sta ton