Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1894-09-11
J. STERLING MORTON.
Our Secretary Of Agriculture Going 10
Europe.
HIS SPR0P0SED REFORMS.
Lossenins tho seed-suppIy Evil. and Call
ing Bug Hug In Oficiai
Documents.

CaLl-toD. j. sterling Morton. secretary
q Agriculture. will sail tomorrow foi
Europe. to be gone about five weeks. Du'
ring his absence the department viii be
under the control Of Dr. Dabncy. OF Ten
rcsscc formerly Of Virginia, the latter
bliug the Assistant Secretary.
secretary Morton has been steadily al
rs desk for the past ffteen months. and
during the whole Of the time he has not
hld vacation aggregating five weeks
~ feels the need Of rest. and is COINS
rofe for the sea-voyaec than anything
else re has been an occasional visitor to
points In Virginia since becoming a mem
u.r OF the Cabinet and he spent several
days IN Albemarle county. few months
aeo. visiting Monticello
SIR Morton is not generally as popular
with the agricultural classes as he nigh,
D.. owing TO the fact that an impression
is gotten abroad In the land that he
docs not sympathize with the farmers
rrl some OF his opponents have tried 10
make 30 appear that he IS constantly doing
everything I'm his power TO curtail the
DEPARTMENT 10 the detriment OF the farm
er- Then again, they try 10 make the
formers believe he is a rich man, who
knows nothing about agriculture. whereas
tf. fal. is be- has maintained and lived on
ii farm Tor many years. which he has made
or. ~ the most beautiful and productive
in tre uitcd States. lie does not go after
t..fs ism that comes up. and, being q
Democrat Of the Old school end a strict
C.nstrucuonist. he wants many Of the
tIari.ccs of the department over which he
rules al present done away with For in
stance. he believes mat the prOmiscuOus
C.f,I button Of garden-sced. which has
grown Z, te a bowling abuse. and reck-
b.. waste Of money. should be abolished.
d. CID recommended IN his last annual
r.r.rt t0 Congress and he proposes to cut
C..u This item Of expense 80 that only
rtr. anl valuable seed and plants. intend
a.. ..tir ly for the Introduction Of strictly
r-u varieties shall in future be dis
IuIted
THE SEED INDUSTRY.
ra~ many years the seed distribution
has ben greatly abused asd people In all
portions of the country have gotten an
flea the government can furnish an en-
o.. PLANTING. From ycaE 10 year they
l.t. written 10 the congressman, and 1t
las been discovered IN many localities
that not oaiv have whole families writ
fen hut the names Of hands on the
fims have been used to get as many
packages as possible. At that rate II
would require s-vral millions Of dollars
10 supply the annual demand IL all the
requests We're compl with II ls
also been a source Of endless worry TO
The cougro->iu y. many of whom have
ben compelled 20 buy seed to supply the
demand. in their dnCicts.
Secretary Morton has started in 10 work
d., .l..H ffts -
Jartment of Agriculture lie has issued
orders that ,iu getting up their reports.
tie scientific men and special agents
must use plain and practical language.
heretofore there has been too much of
q tendency 10 indulge IN technical terms.
Cu4-h cannot be understood 10y the ave-
ra4r citiz unless Ee has Latin or
Crock lexicon handy. In future Mr..
Morton insists that the reports shall call
tlg bug II they deal with that
lrarrh of inquiry. and an insect must be
designated Ply its common, everyday
name Diseases in animals and in plants
haI trees. al kinds Of grasses. and
references 10 soil and timber shall ba
written of so that people will know at
once what is meant. He wants a stop
put 10 the high ard lofty style that has
prevailed. which dots the department re-
potts all. over with technical terms cal
eu,atcd TO hewildef the farmers. who have
- time to translate the meaning of terms
used 10y the scientific fellows. who have
had advantages Of studying these things.
The Secretary by way Of Illustration,
told a story Of a young preacher who
hl1 been invited TO preach 10 a country
conE~esatiOn, who thought Of asking nm
& become their pastor. The minister was
lust out Of the theological seminary. and
ain 10 cd
teNt. Feed My Lambs Most OF the
CONGREGATION seemed pleased. and pretty
fuon the pulpit speaker began 10 soar 10
dizzy heights. He finally ceased his dis
course and the services came TO an end.
After the congregation began to disperse
the Younger folks. and particularly the
women folks. praised the sermon highly.
The latter declared tAat he was just too
grand for anything" and they appealed
9 an oh deacon TO know what ne
Thought Of the brothers style OF preach
l.r II am afraid" said the deacon,
"ihut the good brother has placed the
fodder 50 high that some OF the lambs
S.l never reach it,"
BEET SUGAR.
The bcet-sugar industry is one that the
Department Of Agriculture VII give spe-
c,al attention 10. with view OF finding
t.lapte! To the cultivation OF this product.
Already there have been some very prom
.rg reports from Virginia, and II is
believed that a large area in the Old DO,
m.uion can be utilized for the cultivation
C.. thc sugar beet. The best results so TAR
have been obtained In Augusta county,
ana 10 Is confidently expected that
eventually this business Will be- large
ami uaving one In Virginia. There is also
4 limo.
Alap,od 70 the cultivation OF the oeeI
ana the next reports on the subject are
booked for with interest.
Secretary MOrtons visits TO Virginia
na,e been very much enjoyed, and he
th.aks there is great future for the
State. if the people will turn their at
trnti0n 10 the proper pursuits. wheat
anl corn cannot be profitably raised for
market. but the dairying and stock-farms
al virginia can do well. owing To their
close proximity 10 the great eastern mar
L,ts. The department has been issuing
,-luable and instructive reports on dairy
,le. and viii continue TO do so.
JONES AND MEREDITH.
CONGRESSMAN Jones, who had an ap.
I.ihtment TO speak to-day at Bowling
Gr,tn. the county seat of Caroline, Is
,xrocted here tomorrow TO attend
m,eting OF the Executive Committee OF
"a. Democratic Campaign Committee. he
being member OF the same. Ii is
Thought the campaign book Will be dis
tr.nute1 this week 1t viii be an ex-
haustlve collection Of information for the
voters. The book owing to its great
cost. cannot be distributed free to those
WHO write for II, but arrangements VIII
D., made 10 send a considerable number
% clubs and organizations, so that the
campaign Sneakers may have access 10
the facts contained in the publication.
Congressman Meredith, who has practl-
ca!iy recovered from his recent Illness
viii bc in the thick Of his canvass by
the middle Of next week. He has made
and Will make appointments that wiii
take him 10 every county in the district.
and II Is his purpose TO speak al as
many places as possible.
Toward the end Of the campaign IL
Is thought that several outside speakers
Of prominence can be secured for points
IN the northern end OF the Eighth Dis
trict. ana there Will. as usual, be a maj
rally Of the Democrats at Alexandra
the Saturday night before the election.
# is not believed from what can be
ba nanphliran Cln0l-