River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1897-11-04
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Report of Secretary Wilson Present.
ed to the President.

Washington, Oct. 9O.-Secretary Wilson
has presented his report 10 the president
reviewing the operations of the DEPART
ment OF agriculture for tho past year The
most important recommendation made hv
him Is one that agents for the departule ~.
should be stationed at each of our more
important American embassies for the col
lection OF information Of interest TO Amer
lean farmers. Referring 10 this subiect. he
So vs.: I'VE are endeaVoring 10 get infor-
ma ION from foreign countries. with whom
we compete In the marhets OF he world.
regarding crops and prices We are also
taxing steps TO ascertain what crops are
grown on different thermal llnes so that
seeds and plants may inte,lcenty he
bTouS ht to this country to assist in the
diveTsihcation Of our crops and add TO their
variety. There is necessity for American
agents in every foreign country 20 which
we send representative who have had edu-
cation in the sciences relating TO agri-
culture. The agricultural colleges endowed
by congress are educating along these
lines"
The secretary recommends an increase
IN the spprc priations In aid Of a bureau OF
animal Industry, of the weather bureau
ana publication Offices He thinks the de-
partlnent should be enabled TO place the
result OF important operations at agri-
cultural colleges before the entire country,
so mat the farmers of each state may
get the result OF The good work done in
other states"
He refers to the efforts or the depart
ment 10 extend tie foreign markets for
our dairy and live stock products. which
ne thinks can be done by making he for
eigners familiar with them Instead of
sending abroad for seeds he says the pol
icy IN the future will be TO encourage the
introduction OF such seeds as will enable
our people TO diversity their crops and
keep money at home that is now sent
abroad to buy what the United States
should produce"
Mr.. Wilson says the department will
continue It's pioneer work I'm the encourage
fnent or the sugar beet, and expresses the
opinion that the country will within a few
years raise all the sugar il requires. lie
expresses the opinion that nearly all OF the
sSSZ,VVOo sent abroad last year for sugar
hldes, fruits. wines, animals. rice. flax,
hemp, cheese. wheat, barley. beans eggs
and silk might have been kept al home
lie also thinks the United States should
grow It's own chieory, castor beans Law
ender, icorice, mustard. opium. etc.
with reference to horses, the secretary
says: The American farmer can grow
horses as cheaply as he can grow cattle;
We have a heavy and profitable export
TRACE In cattle, and may have an export
TRADE equally heavy and profitable in
horses. The department is gathering facts
regarding our horse industry at home, and
the requirements Of purchasers abroad, so
that our farmers can learn what foreign
buyers demand"
Inc most important work in which the
animal industry bureau has been engaged
IS, he says. that looking TO the destruction
OF the cattle tick, for which il is believed
that an agent has been found in a pc
troleum product known as paTaffin oil, in
which injected cattle are dipped.