Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1897-01-07

reports of any of these stations, upon writ
ten application to the proper official.
In this State. legislative assent to the
provisions of the Congressional enactment
was granted, and the responsibilities of
management were accepted by the Trus-
tees of Delaware College. Facilities for
work have been secured, and four men,
each representing special line of re-
search, have been engaged. These men
have no duties in the College class rooms;
their time is devoted exclusively to the
station.
The seventh annual report has been pub
lished as printed volume of two hundred
and fifty pages. 1t includes all studies
made during the year 1895. Quarterly
bulletins have placed the more recent work
before the public From these documents
it appears that efforts are made to intro
duce lines of agricultural work at present
new and strange In our State; that atten-
tion is drawn to points Of mismaDagement
in dairying and that methods are demon
strated for combating the insects and
fungi which causes losses in the fruit in
dustry, and for holding in check contag-
ious diseases of live stock.
In illustration of the first line of thought
the sorghum sugar industry may be cited.
The preliminary stages of its introduction
are well advanced and seeds of plants, as
rich in sugar as is the tropical cane and
beet. are now propogated. This is done In
anticipation of the day when the with
drawal of bounties and subsidies from a
thoroughly established interest in Cont
mental Europe will permit of the develop
ment of sugar industry in especially
favored sections of Delaware
Forcing winter Injuries under glass is
now profitable horticultural pursuit in
the neighborhOod of large cities and may
well be considered locally in this State.
The cranberry interest of New Jersey, the
celery interest of Michigan, the tobacco
interest of Connecticut, the essential oil
interest and the evaporation of small
fruits. extensively and profitably de-
veloped in New York State should all re-
ceive consideration from our landowners
and capitalists. Information upon any of
these lines and opportunities to examine
into details can be secured at the Experi-
ment Station.
Certain destructive insects and fungi are
so generally distributed and so irregular
in their attacks that their control may,
for the present, be left to the individual.
Whoever has the energy and foresight to
use standard methods against the curculio
and the peach rot, for instance, should en-.
joy the resulting benefits. With the peach
yellows and the San Jose scale, a different
standpoint must be taken. AS to the yell
lows. very large area of Delaware is still
exempt; legislation to protect that area
and to give relief to affected districts has
been enacted by our General Assembly,
hut has not proved acceptable. The recon-
mendation is therefore made that atten-
ton should be given to more recent legis-
lation elsewhere, that of Connecticut be-
ing particularly suggested. As to the scale
insect, at present, it is limited to less than
twenty distinct points in Delaware, and
probably less than one thousand trees are
now affected. A vigorous policy of exter-
mination seems therefore to be both ex-
pedient and relatively inexpensive. Cali
fornia experience with this pest may be
duplicated upon this peninsula II proper
precautions are not observed in season.
EARLY in 1895, a loathsome and highly
contagious disease caused the death of a
farmer whose horses were suffering from
some unusual trouble. The Experiment
Station was asked to investigate. A dag
nosis of glanders was made and the inn
mediate destruction of the affected ami
mails was urged. The widow consented,
and two horses and mule were at once
killed. Under Chapter $40, Vol. II, Laws
of Delaware, an application for State in
demnity was made in proper form. 1t was
granted and payment was made upon the
warrant of the Governor. The attention
of the General Assembly is called to the
said chapter, with the recommendation
that more explicit provisions he made for
emergency cases of this nature.
The extremely infectious and deadly dis
ease known as anthrax has affected four
sections of this State during recent years.
Long continued and elaborate tests of the
Pasteur system of protective vaccination
have been made at the station, and facili-
ties have heen secured for the prepara-
tion of the necessary vaccines. The relia-
bility of the vaccinations has bcen thor
oughly demonstrated and the desirability
of having supply of the virus available
at all times has become apparent.
Under the congressional enactment, FIX
pertinent Stations may demonstrate the
advisability of course, hut cannot use
National funds in the practical applica-
ton of the method. II rests therefore with
the General Assembly to provide ways
and means for continuing this work. II is
recommended that an amendment be made
TO Chapter $50, Vol. 10, Laws of Della
ware. giving to the Chief Executive au-
thority to meet questions of this kind as
they may arise.
The activity displayed in neighboring
States in combating bovine tuberculosis
demands that notice shall he taken of that
disease at this time. Radical legislation
does not seem desirable or necessary; pos
sihly the entire question can be left for
solution with individual citizens. The
conservative course in dealing with tuber-
culosis adopted by the Danish government
is worthy of passing mention. The State
provides the services of the veterinarian,
pays for the tuberculin used in the test,
and does not demand the immediate
slaughter of condemned animals provided
guarantee is given that innocent parties
shall not be victimized by fraudulent sales.
The said cows are used. under restrictions.
as breeders, and ruinOus losses TO the
hcrlsmen and 10 the general government
are avoided. Not one calf in ten thousand
is consumptive at birth.
PRISON REFORM.
The wisdom of establishing II State
Workhonse for convicts has engaged the
attention of mans earnest. thoughtful and
benevolent persons. This subject has been
agitated for several years. With the
crowded condition of our county jails, and
the impraeticability of separation and
classification of convicts, many youthful
prisoners are liberated, at the expiration