The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1897-04-18
BETS FOR FARMERS.
SECRETARY WILSON LOOKING TO
FUTURE SUGAR PRODUCTiON.
Plans of His Department-Efrorts TO In
troduce New Food for Cattle.
The Scientific Crops.


Secretary OF Agriculture Wilson has in
troduced new policy in the distribution
OF seed.
AS this work was under way when
he took charge OF the department. It has
not been possible for him TO do more this
spring than to make a beginning OF the
course he intends to pursue.
lie proposes TO distribute rare and val
liable seed as far "a possible with view
of diversifying the products of the farms
OF the country.
In the distribution OF seeds the Secrc-
tarys efforts are now bent upon furnish
ing the farmers In the northwest where
land and climate Is best adapted for the
cultivation OF 0ugar beets. with choice
beet seed, and this spring. for the iirst
time the farmers who desire TO raise a
crop of beets TO be used In making SUI
gar will have an opportunity TO get tho
choicest seed for that purpose from the
Department OF Agriculture.
MONEY IN BETS.
las this country is importing $1,000 600
worth of sugar per annum,' said Secre-
tary Wilson TO Star reporter yester-
day, it seems TO me the cultivation OF
the sugar beet is a very important mat
ter. The soil OF tho northwest is par
ticularly well adapted. as Is the climate.
to this production, the beets In some
cases yielding as high as 20 per cent. of
sugar In France the yield is but a lit
tie higher than - per cent.
We are now obliged TO import beet
seed from abroad, as the seed men OF
this country are not able to supply us
with large quantities OF the best seed OF
this kind.
For forty years they have been cxpcr-
imentng abroad in order to get a high
grade Of beet seed. Year after year
they have grown beets from the best seed
at their command. and, putting these
beets under a test. determine the guam
THY Of sugar contained in them and then
select seed from those having the high
est percentage Of sweets In this way
they have developed a very fine grade OF
beet seed. We have just started in three
of our experiment stations experimental
work for the development OF high-grads
beet seed. and | see no reason why In a
few years to come We should not be able
10 produce beet seed as hno or finer as
those We now get abrocd."
PEAS FOR COWS.
Secretary Wilson also proposes 10 d.
rect his efforts particularly toward the
introduction Of leguminous plants. lie
has already given much attention 10 this
subject i'm his own states OF Iowa, and
has introduced several varieties Of peas.
which form excellent food for cattle at
ter grass has disappeared in the heat ~
the summer. and in that way has done
much 20 Tighten the trot ble5 OF the cai-
rvmen Ia Iowa hc has found through
experiment that what IS known az the
Canadian field pea Is well adapted 10 the
soil and that following that the JaTan
pea. and still later In the season. the COW
peal which he introduced from Alabama.
grow excellently well and furnish just tho
food needed by cattle in order TO produce
the best quality OF milk.
These plants are now commonly grown
throughout the State Of Iowa. The Sc,
rctary's efforts in the past have been
chiefly confined TO the one locality OF his
own State. but he proposes now 10 apply
the same principles ~ the entire coun-
try.
This Is no light task. and OF course II
will hardly be possible for the head or
the Department OF Agriculture TO carry
IL ont fully within the four years OF
single administration. But IL is proposed
TO make q start and IL Is likely that
wherever Il valuable plant that can be
made OF use TO the farmer Is shown 10
grow well under certain conditions OF
soil and climate the Department will uss
It's efforts 20 spread that particular plant
in every part OF the country where SIM
liar conditions OF soil and climate are
found to exist. This method will revolu-
tionize the principle on which the distri-
button OF seed has been made In tho
past II may be necessary 10 import
large quantities. OF seed 10 inaugurats
the Secretary's system. but that will be-
incidental only to the beginning. Tho
department will make a systematic EFFORT
70 have the seed they desire TO jistrib-
ute produced in this country. and Il viii
probably take but a very short time be-
fore this can be done.
THE SCIENTIFIC CROP.
Secretary Wilson has a high regard for
the scientists who are employed In the
Department OF Agriculture. Speaking
OF the corps OF assistants in his depart
ment yesterday. he said.
we have the finest corps OF scientists
employed by the Department OF Agricui-
ture that can be found anywhere IN tho
world These gentlemen are doing ex-
cellent work. and the result OF their study
and experiments cannot fail 10 be highly
beneficial TO the country al large Wash
ington Star.