Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1897-11-04
WILSON'S REPORT.
Work and Projects Of the Agricultural De-
partinent summarized.

partinent summarized.
WASHINGTON, Nov. 1.-Secretary
Wilson has presented his report to the
president, reviewing the operations Of
the department Of agriculture for the
past year. The most important recon.
mendation made by him Is one that
agents for the department should be
stationed at each Of the important
American embassies for the collection
Of information Of interest to American
farmers. Referring to this subject, he
says: 1--WE are endeavoring to get in
formation from foreign countries with
which we compete in the markets Of
the world regarding crops and prices
We are also taking steps to ascertain
what crops are grown on different
thermal lines, SO that seeds and plants
may intelligently be brought to this
country to assist In the diversiacation
Of our crops and add to their variety.
There Is necessity for American agents
in every foreign country to which we
send representatives who have had ed
ucation in the sciences relating to ag-
riculture. The agricultural colleges
endowed by congress are educating
along these lines"
The secretary recommends an in
crease in the appropriations in aid Of
the bureau Of animal industry, Of the
weather bureau and publication Offices.
He thinks the department should be
enabled to place the results Of impor-
tant operations at agricultural col.
leges before the entire country, $50
that the farmers Of each state may get
the result Of the good work done in
other states" He refers to the efforts
Of the department to extend the for
eign markets for American dairy and
live stock products, which he thinks
can be done by making the foreigners
familiar with them. 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"
The 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 1t Is believed that an agent has
been found in petroleum product
known as parafiine oil, In which in
fected cattle are dipped. The extern
sion Of the meat inspection work to
abattoirs engaged in interstate bust
ness is recommended. as Is the contin-
uance Of the inspection Of export ami.
mails, in order to maintain the market
which has been secured for them in
other countries.
The secretary criticises the present
system Of crop reporting. He says it
is extremely cumbersome, and that in
stead Of conducting to completeness
and accuracy, it would appear, from
the report Of the statistician, to in
some measure defeat its own object by
its own unwieldiness, and by the fact
that the indefinite multiplication Of
crop reporters weakens the sense ofin.
dividual responsibility. 81 strongly
favor the making Of some pecuniary
acknowledgment Of the service Of a
carefully selected corps Of correspond
ents, selected mainly in the principal
agricultural states, and that reliance
be placed upon the state statistical
agents for information regarding the
states agricultural Importance" He
recommends the employment Of a prin-
cipal statistical agent in each state.