The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1897-12-15
Departm emit OF Agriculture.
Secretary's Report.

lines his views and policy very clearly,
in regard to the management of the
Department for the best interest OF
American agriculture. We can note
only the leading points he sets forth.
OBJECTS.
First, he says the objects of the De-
partment are to assist farmers 10 in
diligently meet the requirements of
home and foreign markets, and to give
them all the assistance that science af-
fords. The Department is seeking
markets in foreign countries, by making
their people familiar with the superior
ity of our goods. We produce meats
superior to those of any other country,
and more cheaply. The Department
inspects live animals and dressed meats
for export, and certiies to their free
dom from disease, and endeavors to re-
move all restrictions upon our trade.
1t will encourage the introduction into
this country from abroad of anything
that will enable our farmers to diversity
their crops and keep at home the money
that is now sent abroad for what we
ought to produce here. The United
States paid 1882 900 900 the last fiscal
year for sugar, hides, fruits, wines,
animals, rice, fax, hemp, cheese, wheat,
barley, beans, eggs, tea, ETC.; S6, O0O,-
900 for chicory, castor beans, lavender,
opium, poppy, sumac, ETC., and 81, 0O0,-
900 for bulbs, nearly all of which, says
the secretary, could be produced here.
The Department will encourage their
production by introducing seeds and
furnishing information. Seven tons OF
sugar beet seed were distributed last
spring to $4,000 farmers in twenty
seven states, through the experiment
stations, which are now analysing
samples. The facts will be gathered
and published, and there is abundant
reason to believe that within few years
we will produce all the sugar we need.
The Department is also gathering facts
regarding our horse industry and the
requirements of the markets abroad,
with view to increase the export
movement A scientist has been ap-
pointed to have charge of seed and
plant importation, and everything de-
sirable that can be found in other coun-
tries will be secured, with the informa-
ton necessary to produce them here.
BUTTER EXPORTS.
The secretary gives full account of
the experimental exports of butter
made by the Department. We have
already given pretty full details of this
work, and need not repeat them. EX-
traordinary prejudice had to be over
come. English merchants insisted that
no good butter could come from this
country, but after they bought our but
ter, they did not scruple to sell it as the
best English, Canadian or Australian
butter. Danish and United States but
ter are the only absolutely pure kinds
imported into England, all others con-
tanning some preventative" Our but
ter now retails on perfect equality
with the best Danish, English and
French products, and there is not
enough of it to supply the demand.
The retail price obtained by the De-
partment ranged at twenty-four to
twenty.eight cents per pound. London
wants a butter of light lemon or straw
color, and lightly sailed, say two per
cent of salt. A mild, fiat flavor seems
to be preferred. 1t costs two or three
cents per pound, and sometimes more,
to carry butter from an American
creamery TO London. Sometimes the
market there will justify sending it,
and sometimes not. The secretary init
mates that further exports are to be
made, including other points in Great
Braitain and other countries,
DOMESTIC SCIENCE.
The secretary advocates the system.
attic education of girls in domestic
in raising the grade of home life on
the farm, in securing better nourish.
ment for the family, and surrounding
them with the refinements and com.
forts of well-ordered home, will con.
tribute powerfully to the general well
fare of farmers. Such training should
be introduced in all special schools foI
girls in agricultural colleges, etc., and
the Department will assist in every way
possible.
INSPECTION OF MEATS.
During the past year all the beef, and
a great part of the pork and other meat
products, exported to Europe, have
been inspected, but the meats for home
trade were not, as the appropriation foi
this purpose was not sufficient. The
Secretary thinks the inspection should
cover all meats and animals, both for
export and interstate trade. During
the year 43,310,1 JOY live animals were
inspected, of which 92,204 were reject.
ed. In dead meats, 26, 5s0,689 inspec-
tions were made, and 70,121 carcasses
rejected, and 49, 296 parts of carcasses.
In the microscopic inspection of pork
for trichinae, 1881 300 specimens were
examined and 1895 found infected.
The number of pounds exported was
43 ,572 1856, of which only 1,001 ,789
pounds went to countries that do NOT
require inspection. The cost of this
microscopic inspection was Sill 1859, or
an average of nearly six cents per spec.
linen, or little over one-fourth cent
per pound of the examined meats ex-
ported. This inspection must be con-
tinued, TO maintain our market, and the
secretary thinks it should be paid by
the exporters.
We shall notice other points in the
report relating to bureau and division
work, hereafter, and pass to what is
said about
CROP REPORTING.