The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1897-05-09
NEW CROP ERA OPENS
Secretary - Asrieultsre Dees MaeA
fer Farners-Oairy Interests ana
Hes Cholera Receive Au the At
tentien They Require.

tentisa TAey Require.
Secretary Wilson recognizes that the de-
partment Of agriculture was created for
the benefit Of the farmers. and as q practt-
cal farmer he is trying 70 bring the de-
parsment into closer touch with the farm
ers OF the country. says the Chicago In
ter Ocean.
turning back into the treasury q large
part of each annual appropriation which
he had not used. and he called that econ
omy. Secretary Wilson will not turn back
any money into the treasury He will use
every dollar OF the appropriations con-
gress gives him 10 advance the cause a
agriculture.
his first six weeks In the department.
started three lines Of investigation. from
which he expects good results. These are
In relation TO beet sugar. dairying and hog
raising. Coming into Office just a. the
tail end of the seeding distribution. Sec
rotary Wilson had little opportunity and
less money TO devote to his first scheme.
but he used what money he had TO secure
igh-grade seeds OF sugar beets fro-a Eu-
rope and sent these TO nearly every state
In the Union to have practical farmers
experiment with them and determine the
value Of soils and climates IN producing
beet sugar. He believes that sugar beefs
can be grown in many Of the states North
and South. even as far South ~ Texas.
and that within half dozen years this
industry can be developed so as to pro-
duce as much sugar a. Il consumed in the
United States.
Not HIS First Experiment.
Secretary Wilson does not go into this
work as an enthusiast without experience.
for he has been making experiments with
sugar beets in Iowa on his farm and at the
experimental station for several years, and
he is satisfied that good corn soil is good
for sugar beets. He believes Iowa, Illinois
and other Western states will soon become
great sugar states. and he purposes next
year to send out from u. COO TO l4o0o pounds
of the finest sugar beet seed that can be
secured in Europe. He will at the same
time conduct experiments in producing
good seed In this country. so that our beet
growers will not be compelled to import
their seed every year as they now do. He
has carefully preserved about i've pounds
of seed that has been developed through
series Of years in this country, and he
purposes to continue the development I'M
TIL ne secures as high heredity seed as
they have In Germany.
Secretary Wilson says that this five
pounds of beet seeds which has been
grown In this country Is worth more than
weight in gold. and that he would not
/ .rt with it for it's weight In diamonds. be-
cause 1t has higher heredity than most
of our people and il to become the source
OF our supply OF sugar beet seed in this
country. Until this native seed Is devel-
oped and multiplied 50 as TO promise to
supply the demand. he will import seed
from Europe and supply farmers who wish
to experiment in the growing Of sugar
beets.
Mr.. Wilson believes in going back TO the
original idea in the distribution OF seeds
and make them rare and at the same
time such as give promise of enabling the
farmers to produce new and valuable
crops and bring agriculture TO higher
scientific development. and at the same
time give to the farmer better sources OF
revenue. He looks upon the department.
of agriculture as created for the purpose
of helping the farmers to better knowl-
edge of valuable crops. and he purposes
so TO conduct II as to meet some of the
higher expectations of the farmer from
such government service.
The MUST Suitable Soil.
The department does not recommend the
planting of seed In billy and rocky soil,
but suggests light sandy loan, fairly
rich. as likely to give the best results.
and as rule 1t is not believed that warm
climates will be favorable to the growing
OF b4ets. The farmers are urged to select
twenty-five pounds of the product OF their
cultivation and send the same TO their
state experimental station, where ii viii
be tested Ii the beets yield more than y
per cent of saccharine matter. their cul-
tivation will be regarded as profitable. but
II they analyze below that standard. The
farmers will be advised not to attempt
TO cultivate the beets on their ground.
L. Of fffrE fG
pose OF determining in what localities Il
will be profitable to locate plants for the
receiving of the beets and the extraction
of the saccnarine matter from them. Cap
italists are ready TO establish such plants
in any location where it is shown that
beets can be grown with a SUFFICIENT yieia
Of sweets to make the industry profitable.
The further development OF the culture
of heets among the farmers win be secured
after tho factory Is established, as 1t Ii
believed that when once 1t Is shown that
a certain section OF country will support
such an Industry profitably. there will be
no difficulty in inducing the farmers to
take hold OF Ii.
thusasm in the experiment stations and
among the farmers OF the country. espe-
ciaiIy i'm the Northwest. In Missouri
special effort Is being made by the farm
ers thoroughly TO establish the beet indus
try. The time for planting Is at hand. ana
II Is said at the department or agriculture
that perhaps never In the history of that
institution was there so much entnusi-
asm over an effort 10 establish a new IN
dusfrv for the farmers OF the country az
is now being shown
Many Farmers Interested.
Thousands of farmers will this spring
determine whether their land Is suitable
for beet culture. and IL 1t is shown TO be
SO IL Is believed that they will readily
nlant heets as soon as there Is a factory
conveniently located 20 receive them. IL
Is said that the prevailing hard times
among the farmers are an additional rea-
son vhv they should show the enthusiasm
that Is being developed, because ii prom
lses them an additional income.
In connection with the beet sugar indus
try Secretary Wilson viii try to encour-
age a higher and more extensive devel-
opnent in dairying- The pulp OF the sugar
beet has been proved TO DC an excellent
food for dairy cattle, as none OF the
heterogeneous matter is taken out. In
Germany IL is regarded IS valuable TOT
feeding as the heets are before they are
ground ard the saccnar'ne matter is ex-
tracted Wherever the sugar beet y
grown. the secretary hopes 10 see .
greater development IN carrying. ana
great as has been the development OF TINS
snsfustrv IN recent years he regards II as
s-iu in It's INFANCY. as last year was the
first time we had a surplus Of butter over
home consumption.
Mr.. wilson's Ideas on Butter.
Secretary Wilson recently said.
IF we are 20 secure the WORLDS market