The Valentine Democrat. [volume] (Valentine, Cherry Co., Neb.) 1896-1898, 1897-11-11
SECRETARY WILSON'S WORK.
A Years. Operations of the Agrr
cultural Department.

cultural Department.
Secretary Wilson has presented his re
port to the President reviewing the opera
tions of the Department of Agriculture
for the past year. The most important
recommendation made by him is one thai
agents for the department should be sta
toned a. each of our more important
American embassies for the collection OF
information Of interest to American farm
ers. Referring TO this subject, he says.
I'VE are endeavoring to get information
from foreign countries with which We
compete in the markets Of the world, re
garding crops and prices. We are alst
taking steps to ascertain what crops are
grown ON different thermal lines so thai
seeds and plants may intelligently bt
brought to this country to assist in ths
diversiication of our crops and add to
their variety. There is necessity fol
American agents in every foreign coun
try to which we send representatives, who
have had education in the sciences relat
ing to agriculture. The agricultural col
leges endowed by Congress are educating
along these lines"
The Secretary refers to the efforts OF
the department to extend the foreign mar
kets for our dairy and live stock products
which he thinks can be done by making
the foreigners familiar with them. In
stead of sending abroad for seeds he says
the policy in the future will be Ito en-
courage 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 Unit
ed States should produce"
Mr.. Wilson says the department will
continue its pioneer work in the encour-
agement of the sugar beet ard expresses
the opinion that the country will within
few years raise all the sugar it requires.
He expresses the opinion that nearly all
Of the $3.50, 100000 sent abroad last year
for sugar, hides, fruits, wines, arimals,
rice, fax, hemp, cheese, wheat, barley,
beans. eggs and silk might have been kept
at home. He also thinks the United
States should grow their own chicory, cas-
tor beans, lavender, lcorice, mustard,
opium, etc.
With reference to horses the Secretary
says: '"The American farmer can grow
horses as cheaply as he can grow cattle.
We have a heavy and profitable export
trade in cattle and may have an export
trade equally heavy and profitable in
horses. The department is gathering
facts regarding our horse industry at
home and the requirements of purchasers
abroad, so that our farmers can learn
what foreign buyers demand
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, it is believed,
that an agent has been found in petrole
um product known as parafiin oil, in which
infected cattle are dipped.
The extension of the meat inspection to
abottoirs engaged in interstate business
is recommended as is the continuance Of
the inspection of export animals in order
to maintain the market which has been
secured for them in other countries.
The Secretary criticises the present sys-
tenn of crop reporting. He says it is ex-
tremely cumbersome. He recommends the
employment of a principal statistical agent
in each State.