New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1897-07-06
A NODEPV crook FARMER"

Only n generation ago men who tried To cp-
ply scientific methods 10 agriculture were gen
orally described and derided in their respective
neighborhOods as Book Farmers But times
have changed, and now nearly every man who
tills the soil or makes market Of what 1t produces
shows an intelligent interest in the results OF
Book Farming" or. what Is much better ex-
perimental farming. This is one Of the reasons
why, in recent years. the Department OF Agri-
culture at Washington has attracted more gen.
era and favorable attention. AS n mere seed
bureau IT was disappointment except to n few
small politicians but II ceased to be a mere seed
bureau several years ago. and the services that
It has rendered to American agriculture, both di-
recty and indirectly. as well ms TO commerce are
generally acknowledged.
It has come to be understood that the Score
tary Of Agriculture enters into closer relations
with the foreign export trade Of the United
States. as we'll as with its productive capacity.
than any other officer of the Government. When
General Rusk was appointed to the office, eight
years ago, he was quick to realize this fact, and
with his practical business sense he did much
to elevate the work of the Department to tie
plane which II now occupies. Without going
into any details as TO what happened during the
IOur years OF te dSl AulllllllStTHtloH IL INA. w
sufficient to say that Secretary Wilson. not Ivy
proclamatons, or otherwise but simply by what
he has already done, has justified the belief
that more will be accomplished during his than
under any previous administration Of the office.
He would be the first to say that this would
not he practicable unless his predecessors had
done so much-had pointed the way toward
what was desirable as we'll as what 1t was Go
sirable to avoid. First and best Of all In some
respects. Mr.. Wilson is'a practical farmer-a man
who has held the plough tails and shucked corn
in his time. Second, and best of all IN many
other respects. he Is an educated farmer. who
studies and takes advantage OF everything that
Nature gives him. Third, and best In all respects
perhaps he looks forward 10 see where his crop
is to find a market after it Is raised. 1t needed
no seer to forete that domestic demand was
calling for every pound of sugar that could be
produced In the United States and yet it was
reserved for Secretary Wilson to begin the pre-
llminary work Of establishing "bect-sugar
belt" and bringing together the producers. man
ufacturers and consumers. There is no doubt
that Secretary Wilson is an enthusiast. nor Is
there much reason TO doubt that his enthusiasm
Is tempered by comm0n-sense and his Scotch
birthrigh When he says that lie will try to
make the thirty odd divisions Of his Department
''scrvceable to the farmer who works in the
field in his slirtslecves' Mr. Wilson means what
he says. For example il was not Il small thing
for English butter experts to acknowledge, as
they did in this city week ago after com
petltive sampng that Minnesota creamery
butter was equal TO the best Brittany rolls and
superior to the Danish creamery any other
butter of Europe. We are Informed that the
Brittany sample cost in the London market two
or three cents pound more than the other sam
pies. The practical side Of thiA * that English
buyers have offered Il cent a bound SnOre for
butter equal TO the Minnesota sample than they
will pay for any other butter now found In the
New-York market.
This is direct and strong incentive to the
making Of good butter not only for export bu,
for domestic consumption. when 7 get through
with this butter business | will pay attention
"to cheese" says Mr. Wilson.