The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1898-10-30

: OUR NEXT WHEAT CROP AND ITS PRICE.
UNITED SECRETARY OF AGRICULTURE WILSON,


methods of production which is being
spread among the farmers every year
by the Agricultural Department and
through the agricultural colleges. The
farmer is learning every year how TO
get more out of his land. He is learn
ing for example how to conserve the
water supply. Irrigation is going TO
make fertile some of our barren land,
but only so far as the water supply Will
go. We can dam the rivers whose
waters are now going to waste ana
store up some against future need.
But more than that, we can make fertile
now without irrigation land which
few years ago would have been called
a desert. Science shows that soil needs
no more than six inches of rain to make
it productive. All else that falls on it
is evaporated. If six inches of rain fell
in day much of it would evaporate in
the natural course and only small
part would remain. But the farmer to-
day spreads dust over his newly
watered field and so keeps the moisture
from disappearing. Besides, we are in
veStigating constantly to find what
kinds of grain will grow best in certain
climates with a view to increasing pro-
duction. l have man in Russia now
getting seeds for experimental planting
in this country.
When Secretary Wilson took charge
of the Agricultural Department he I'M
dertook, a number of Investigations
through special agents. He tells me
that the eighteen months experience OF
the department has proved the entire
correctness of his ideas.
I'VE have proved to the people of
England" he said that we can send
them the best dairy products they have
ever seen. Just now we are introduc-
ing American butter and cheese into
China and Japan"
DO you think the Chinese can be
persuaded to eat our butter"
Certainly. They don't eat any but
ter now, but when they have tried it
they will want it as they will want our
meats and other food products. Give
a man something good to eat and you
cultivate the taste for it. The Chinese
will take our butter and in time our
cheese You must remember, TOO, that
not all the people of China are natives
Of that country"
In scanning the columns Of the daily
press the majority Of people give the
news of the crops il official form bare
ly a passing glance, but to the student
! Of the crops of the United States these
! form the pages of the text book, by
means of which he gains the necessary
| knowledge upon which to predicate an
| intelligent opinion. Secretary Wilson
and his staff of experts are students of
just this sort of knowledge, except that
thew have far more laid before them
every day than any newspaper could
possibly print. Mr.. Wilson'S statisti-
clan is John Hyde, and it is his duty to
collate all the figures that come from
the departments agents throughout
the country, discard the chaff and pol
ish the kernel of the grain so that it
will attract the attention it deserves.
Mr.. Hyde says that the total pro-
duction of corn in the United States
last wear was 1902, 967 1893 bushels, or
more than 16 per cent less than the
weld of the year before, while the area
Of production was almost a million
acres less. Yet, in spite of these facts.
on the basis of the farm price, the net
value of that decreased crop was more
than ten millions of dollars greater
than the big crop of 1896. Of course