The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1898-12-02
AGRICULTURAL DEPARTMENT.
SECRETARY JAMES WILSON MAKES
HIS ANNUAL REPORT.

for an Emergency Appropriation
Cor Future Requirements in Re-
emily Acquired TerritOry-Sudden
ArDearance of Destructive Pests
in island Possessions Anticipated.
recommends the Extension of In
spectiOn of Meats for Export.
washington, Dec. 1.-Secretary of Agri-
culture James Wilson, in his annual re-
norf made public tonight, in addition to
Astonishing domestic problems, reviews our
agricuItural relations in foreign fields. He
calls for an emergency appropriation of a
lump sum for future requirements that
cannot all be anticipated specifically. Ex-
noration by scientists of territorial acqui-
siuons and the sudden appearance of pests
are some of these possible emergencies.
Discussing agricultural resources in our
new island acquisitions, Secretary Wilson
Gays:
In the territories recently brought I'M
der the control of the United States, the
agricultural interests urgently call for at
tention by this department.
Hawaii and the West Indian Islands
depend almost exclusively for their pros
perity upon their agricultural production
II behooves the department, therefore. to
place itself at the earliest moment posi-
BILE in a position to extend to agricultural
lists of those territories which have, or
may come under the United States flag,
the services and benefits which 1t renders
to the farmers of the United States. The
increased trade relations which may be
looked for between the United States and
its insular dependencies, moreover, render
the conditions of agriculture in the latter,
and the character and the extent of their
productions, matters of profound interest
10 the people of the United States. 1t is
urgently necessary that Congress should
as speedily as possible provide a sufficient
fund for the use of this department in
making such investigations as may be nee
essary into the agricultural resources and
conditions in Hawaii Porto Rico, Cuba
and the Philippines
on the practicability of exporting dairy
products, the Secretary says that owing
to better home demand, it is not COM
mercally profitable to send butter to Eu-
rope just now, as the home demand at
present absorbs the supply.
For the purpose of obtaining for dairy
men all the facts relating to the export
of this article the department sent an
agement there would be TO ship butter to
that port, and an agent to Hamburg to
ascertain the facts regarding customs du-
ties, as Wen as prohibitions and other diff
culties that might meet exporters of butter
to Germany.
1T was found that no line of steamers
sailing to French ports direct could fur
nish refrigerator space, so shipments could
not be made during hot weather. When
w Of aY-
ceeds home demand, the secretary says,
it can be proitably sent both to Germany
and France. The American farmer is now
selling cheap grains and mill feed TO the
European dairymen, who meet us in Eu-
ropean markets with Products made from
raw material, furnished by us But there
is reason 70 believe that there is a grow
ing tendency toward the consumption of
grains and mill feeds at home and export
ing the products of skill and intelligence.
The trade in American farm products Is
growing in the China seas, and, in order
that markets may be opened up in Japan,
China and other countries of the Pacific
ocean, an agent is now in that region es-
tablishing agencies to which the depart
ment will make trial shipments and gather
all information possible for the American
producer
The secretary recommends the extension
and adoption of the law regarding the in
epection and certification of meats and
meat products for export so as to make
them apply TO butter and cheese
There is an evident necessity" the re-
port says, for the inspection of many
articles imported from foreign countries
that contain substances injurious to the
public health. The department chemists
are doing work along this line that sug-
gests a more comprehensive inquiry. The
department now buys samples for analy-
sis in the open market. 1t may be neecs-
sary, however, where therer is ground for
suspicion and a necessity for Identification
of source, to open packages at ports OF
entry, as it is proposed in foreign coun-
tries to do with our exports in certain
cases"
This brief statement is the only refer
ence the secretary makes TO restrictive
measures adopted by certain governments
respecting our products
The experimental exports of matter by
the agricultural department to Great
Britain were resumed at the opening OF
the season of 1898 on an enlarged scale
and Secretary Wilson says a decided gain
is evident in the favorable impression
made by butter of the first quality from
United States creameries on the best class
of the butter trade in London and Man
chester. Lack of proper attention tc
economic chemistry is complained of and
the report says we pay foreign countries
large sums for coal tar products, for ex-
ample, while we have skilled chemists
capital and raw material at home.
The secretary enlarges on the need o.
nature teaching in the common schools
He says there is a growing interest il
education that relates to production anC
all classes of intelligent people favor it.
With the exception of the very persons
who have fornd their way into our agri
cultural colleges, the education of our PEG
pie has moi been designed to prepare then
for producing from the soil.
The report suggests that the greatest diff
ficulties are to overcome the conservatism
of the local boards managing countr!
schools and to get competent teachers
The scientific educational subject is ex
haustively discussed, and while there il
no university of which young farmers ma!
pursue POSTGRADUATE studies in all the sci
ences relating to production, the scientific
divisions of the department of agriculture