The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1898-12-02
NEEDS Of NEW POSSESSIONS
ENLARGED FIELD OF LABOR FOR
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Secretary Wilson Devotes . Large
share Of His Annual Report to
the Additional Responsibilities
Entailed by New Acquisitions.

Agriculture James Wilson. IN lis annual re-
port. made public tonight. in addition TO
discussing domestic problems. reviews our
agricultural relations in the foreign Held.
He calls for an emergency appropriation OF
a lump sum for future requirements that
cannot all be anticipated specifically EN-
plo-ation by scientists OF territorial acqai-
sitions and the sudden appearance Of pests
are soma OF the possible emergencies.
Discussing the agricultural resources or
our new island acquisitions. Secretary WI
son says:
In the territories recently brought I'M
der the control Of the United States gov
eminent agricultural interests urgently
call for attention by this department. Ha-
wall ard the West Indian islands depend
almost exclusively for their prosperity up
on their agricultural productions. Ii be-
hooyes the department, therefore. 10 place
itself a. the earliest moment possible in a
position to extend TO the agrtculturists or
under the United States Dag. the services
and benefits which it renders TO the farm
ers of The United States The increased
trade relations which may be locked Tor
between the United States and its snsuiar
dependencies, moreover, render 1.-The condl-
tons of agriculture in the latter and the
character and extent Of Their productions
matters Of profound interest 10 the people
of the United States. In the interest OF
our own agriculture. not only must me
agricultural resources or these lsaEos,
then. be studied closely and inteiaisenty.
but the dangers which threaten agriculture
in these territories in the form OF plant
disease or insect pests must be made the
subject of special Investigation with
view TO providing agriculture there win
preventive or remedial agencies ana also
10 secure our own agriculture from the PCS
siO.liiy Of their Introduction into this coun-
try. II is urgently NECESSARY. therefore,
that congress should as speedily as possible
provide a fund for the use of this depart
ment in making such investigations as may
be necessary Into the agricultural inter
eSts and conditions in HAWAII, Porto kico,
Cuba and the Philippines
Considerable space Is devoted to the
question Of exporting dairy products 10
Europe. The secretary says that. owing
TO q better home demand. ii is not COM
mercally profitable TO send butter TO Eu-
rope just now, as the home demand at pres
ent absorbs the supply. 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 ID
now in that region establishing agencies 10
which the department will make trial ship
ments and gather all information possible
for the American producer.
The secretary recommends the extension
and adoption OF the provisions of the law
regarding the inspection and certificate 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 ar
ticles imported from foreign countries that
contain substances injurious TO the public
health. The department chemists are do
ing work along this line that suggests
more comprehensive inquiry. The depart
ment now buys samples for analysis in the
open market 1t may be necessary. how
ever. where there is ground for suspicion
and a necessity for the identification or
source, TO open packages al ports OF entry,
IL T. cod ,. fA~ Ion
with our exports in certain cases.
This brief statement is the only reference
the secretary makes 10 the restrictive
measures adopted by certain foreign gov
ernments.
The secretary enarges upon the need OF
nature teaching in the common schools.
The report announces that the bureau OF
animal industry has perfected dip which
takes the fever ticks from cattle so they
can be taken north at any season; that X
has continued experiments with antitoxine
serum to prevent and cure hog cholera and
it 10 recommended that this discovery, hav-
ing been made by public officials at pubic
expense. should not be diverted TO private
cost and that the serum manufacture should
be continued under government control, at
least for some years 10 come. The Texas
fever dipping stations VIII be established
at convenient points before the next quar-
antine season. The results from the black
leg vaccine indicate the percentage OF loss
in herds has been reduced from 10 TO 20
per cent. TO less than per cent This In
dicates that If generally used X will tend 10
eradicate the disease completely Detailed
figures TO microscopic inspection OF meat
are submitted.
The report says good work has been
done in hyeridizing the orange and other
citrus plants and in the crossing Of pine
apples. increasing the size and vigor and
no
Observation and forecast weather stations
have been established in the interior Of
this country and especially in the mountain
states. Tie natural life Zones OF the Unit
ed States are being surveyed and the areas
best adapted 10 various crops determined
Four scientific explorers OF the department
are abroad getting seeds and plants In Rus
STA, the Mediterranean region, the China
sea and South America. Strenuous Efforts
are making to perfect crop statistics. and
Ststistician Hyde has taken successful
measures 10 preclude accurate premature
statements of the Official figures.
TIE Alaskan interior will he explored
mex; summer 10 learn It's capacity 10 sup
port population. while coastal resources
already have been determined
Steel rails are stated 20 he the coming
material for good roads where hard rock
Is not convenient.
Regarding forestry species adapted to
dry regions are now being introduced, bet
ter methods OF handling forest lands in
public and private ownership are being In
tro,iuced by governmental agents and fire
prevention and FIRE fighting ara being
studied.