The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1898-12-09
FARMING PROBLEMS.
Secretary Of Agricultu re Wilson Re-
ports on His Department.
SERUM TO PREVENT HOG CHOLERA.
Texas Fever Dipping stat IONS To H. Estab-
Iished at Convenient P1inta-Enorts
Making to Perfect crop sta
tiaticH-Forest Lands.

Washington, Dec. 2.--Secretary OF
Agriculture James Wilson, in his an
pual report, made public asst night,
in addition to discussing domestic
problems, reviews our agricultural re-
lations in foreign fields. He also dis
cusses the agricultural resources in
our island acquisitions. On the prac-
ticablity of exporting dairy products
the secretary says that, owing to a
better home demand, it is not com
mercially profitable to send butter to
Europe just now, as the home demand
at present absorbs the supply. The
secretary recommends the extension
and adoption of the provisions of
the law regarding the inspection
and certihcation of meats and
meat products for export, so as
to make them apply to butter
and cheese. The brands, pure but
ter" and full cream cheese" should
then be affixed by the United States
inspectors to such products as come up
to the required standard of quality.
This would place the good butter and
cheese of this country on foreign mar
kets under the identifying label and
guaranty OF the United States govern
ment The experimental exports of
butter 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 decided gain is evident In the
favorable impression made by butter
of the first quality from the United
States creameries on the better class
of butter trade in London and Man.
chester.
Nothing is being done in most OF the
common schools of the states, the Sec
rotary says, to cultivate taste and
lead the mind to inquire nto and store
up facts regarding nature, so that the
young farmer may be directed into the
path that leads to education concern
ing his future lifework. This scien-
tific educational subject is exhaust
lively discussed, and while there is no
university where young farmers may
pursue postgraduate studies in all the
sciences relating to production, the
scientific divisions of the department
of agriculture, it is urged, to some ex-
tent can provide postgraduate facili-
ties.
The distribution of young plants to
various parts of the country reached a
total for the year of 100, 900. including
bulbs. This experimental garden
work is expected to reap material gen
eral benefit.
The report announces that the
bureau of animal industry has per-
fected a dip which takes the fever
ticks from cattle, so that they can be
moved north at any season, that it has
continued experiments with anti-t toxin
serum to prevent and cure hog chol era,
and 1t is recommended that this dis
covery, having been made by public
officials at pu bile expense, should not
be diverted to private cost, and that
the serum manufacture should be con-
tinued under government control at
least for some wears to cone. The
Texas fever dipping stations will be
established at convenient points before
the next quarantine season. The re-
suits from the blackleg vaccine indi-
cate the percentage of loss in herds
has been reduced from ten to 20 per
cent to less than one per cent This
indicates that ii generally used it will
tend to eradicate the disease com
pletely. Detailed figures as To micro
, scOpic inspection of meat are sub
: United.
} Quick and timely information has
been gained of foreign markets. under
the direction of Chief Hitchcock, aud
our knowledge of the islands of the
Caribbean and China seas LARGE " in
creased. Oar foreign trade in agricu i
turnl product, is shown to be over
two-thirds of our domestic exports aud
is steadily growing. while the produc-
) tion of field products introduced from
foreign countries is rapidly increasing,
cansing corresponding decrease in
, agricultural imoorts Good work has
been done in hyDridizing the orange
and other citrus plants and in the
crossing of pineapples, increasing the
I size and vigor and greatly improving
: the flavor
Observation and forecast weather
= stations have been extended around
the Caribbean sea and increased
through the interior of this country,
= especially in the mountain states.
The natural life zones of the United
States are being surveyed and the
areas best adapted to various crops de-
termined. Four scientific explorers OF
the department are abroad getting
seeds and plants in Russia, the Med
iterranean region, the China sea anc
; South America Strenuous efforts ar,
|, making to perfect crop statistics, anc
Statistician Hyde has successful meas
ures to preclude accurate premature
statements of the official figures. The
Alaskan interior will be explored mex
summer to learn its capacity to sup
port population, while the coastal re
sources already have been determined
Steel rails are stated to be the com
ing material for good roads where
"~'' '--'S - not "0n ,erF.