The age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1897-1902, 1898-12-02
For Future Requirements Which Cannot
be Specifically Anticipated.
OUR NEWLY ACQUIRED TERRITORY
Commercial interests of the Philippines
and Porto Rico Urgently Call for I'm
mediate Attention by the De-
partment ofAgriculture.

washington, DeceuiDtT i-OcCictaiJ VI
Agriculture James Wilson, in his annual
report, which was made public tonight, in
addition to discussing domestic problems,
reviews our agricultural relat ons in foreign
fields. He calls for an emergency appro-
priation of lump sum for future require
ments that cannot all be anticipated spe-
officially. Explorations and territorial ac-
QUESTIONS and the sudden appearance of
pests are some of these possible eniefgen
cies.
Regarding the territory of our new ac-
QUESTIONS, Secretary Wilson says: I'm the
territories recently brought under the con-
/ troll of the United States the commercial
interests urgently call for attention by this
department. The Hawaii and the West
India islands depend almost exclusively for
their prosperity upon their agricultural
productions. It behooves the department,
therefore, to place itself at the earliest pos
sible moment in position to extend to the
agriculturists of those territories which
have or may come under the United States
flag the services and benefits which 1t rem
ders to the farmers of the United States"
1t is urgently necessary, the secretary
says, that congress should speedily as
department in making such Investigations
as may be necessary into the agricultural
resources of Hawaii, Porto Rico, Cuba and
the Philippines
Expert of Products
On the practicability of exporting dairy
products the secretary says that owing TO
a better home demand it is not CONNER
cially profitable to send butter to Europe
lust now, as the home demand at present
absorbs the supply. For the purpose OF
obtaining for the dairy farm all the facts
relating to the export of this article the
department sent an agent to Paris to as
certain what encouragement there would
be to ship butter to that port, and an
agent to Hamburg to ascertain the facts
regarding custom duties as well as pro-
hibitions and other difficulties 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 couid
not be made during hot weather Whenever
our home supply OF finest butter exceeds
the home demand, the secretary says, 1t
can profitably be sent to both France and
Germany.
The American farmer is now selling cheap
grains and mill feeds to the European
dafryman who meets US in European mar
W
furnished by US. But there is reason to be-
lieye that there is a growing tendency to-
wards the consumption of grains and mill
feeds at home and exporting the products
of skill and intelligence The trade in 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 re-
gion establishing agencies, to which the
department will extend all the aid possible
in he interests of the American farmer
Inspection of Meat
The secretary recommends the extension
and adoption of the provisions of the law
regarding the inspection and certifcation
of meats and meat products for export so
as to make them to apply to butter and
cheese. This would place the good butter
and cheese of this country in foreign mar
kets under the identifying label and guar
anty of the United States government.
There is an evident necessity" the re-
port says, for the inspection of many
articles imported from foreign countries
that contain substances injurious to public
health. The department chemists are doing
work along this line that suggests more
comprehensive inquiry The department
now buys samples for analysis in the open
market. 1t may be necessary, however,
where there is ground for suspicion to open
packages for inspection, as 1t is proposed in
foreign countries to do with our exports
This brief statement is the only reference
the secretary makes to restrictive measures
adopted by certain foreign governments re-
specting our products.
Lack of proper attention to economic
chemistry is complained of and the reports
say we pay foreign countries large sums
for coal tar products, while We have skilled
chemists capital and raw material at
home.
The secretary enlarges upon the need of
nature teaching In the common schools
He says that there is growing interest in
education that relates to production, and all
classes of intelligent people favor It,
More knowledge by the farmer of what he
deals with every day would enable him to
control conditions, produce more from an
acre and contribute more to the general
welfare
Education of Teachers
With the exception of the very few per-
sons who have found their way into agri-