The evening times., 1898-11-30

Barley is affected in the same manner,
but in the course of time We expect to
find a cereal that will be rust proof, as ii
were
Another agent is now in the countries
bordering on the Mediterranean Sea. He
is there investigating the fruits and flow
ers which grow IN that locality. The Al
gerian orange is Il fruit we want to grow
in this country. II is not generally known
that in the Department OF Agriculture
stands the mother tree of all navel orange
trees in the United States. Thousands
and thousands Of dollars are expended
annually for French truffles, or mush-
rooms. We intend TO grow them here.
Every spring the churches fSshiona-
BILE people and florists spend great
amount of money for the Easter lily.
That flower is now only extensively
grown i'll Bermuda and the supply for
the Easter demand is obtained from
there In very few years under the
same condition that prevails now the lily
of Bermuda will become extinct as the
ground there is fast wearing ont We
learn that the lily can be successfully
grown in this country, particularly in
New Mexico Texas, Mississippi and
North Carolina, where the ground is 100
rich TO be affected by its moRstrous appe-
tite.
There IS . beautiful. delicious grape
which is grown in France and we want
to grow il in America In years past we
have been afraid to impart it, in conse-
quence of a germ, phylloxera, which
works havoc among the vineyards in that
country, that would have TO be brought
with the fruit. The botanists have lately
discovered a method for killing these bac-
terra. and will soon have the grape grow
ing here in all its glory. In California
there are over 10000 fig trees which bear
no fruit for the want of polleniZation.
This can only be accomplished by secur-
ing a little insect, known as blastopha-
ga which lives in Asia, and bring him to
this country to live among the fig trees.
The Turks are just as anxious. that we
do not get hold of this little fellow as we
are to naturalize him, and our agent is
having considerable trouble to gather a
sufficient amount to import. Last year
number of these insects were procured
and brought over but it proved to be too
late in the season to try the experiment
then. 1t has lately been discovered that
the soil of Arizona affords every condi-
ton necessary for fig growing.
There are thousands and thousands of
pounds of dried apples and apple parings
sent abroad every year, and the Juice
from these products is returned to this
country bottled and labeled and sold as
champagne. The only process the fruit
undergoes is the addition of a ferment
the secret of which is owned and kept by
foreigners. By some means we intend to
secure this ferment in order to make our
own champagne.
THE agent now in China has instruc-
tions to discover all he can regarding the
growth of rice in that country. The Amer
lean rice is now of rather an inferior quail
ity and does not command the price OBJ
tanned for the Chinese and Japanese ar
ticle. Last year / delivered two carloads
of imported rice 10 the Southern States
and the reports of this year show an inn
provement in the product grown here
hardly to be expected so soon. The Amer
ican rice is long and narrow and has
tendency to crumble when shaken about
That from Japan is more oval and is less
apt to break. While in China the agent
is to investigate and obtain information
relative to the establishment of an agency
for the purpose of introducing American
butter in that country. AT the various
experimental stations dairymen have been
endeavoring to devise manner of pack
ing butter so that it will keep fresh in
definitely. The quality now exported is
not what you might call prime, but is usu-
ally found to be rancid when unpacked
and only fit for use as axle grease. But
ter sells in China for about 40 cents
pound, and there Is no reason why the
American dairymen should not get this
trade.
1.-The butter made on the Pacific Coast
is not of as high a standard as that made
in other parts of the country. The butter
made in the Mississippi Valley Is the finest
in the world. l want TO establish world