The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1898-12-06
The COuntry's Agriculture.

The COuntry's Agriculture.
Washington, December 1.-Secretary
of Agriculture James Wilson's annual
report, made public tonight, in addi-
ton to discussing domestic problems,
reviews our agricultural relations in
foreign fields. He calls for an emer-
gency appropriation of a lump sum for
future requirements that cannot all be
anticipated specifically. Exploration
by scientists of territorial acquisitions
n the sudden appearance of pests are
some of these possible emergencies.
Discussing agricultural interests in our
new island acquisitions, Secretary
| Wilson says:
( In the territories recently brought
| under the control of the United States
government the agricultural interests
urgently call for attention by this de-
partment. Hawaii and the West In
dia islands depend almost exclusively
for their prosperity upon their agricul-
tural production. 1t behooves the de-
partment, therefore, to place itself at
the earliest moment possible in a po-
sitiOn to extend to the agriculturists of
those territories which have, or may
come under the United States flag, the
services and benefits which it renders
to the farmers of the United States.
III Increased tIdOG reldClOnS winch
may be looked for between the United
States and its insular dependencies,
moreover, render the conditions of ag-
riculture in the latter and the charac-
ter and extent of their productions
matters of profound interest to the
people of the United States. It is ur-
gently necessary that congress should
as speedily as possible provide a suf-
ficient fund for the use Of his depart
ment in making such Investigations as
may be necessary into the agriculture,
sources and conditions in Hawaii,
Puerto Rico, Cuba and the Philip
| pines"
On the practicability of exporting
dairy products, the secretary says, that
owing to a better home demand, it is
not commercially profitable to send
butter to Europe 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 eX-
| port of this article, the department sent
an agent to Paris to ascertain what
encouragement there would be to ship
butter to that port, and an agent to
Hamburg to ascertain the facts regard
ing customs duties, as we'll as prohibit
| tons 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
| u IIllSh ltLIl SpdCt, So SIID-
ments could not be made during hot
weather. Whenever our home supply
of finest butter exceeds home demand.
the secretary says, it can pro1tably be
sent both to Germany and France. The
| American farmer is now selling cheap
| grains and millfeed to the European
| dairymen, who meet us in European
markets with products made from raw
material furnished by US; out there is
reason to believe that there is a grow
ing tendency toward the consumption
| of grains and millfeeds at home, and
exporting the products Of skill and in
| telligence.
The trad in American farm products
is growing in the China seas and. in or
der that markets may be opened up in
Japan. China and other countries of the
Pacific ocean. an agent is now in tina
region establishing agencies to which
the department will make trial ship
ments and gather all information pos
| sible for the American producer.
The secretary recommends the ex-
tension and adoption of the law re-
| garding the inspection and certification
| of meats and meat products for ex-
I port. SO as to make them apply 70
butter and cheese.
There is an evident necessity for
report avs, for the Inspection of
many articles imported from foreign
countries that contain substances in
| furious to the public health. The de-
partment chemists are doing work
along this line that suggests a mora
comprehensive inquiry. The depart
ment now buys samples for analysis in
the ope market. 1t may be necessary.
however. where there is ground for
suspicion and a necessity for the iden-
LITIGATION of sources to open packages
ports of entry. as it is proposed in
foreign countries to do with out *
ports in certain cases"
The experimental exports of butter
by the agricultural department to
Great Britain were resumed at thu
opening of the season of 1898 on an en-
larged scale, and Secretary Wilson says
a decided gain is evident in the IA
vorable impression made by butter %
the first quality from United states
creamerieS on the best class OF the but
ter trade in London and Manchester.
Lack of proper attention to economic
chemistry is complained Of and the re-
port says We pay foreign countries
large sums for coal tar products. for
example. while we have skilled chem
lists, capital and raw material at home.