Custer weekly chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, S.D.) 1890-1931, 1898-12-10
SECRETARY WILSON
SUBMITS HIS REPORT
He Discusses the Agricultural Re-
sources of Our New Island
Acquisitions.
THOROUGH INVESTIGATION NEEDED
Congress Urged to Make a Liberal
Appropriation for That Pur-
posc---Other Matters
OF Interest.

OF interest.
Washington, Dec. 3.-Secretary OF
Agriculture Wilson. in his annual re-
port, in addition TO discussing domes-
tic problems. reviews our agricultural
relations in foreign fields.
Discussing agricultural resources III
our new island acquisitions, Secretary
Wilson says:
1T behooves the department to place
itself at the earliest moment possible
in a position TO extend TO the agricul-
turists Of those territories which have,
or may come under The United States
flag, the benefits which it renders to
the farmers Of the United States. The
increased trade relations which may
be looked for between the United
States and its insular dependencies,
moreover, render tho, conditions of ag-
riculture in the latter n the charac-
ter and extent of their productions
matters of profound interest 10 the
people Of the United States. III the
interest Of our own agriculture, not
only must the agricultural resources
of these islands then be studied, close
ly and intelligcntly, but the dangers
which threaten agriculture in the ter
r~itOrics in the form OF plant diseases
or insect pests must be made the suu-
icct Of special investigation with q
view TO provide agriculture there WIN
preventive or remedial agencies, ana
also to secure our W agriculture
from the possibility of their introdnc-
ton into this country. 1t is urgently
necessary therefore that congress
should Us speedily as possible provide
a sufficient fund for the use Of this de-
partment in making such inycatIga'
tons as may be necessary
On the practicability of exporting
dairy products, the secretary says that'
owing to q better home demand, il ~
not commercially profitable to SEND
butter TO Europe just now. aS me
home demand at present absorbs TIC
supply. .
Whenever our home supply Of finest
butter exceeds the home demand, the
secretary says, it can he prolitaDly
sent TO both France and Germany. II
trade in American farm products is
growing ia 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 III
hat region establishing agencies, 10
which the department will make trlal
shipments and gather all information
possible for the American producer.
The secretary recommends the cN'
tension and adoption Of the provisions
r II. -. ,...,.linpr thn inGnprIinn
and ccrtitication Of meats and meat
products for export, so as TO make
them apply to butter and cheese.
There is an evident necessity the
report says, for the inspection on
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 more
comprehensive inquiry. The depart
ment now buys samples for analysis
in the open market. 1t may be ncccs-
sary, however, where there is ground
for suspicion and a necessity for the
inspection of source, TO open packages
at ports Of entry, as it is proposed in
foreign countries to do with our eN-
ports in certain cases
This brief statement is the only ref
ercncc the secretary makes TO restrict
i've measures adopted by certain for
eign governments respecting our pro-
ducts.
The experimental exports Of butter
by the agricultural department to
Great Britain were resumed at the OPP
euing of the season of 1898 III an en-.
largcd scale, and Secretary Wilson
SAYS a decided gain is evident in the ia
vorablc impression made by butter OF
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,
The secretary enlargcs upon the
need Of nature teaching in the com
mon schools. lie a V that there is a
growing interest in education that re-
lates to production and all classes of
intelligent people favor it.
With the exception Of the very few
persons who have found their way into
our agricultural colleges, the educa-
ton Of our people has not been de-
signed to prepare them for producing
from the soil. Nothing is being done
in most of the common schools of the
state to cultivate a taste and lead the
mind to inquire into and store up
facts regarding nature, so that the
young farmer may be directed into
the path that leads to education con
corning his future life work.
The distribution of young plants to
various parts OF the country reached
n total for the year Of 100000, includ-
ing bulbs. This experimental garden
is expected to reap material general
benefit.
The report announces that the bu-
reau of animal industry has perfected
q dip which takes the fever ticks from
oo1tla co thau nnn no mpyal month NJ