The record-union., 1898-08-15
Special Agents Sent Out to China and
Japan.
Thought to be a Large Field for
American Butter Obtaining a
Hold in European Cities-ERorts
Being Made to Bring Insects
for Caprifcation of Figs.

Special Correspondence Record-Union.
WASHINGTON, Aug. IA great
American lake! The Pacific is to
be a great; American lake" said
''Tama jim Wilson, President McKin-
ley's Secretary of Agriculture. Mr.. VIII
son is one of those who believe that the
proper policy for this Government Is to
firmly establish itself in Pacific waters,
where is presented such an opportunity
for expansion in foreign trade. AT this
time, when the markets of the Far East
afford such an attractive field Tor all
exporting countries, Mr.. Wilson Is
strongly in favor of an aggressive pol
icy by the United States.
1T is only necessary" said he, ito
properly introduce and establish our
farm and dairy we'll as manufactured
products in Japan, China and adjacent
countries in order to secure our full
share of their trade. We can produce
agricultural products, we can produce
dairy products, and we can produce
meats as cheaply as any country in the
world; and, moreover, we can produce
them of a superior quality. In this con-
nection,'' he continued, 1--WE have just
sent out from this department some
special agents. One of them goes to
Japan to investigate the possibilities OF
opening markets there and in China for
American dairy products. The people
of those countries have no cows, but
they are becoming very fond or good
butter and cheese. Our creameries can
supply butter in sealed cans without
sacrificing anything in flavor or quail
ity, and the department proposes 10
help the American farmer to find for
eign market for this product.
The same, too, can be said generally
as to cheese. We are now sending
every week consignments of best Amer
lean butter 70 London, Manchester,
Paris and Hamburg. and the people
there. now that they are. finding out
where it comes from, like it well. One
great trouble encountered in foreign
markets is the high color of the Amer
lean butter The feeds of Europe do
not impart the rich color to butter that
American grasses do, and consequently
foreigners think our butter is colored;
but it is only a matter of time and edu-
cation when a general demand will be
created for the American product. In
cidentally our agent in Japan is going
to find out all about the fine rice raised
there, which is SO much superior to that
grown in the Southern States, with a
view to introducing the variety in this
country"
The production of the genuine Smyrna
fig in the United States is a subject OF
no little interest. and especially to CAL
ifornia and the Southern fruit growers,
and is one TO which Secretary Wilson is
giving special attention at this time.
The native fig grows we'll and bears
abundant crops Of fruit both in the
South and in California, but while it Is
excellent for canning and preserving 1t
does not compare for drying with the
imported fig. The imported dried fig,
as everybody knows, contains hundreds
of tiny seeds, and it is found that in the
large number of these perfected seeds
contained in the Smyrna fig lies the Sc
cret of the delicious flavor of that vari-
ty The native fig, when dried entirely
lacks this flavor. Enterprising fruit
growers, of course long since introduced
the Smyrna fig tree, particularly in CAL
ifornia, and were much pleased with its
rapid growth and Development but for
some unaccountable reason 1t bore no
figs. 1t biossomed freely, but no fruit
set; or if by chance a fig matured it
was poor and havoIless and contained
no seeds. s
Investigation then showed that the