Eagle River review. [volume] (Eagle River, Wis.) 1890-1927, 1898-12-08
FRUITS OF THE FIELD
SECRETARY WILSON'S ANNUAL
REPORT.
Head of the Department of Agricu1-
ture Discusses Various Subjects with
Which He Has Had to Deal in His
Official Capacity.

The Secretary Of Agriculture, in his an
nual report, presents some considerations
relating to the general work of the depart
ment which serve as the basis for special
recommendations and explain more fully
the estimates already presented for the
ensuing fiscal year.
On the practicability of exporting dairy
products, Secretary Wilson says it is not
commercially profitable to send butter to
Europe just now, as the home demand at
present absorbs the supply. For the pur-
pose of obtaining for dairymen all the
facts relating to the export 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 regarding customs duties, as well as
prohibition and other difficulties that
might meet exporters Of butter to Ger
many. 1t was found that no line Of steam
ers sailing to French ports direct could
furnish refrigerator space, so shipments
could not be made during hot weather.
Whenever our home supply of finest but
ter exceeds the home demand it can be
profitably sent to both France and Ger
many. The American farmer is now sell
ing cheap grains and mill feeds to the
European dairymen, who meet us in Eu
ropcan markets with products made from
raw material furnished by us. But there
is no reason to believe that there is a
growing tendency toward the consumption
of grains and mill feeds at home and ex-
porting the products Of skill and intelli-
gence.
Growing Trade in the East.
The trade in American 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 region es-
tablishng agencies, to which the depart
ment will make trial shipments and gath
err all information possible for the Ameri
can producer.
The Secretary recommends the extern
sion and adoption of the provisions of
the law regarding the inspection and GER
tification of means and meat products for
export, so as to make them apply to but
ter and cheese. The brands Of pure but
ter" and "full-cream cheese" should then
be affixed by United States inspectors to
such products as come up to the required
standard Of quality.
This would place the good butter and
cheese of this country in foreign markets
under the identifying label and guaranty
of the United States Government. The
dairy products of Denmark and Canada,
which are the chief competitors of the
United States in the markets of Great
Britain bear the inspection certificate and
guaranty of quality from their respective
governments.
The Secretary enlarges upon the need
of nature teaching in the common schools.
He says that there is a 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 en-
able him to control conditions, produce
more from an acre, and contribute more
to the general welfare.
The Secretary calls attention to the ne
cessity Of his department undertaking an
investigation of the agricultural condi-
tons of the insular dependencies of the
United States, emphasizing the fact that
the department should as soon as possible
put itself in position to extend to the
producers of these new regions, largely
dependent for their prosperity upon agri-
culture, the benefits which it now admit
tedly confers upon our own farmers. lie
also advises the careful study of the in
sect pests and plant diseases in these isl
ands. with view not only Of discovering
preventives or remedies, but of guarding
against their introduction into the United
States.
The report then reviews at length the
operations of the several bureaus, divis.
ions and Offices Of the department, reports
of some Of which have already been made
public. In conclusion. Secretary Wilson
expresses the opinion that review of this
work for the past year shows it to have
been one of satisfactory growth and de-
velopment.