The evening times., 1898-11-30
SEARCHING FOR
new ESCULENTS
Work of Agricultural Agents
in Foreign Lands.
SECRETARY WILSON'S IDEAS
Development of the Beet Sugar
Industry.
SECRETARY WILSON'S IDEAS
Exploring South America for Nut
Bearing and Fruit-PrOdueinG
Trees.

There are many things Of interest and
Importance accomplished by the d pat
gnent of Agriculture that are not brought
10 light in the annual reports of that di-
vision of the Government, and often the
mere statement of what has been accom-
plished gives a poor idea of the great
amount OF labor and thought necessary
to obtain results. The average tiller of
the soil, who receives his yearly al-ot-
ment of seeds from his Congressman,
pays but little heed to the work which
Is necessary for his advancement and
seldom really appreciates TO what eX-
pense the Government is put or the valu-
able time of It's officials devoted in their
endeavoT TO make the Amer can farmer
stand pre-eminent among the tillers OF
tbe soil throughout the world In the be
ginning, there was but a small founda-
zion and a poor quality of cereal seed
to start the agricultural development q
this country Since that time, or rather
since the establishment of the Depart
ment of Agriculture the quality of the
products raised has improved al woE-
derful rate. In addition to the hundred
thousand dollars spent every year u pro-
cure - IDS or bulbs TO send To the farmer
n new department has been lately iG:3ti-
luied for the purpose Of searching for
eien lands TO secure seeds and bu bs
which may bc introduced and devslo )ed
n this country. This new department is
known as the Plant and Seed ImTarta-
tion Division. and owes its origin to s c.
retary Wilson. This branch of the de
| partment instituted has become one OF
| his hobbies, and receives more thought
from this worthy official than any other
one division. Its purpose is to locate
agents in various countries all over the
world. TO look up the history aud habits
of all sorts Of new plants, in order 10 find
those that may be transplanted and
grown in this country.
When I first went into office, said the
Secretary, lit WAS my intention to DEM
onstrate TO the farmers of the United
States that we could grow our own beets
and make our own sugar. Just one year
after the possibilities in this line became
known, the beet sugar industry had dou
bled. There are now sixteen sugar fac
tories in active operation. The first year
1 caused to be sent out seventeen tons of
beet seeds, with the result that millions
OF dollars worth Of sugar is annually be-
ing made IN TINS country.
1t only requires 1.60p,Ge0 acres to raise
2.@98,0j0 tons Of beets, sufficient 10 make
sugar enough to supply our demand FOR a
year. There is now over a million dol
lars being spent annually for imported
sugar, and within ten years that money
will all be paid TO the American farmer.
Two years ago there was 5.0el.GJJ pounds
Of chickoTy shipped into the United States
for the purpose of adulrerating coffee.
Last year but 10000 pounds We're import
ed. the remaining demand being supplied
by the farmers of Nebraska ana Michi-
gan.
1t does not require an extended COM
prehension To appreciate the possibilities
Of the American farmer. With the great
scope of natural advantages which result
from the size of our country, embracing
nearly all the climate of the globe, Of
growing every possible thing that we may
need for our consumption. After seeing
the magnificent results OF my first two
experiments | determined TO extend these
opera tions. and the plant and seed impor-
tation division is the result. / have now
four men in the field investigating and
maturing into the agricultural develop
ments Of foreign countries, and l expect
= very fine report as a result Of their Ia
bors.
"One man. FOR instance. is now in the
northern part OF Russia investigating the
grains Of that country, to determine the
kind Of wheat used in obtaining the most
profitable results to the farmers there.
II is not generally known that the orisi-
nal wheat seed of all the grain which is
grown in this country came from Russia.
The greatest enemy to wheat growing in
the United States is known as red rust,
and we are endeayoring to find a wheat
that will withstand this fungus.
This rust is a minute vegetable growth
that strikes the stalk of the grain just
as it is getting ready 10 bloom, and ma
teriaUy affects the development Of the ce-
real, and often destroys an entire crop.