The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1898-12-02

and lead the mind to inquire into and store
up facts regarding nature, SO thar me
path that leads to education concerning
The report suggests that the greatest
difficulties are to overcome the cOnSeENa-
tism Of the local boards managing country
schools and get competent teachers. The
scientific educational subject is exhaust
lively discussed, and while there is no uni
versity where young farmers may pursue
post graduate studies in all the sciences
relating to production, the scientific d.
visions of the department of agriculture.
it is urged. to some extent can provide
post graduate facilities The capacity OF
the department is limited, but assistants
are often tempted to accept higher sal
aries in state institutions ana the open
ing of the laboratories to post graduate
work would provide an eligible list to fill
airy agents and also furnish scientific as
Slstants in state INSTITUTIONS. ! ne olSttl-
button of young plants to various parts
of the country reached a total for the year
mental garden work IS expected TO reap
material general benefit.
The report announces that the bureau
which takes the fever ticks from cattle,
son, that it has continued experiments
with anti-tOxine serum to prevent and
that this discovery, having been made by
public officials at public expense, should
not be diverted to private profit, and that
the serum manufacture should be contin-
ued under government control, at least for
dipping sta lions will be established at con-
venient points before the next quarantine
vaccine indicate the percentage of loss in
herds has been reduced from 10 to 20 per
cent to less than / per cent. This indi-
Gates that if generally used it will tend
to eradicate the disease completely. De
tailed figures as to microscopic inspection
of meat are submitted.
Other features of the report briefly fol-
low:
Quick and timely Information has been
gained of foreign markets, under the di-
rectton of Chief Hitchcock,and our knowl-
edge OF the ISLANDS or the GaIlDpean ana
China seas largely increased. Our for
trade in agTiCultuTalr products IS
SHOWN to be over tWO-thlrdS Of our comes
tic exports. and is steadily growing. while
the production of field products introduced
from foreign countries IS rapidly lncreaS-
ing. causing a corresponding decrease in
Agricultural imports. Good work has been
done in hybridizing the orange and other
citrus plants and in the crossing OF pine
apples, increasing the size and vigor and
greatly improving the flavor.
Observation and forecast weather sta
tons have been extended around the
Caribbean sea and increased through the
interior of this country, especially in the
mountain states. The natural life zones
of the United States are being surveyed
and the areas best adapted to various
ers of the Department are abroad getting
seeds and plants in Russia, the Mediter-
ranean region the China sea and South
America. Strenuous efforts are making
to perfect crop statistics, and Statistcfan
Hyde has taken successful measures to
preclude inaccurate premature statements
of the official figures.
The Alaskan interior will be explored
next summer to learn its capacity to sup
Port PoP1la 5 , WRlle G4asII
Steel rails are stated to be the coming
material for good roads where hard rock
Regarding forestry. species adapted to
dry regions are now being introduced, bet
ter methods of handling forest lands IN
public and private ownership are being
introduced by government agents and fire
prevention and fire fighting are being
studied The report also refers to the
value and popularity of the official farm
ers' bulletins and to soil and tobacco re-