The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1899-11-30

NOW Costs the Country Millions of
Dollars to ImpOrt-Experimen
With Figs, Alfalfa, Tea and Rice
That Proved Observation-Disclosures
priatiOn Asked.
WASHINGTON, Nov. 29.-The annual
report of Secretary Wilson summarizes
an immense amount of valuable work
done by the agricultural department dur
ing the past year. He comments particu-
larly or the successful extension Of the
weather bureau service around TIE Car
ibbean sea, giving timely storm warnings
to the vessels of the navy and merchant
marine.
The division of entomology has done
valuable work this year in showing fruit
growers on the Pacific coast the proper
method of fertiliZing Smyrna figs. 1t
is believed that in a few years the Pa
citlc coast will be able to produce as fire
figs as are now imported from the Med
iterranean.
The department has gathered much in
formation regarding the plants which
supply India rubber and gutta percha and
expects during the coming year, to To-
cate in our island possessions zones suit
able for the culture of these plants. The
United States now imports about $50, 000,-
600 worth Of rubber annually and it is
thought that large portion OF this SIP
ply can be raised on our new island pos
sessions. The same is true of Egyptian
cotton. of which we import IS, 000 COG worth
annually, while he thinks that $500, 0OO, 600
worth trOni09l J1,oi obN
import each year can all be raised in
Porto Rico, Hawaii and the Philippines
Much work has been done in the hybrid
izing of grains to secure varieties which
will resist drought, rust and cold. The
same methods are being used to produce
hardy orange trees and sea island cot
ton, which will be immune to the fungus
disease now attacking that staple.
Practical forestry work is being done
on a large scale among the lumbermen
of several states
IRRIGATION WORK.
Irrigation work in the West has been
carried on, and much alkali land has
been reclaimed The secretary's recon-
lnendations in this line include irrigation
experiments in the East and South, out
side of the arid region. He thinks that
congressional action also may be ncces-
sarY III the West on the subject Of water
rights and reservoir sites.
Experiment station work CT the depart
ment has been extended to Alaska, and
should be extended to Hawaii, Porto Rico
and the Philippines, so that they may be
enabled to supply the United States with
the tropical products of which our i'm
portations are now $780, 000, 600 annually.
Extensive experiments are being car
ried on in road construction, in co-opera-
ton with the local authorities Of the sew
eral states, including the building of
sample roads from the materials found in
different localities, and the laying of steel
track wagon roads.
The third year of experimentation with
hog cholera shows that from rs to so per
cent of the hogs injected with serum are
saved.
The secretary strongly recommended a
more rigid inspection of our export dairy
products, to counteract the injury that
has been done to this trade by unscrup-
ulous dealers in the past.
DISTRIBUTION OF SEED.
Regarding seed for distribution, the
secretary says that there is no fear for
the department to come in competition
with the sales Of seedsmen, but there is
room for valuable work in the collection
and distribution of such foreign seeds and
plants as are adapted to this country, but
would not be secured by private enter
prise.
Tea growing experiments in South Car
DINA are commended, and he notes that
much good tea was raised in the gardens
at Sumr1crville in the pest season.
Turkestan alfalfa, introduced by the
department, has been found a valuable
forage plant IN the Northwest for resist
ing both cold and drought It's introduce
ton. 1t is said probably will add millions
of dollars to the annual hay product of
the country.
A valuable quality of rice has been in
troduced from Japan. 1t IS superior to
the domestic product, and should it sue
coed in Louisiana, hundreds Cf thousands
CT dollars will be added yearly to the
rice-growing industry.
The secretary asks for $4,000 to prose-
cute a technical and scientific investiga-
ton of native drug plants in cooperation
with the Pan-American congress.