Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1899-11-30
PROGRESS IN AGRICULTURE
Secretary Wilson Reports Excellent Work for
the Pas. Year.
Zig, Rubber Free, Hardy Grain,
Orange, Cotton, Etc. Irrigation
Experiments New Alfalfa.

Washington, Nov. 2g.-The annual
report Of Secretary Wilson summarizes
an immense amount OF work done by
the agricultural department during the
past year.
The division OF entomology has done
valuable work this year IN showing
fruit-groWers on the Pacific coast NE
proper method Of ferullzlng smyrna
figs. It Is believed that Ia a few years
the Pacific coast win be able to pro.
duce the fine figs as are imported from
the Mediterranean.
The department has gathered much
Information regarding the plants which
supply India rubber and gu,ta pelcha
and expects during the coming year to
locate in our island possessions zones
suitable for the culture of these plants.
The United States now imports about
100000 600 worth Of rubber annually
and It Is thought that a large portion
Of this supply can be raised In our new
possessions. The same Is true Of
Egyptian cotton. Of which We import
S5VJQU0O worth annually, while he
thinks that S2QO0O0.0OO worth Of tropi-
cal products which we now import can
be raised In Porto Rico, Hawaii and
the Philippines.
Much work has been done In the by.
oridi2ing Of grains TO Secure varieties
which will resist drought. rust OF cold.
The same methods are being used 20
produce hardy orange trees and sea
Island cotton, which VIII be immune 70
the fungus disease now attacking that
staple.
Irrigation work in the West has been
carried on and much alkal land has
been reclaimed. The secretarys rec
concentrations In this line include irii-
cation experiments in the East and
South outside the arid region. He
thinks congressional action also may
be necessary In the West on the subject
Of water rights and reservoir sites.
The experiment station work of the
department has been extended 10
Alaska and has been extended 70 Ha-
wall, Porto Rico and the Philippines,
50 that they may be- enabled 10 supply
the United states with the tropical prod
ucts, OF which our impOrtatlons are
now 500 900 600 annually. Extensive
experiments are being carried on In
road construction In connection with
the local authorities Of several States
including the building Of sample roads
from the materials found In different
localities and laying Of steel track
wagon roads.
The third year Of experimentation
with hog cholera shows that from IS
to 80 per cent Of the hogs injected with
serum are saved.
The secretary strongly recommends
q more rigid inspection Of our export
dairy products to counterfeit the injury
that has been done 10 this trade by
dealers IN the past.
Regarding SEED distribution the Sec
rotary says there is no need for the |
department 10 come into competition |
with the sales Of the seedsmen, but |
that there H. 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 enterprise
Tea growing experiments in South |
Carolina are commended, and he notes
that 5000 pounds OF good tea were
raised In the gardens al Summervllle In
the past season.
Turkestan alfalfa introduced by the
department. has been found a valuable
'Orage plant IN the Northwest for re-
'IstanCe to both cold and drought Its
Introduction Il Is said probably will add
millions OF dollars TO the annual hay
product Of the country.
a valuable quality Of rice has been
from Japan. II Is superior
20 the domestic product and should II
succeed In Louisiana hundreds Of thou
iands OF dollars viii De added yearly 20
he rice growing industry.
The secretary asks for $4,000 10 pros
cute a technical and scientific inyesti-
ration Of native drug plants In CO.
,peration with the Pan-American con-
gress