The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1899-11-30
OUR OWN INDIA RUBBER.
Secretary Wilson Thinks It Can Be
Produced on Our Islands.

Washington, Nov. 30.-The annual re-
port of Secretary of Agriculture Wilson
summarizes an immense amount of
work done by the agricultural depart
ment during the past year.
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 q few years
the Pacific coast will be able to produce
as fine figs as are now imported from
the Mediterranean.
The department has gathered much
information regarding the plants which
supply India rubber and gutta percha
and expects, during the coming year to
locate in our island possession zones
suitable for the culture of these plants
The United States now imports about
$50, 900, 900 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 Egyp-
tan cotton, of which we import five
million dollars worth annually. while
he thinks that 5000, 600 worth of trop
zeal products which we now import can
be raised in Porto Rico, Hawaii and
the Philippines.
Much work has done in the hybri-
dizing of grains to secure varieties
which will resist drouth, rust and cold.
The same methods are being used to
produce hardy orange trees and sea is
land cotton, which will be immune to
the fungus disease now attacking that
staple.
Practical forestry work is being done
on a large scale among the lumber
men of several states.
Irrigation work in the west has been
carried on and much alkaH land has
been reclaimed The Secretary'S recon-
mendatiOns in this line include irriga-
ton experiments in the east and south
outside of the arid region. He thinks
that 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 to Alas
ka, Hawaii Porto Rico and the Phil
ippines, so that they may be enabled
to supply the United States with the
tropical products, of which our impOr-
tatiOnS are now two hundred million
dollars annually.
Extensive experiments are being car
ried on in road construction in cOnnec-
ton with the local authorities of sew
era1 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 experimentation with
hog cholera shows that from 70 to so
per cent of the hogs injected with Sc
rum are saved.
The secretary strongly recommends
a more rigid inspection of our export
dairy products, to counteract the in
jury that has been done to this trade
by INSCRIPTIONS dealers in the past.
Regarding seed distribution, the Sec
y
department to come into competition
with the sales of the seedsmen, but that
that there is room for valuable work in
the collection and distribution of such
foreign seeds and plants as are adapt
ed to this country, but would not be
secured by private enterprise.
Tea growing experiments in South
Carolina are commended and he notes
that $500 pounds of good tea We're rails
ed in the gardens at Summerville, in
the past season.
Turkestan alfalfa. introduced by the
department has been found a valuable
forage plant in the northwest for re-
sisting both cold and drought. Its in
PRODUCTION, it is said. probably will add
millions of dollars to the annual hay
product of the country. A valuable
quality of rice has been introduced
from Japan. It is superior to the do
nestle product and should it succeed
in Louisiana, hundreds of thousands of
dollars will be added yearly to the rice
growing industry.
The secretary asks for $4,000 to pro-
secute a technical and scientific inves-
LEGATION of native drug plants in coop
Grafton with the Pan-American con
2F6SS.