The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1899-05-17
O the frnIt and tohncco indnstrIog.

see the fruit and tobacco industries.
have satisfied myself from observations
in Louisiana that Texas can raise rice as
successfully as in any other country |
have visited. I get samples Of tobncco
from all parts Of the South. but as rule
# is not fully matured and it is hard TO
determine its grade. The quality OF to-
bacco that is wanted can be raised in
Texas. however, and I want to find out
what aid the department can give TO show
q disposition to start them. And without
them a country will amount to very little.
"The visit of Secretary Wilson 10 South
west Louisiana and Southeast Texas means
d great deal more than appears upon the
surface" said General Passenger Agent
s F. b. Morse to Post man during the
trip of the special into Houston yesterday
afternoon, and as both sections have a
vast deal In common. 1t Is source of
qualification to me to think that my COM
pany has been Of service in bringing the
agricultural interests and the secretary of
agriculture together in q pleasant manner
THE secretary, in his desire to cover
/ the greatest stretch of country possible,
| had decided 10 go through the sections
/ have mentioned without stop or close
examination OF their resources. argued
/ With the distinguished gentleman, saying
| that as a large number OF his own Iowa
people had made their homes along DIR
| line, Il would not be considerntc TO Ig-
more their claims upon him, or to pass
/ them by, to say nothing about the fact
/ that each one of the IowGns were of tho
same party he represented
! The secretary at last consented to place
I himself at our tender merCles and we
made our plans to show him a country and
/ Il people, neither OF which have n superior
anywhere. North or South. To the end
that the gentleman witness everything OF
/ an agricultural nature as representing a
| practical advancement we decided to make
him acquainted with the possibilities at
| forded by the new rice development OF the
sections already described. The reveia-
I tons about Crowley Jennings and Lake
| Charles In this regard were In the nature
! of a surprise to The secretary who
admitted that the industry had eX-
coeded his expectations, and that Its
future was bright with the promise OF a
rich and lasting harvest 1nis surprise
was not lcssencd when he viewed the
! broad lands OF Southeastern Texas and
noted their adaptabIlity to rice culture.
Tho secretary N agriculture Is not
welded to any particular development ~
| country and his visit. to our territory IL
merely on a line with his determination
to seek the needs OF the entire country and
ascertain exactly what each particular Sec
| tion needed to make It's development per-
feet and thus insure the greatest possibls
benefits to the producers. He feels that
no section Is being given 10 the develop
meut OF the products which will thrive
best and that survey OF the held may
teach him Just what Is necessary 10 place
its people upon the plane they should oc-
cupy,
Secretary Wilson is an advocate OF
diversified farming. He does not believe
In the system which gives the lands TO a
single crop year after year and which de-
stroys because OF a gradual exhaustion
OF tho soil and because sufficient intelli-
gence Is not displayed by tho farmers in
planting crops which may restore to the
lands the chemical elements they lose.
He believes that the true success of the
farming classes lies in a cultivation Of a
variety OF products and the raising OF live
stock In proportion to the demands OF the
various sections.
He is n ilrm believer IN the wedding out
OF the poor and a substitution OF richer
material, and he IS prepared TO follow his
opinions by giving the agricultural sec
tions the benefits which ouly powerful
and observing government can place at the
service OF the people.
THE secretary is man born for the
, position he occupies Hts broad expert
ence in the lines he advocates and his
sympathy for the tillers Of the soil, coupled
l u
thinks It ought, must result 10 the up
building of the agricultural sections
He insists that the South can ans
should produce what she consumes That
Its lands are capable of producing much
that they do not aud he is going 20 see
that they have an opportunity OF making
good their deficit In this regard
! "The gentleman has already manifested I
disposition TO assist the rice country ant
! has forwarded ten tons Of fne japanese
! seed rice TO the growers of Arcadia auC
) Calcasieu. He intends to ascertain wha
2 Texas needs to destroy the fear of cottoT
D worms aud low prices OF the staple II,
is going to advocate the cultivation o.
( grasses that cattle may follow and diaries
{ may be established He believes that 81
6 great State may be made to produc,
' vastly In excess OF what It does today snt
with less concern for the farmer
He is going TO advocate, IN fact doe