The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1899-11-30
WILSON'S ANNUAL REPORT.
? IMMENSE AMOUNT OF WORK OF
AGRICULTURAL DEPARTMENT.
New Island Possessions Looked to
as the Service of Future supply
for the Millions of Dollars Worth
of Tropical Products Imported.

WASHINGTON. Nov. ca-The annual
report OF Secretary Wilson summarizes
an immense amount Of work done by the
agricultural depar1m during the past
year.
The division Of entomology has done val
liable work this year On showing fruit
growers Oh the Pacific coast the proper
method OF fertilizing SMYRNA figs. II Is
believed that In a few years the Pacific
coast viii be able 20 produce as fine figs as
are imported from the Mediterranean. The
department has gathered much information
regarding the plants which supply india
rubber and gutta pareha and expects dur
ing the coming year 10 locate In cur island
possessions zones suitable for the culture
Of these plants
The United States now imports $50 eeo, ooe
worth OF rubber annually and Il is thought
that a large portion Of this supply can Re
raised In our new possessions. Tee same
is true OF Egyptian cotton. of which We
import S.9ss0ss worth annually while he
thinks that S2eeeao..o worth Of tropical
products which We now import can be
raised in Porto Rico Hawaii and the Phil
ippines.
dining Of grains 20 secure varieties which
will resist drought, rust and cold. The
same methods are being used 10 produce
hardy orange trees and sea fisiand cotton.
which will be immune 10 the fungus dis
ease now attacking that staple.
Practical forestry work is being done on
large scale among the iun1bermen OF
several states.
Irrigation work IN the West has been
carried on and much alkali land has been
reclaimed. The secretarys recommends
tions in this line include irrigation expert
mengs in the East and South outside OF the
arid region. He thinks congressional ac-
ton also may be necessary In the West
on the subject OF water rights ard reser-
yoir sites.
The experiment station work of the de-
paytment has been extended 10 Alaska.
Also To 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 ia,ions are
now 500 Ac1 90 annually Extensive expert
ments are being carried on in road con-
struction In connection with the local au-
thorities 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 70 20 80 per
cent OF the hogs injected with serum are
saved.
The secretary strongly recommends a
more rigid inspection of our export dairy
products. TO couateract the injury that has
been done 10 this trade by interruptions
dealers In the past.
Regarding seed distribution, the sacre-
tary says there is no need for the de-
partment TO come into competition with
the sales Of the seedsrnen. bat that there Is
room for valuable work I'm the collection
and distribution OF such foreign seeds and
plants as are adapted to this country but
would not be secured by private enter
prises.
lima are commended. and he notes that
3 800 pounds OF good tea were raised In the
gardens at Summeryille, in the past season
Turkestan alfalfa, introduced by the de-