Rock Island Argus., 1899-12-18
ADVANCES IN FARMING.
Varied and Useful Work of the
Agricultural Department.
FOREIGN FRUITS GROWN HERE.

Coast With Marked Success-Trop-
Can Be Raised In Our New Possess
siOns-Introduction of New Plants.
The annual report of Secretary Will
son summarizes an immense amount
of valuable work done by rhe agricul-
tural department in Washington dur
ing the past year. He comments par
ticularly on the successful extension
of the weather bureau service around
the Caribbean sea, giving timely storm
warnings to the vessels of the navy
and merchant marine. says the Phila-
deIphia Public Ledger.
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 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 possessions
zones suitable for the culture of these
plants. The United States now i'm
ports about $4,000, 900 worth of rub
ber annually, and it is thought that a
large proportion of this supply can be
raised in our new island possessions.
The same is true of Egyptian cotton,
of which we import S5,000,0OO worth
annually. while he thinks that $780,
100000 worth of tropical products
;at,
all be raised in Porto Rico, Hawaii and
the Philippines.
Much work has been done in the
hybridiZing of grains to secure varie-
ties which will resist drought, rust
and cold. The same methods are be-
ing used to produce hardy orange trees
and sea island 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 lumbermen
of several states.
Irrigation work in the west has been
carried on, and much alkali 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 this subject
of water rights and reservoir rights.
The experiment station work of the
department has been extended to Alas
ka 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 prod
ucts of which our importations are
now 5000, 100000 annually.
Extensive experiments are being car
ried on in road construction, in CO.
operation with the local authorities of
the several states, including the build
ing of sample roads from the mate
rialS found in different localities and
the laying of steel track wagon roads.
The third year of experimentation
with hog cholera shows that from 7o
to so per cent of the hogs injected
with serum are saved.
The secretary strongly recommends a
more rigid inspection of our export
dairy products to counteract the injury
that has been done to the trade by un-
scrupulous dealers in th4bast.
Regarding seed distribution, the sec
retary says that there is no need for
the department to come into competi-
tion with the sales of SeedSmen, but
that there is room for valuable work
in the collection and distribution of
such foreign seeds and plants as are
adapted TO the United States, but
would not be secured by private enter
prise.
Tea growing experiments in South
Carolina are commended, and he notes
that 5000 pounds of good tea were |
raised in the gardens at Summeryille |
in the last season.
Turkestan alfalfa, introduced by the |
has been found valuable |
forage plant in the northwest for re- |
sisting both cold and drought. It's intro |
duction, it is said, probably will add |
of dollars to the annual hay |
product of the country.
A valuable quality OF rice has been |
introduced from Japan. 1t is superior |
to the domestic product, and should it |
succeed in Louisiana hundreds of thou
sands of dollars will be added yearly |
to the rice growing industry. The sec
retary asks for $4,000 to prosecute
technical and scientific investigation of
native drug plants in cooperation with
the Pan-American congress.