The daily morning journal and courier. [volume] (New Haven, Conn.) 1894-1907, 1899-11-30
PROGRESS OF AGRICULTURE.
Interesting Report of Secretary Wilson
Some important Experiments.

| Some important Experiments.
| Washington, Nov. 29.-The annual re-
port Of Secretary Wilson summarizes
a large amount of valuable work done
| by the department during the past year.
He comments particularly on the sue
cessful extension of the weather service
bureau around the Caribbean sea, CIV
| ing timely storm warnings to the ves-
sells of the navy and merchant marine
The division of entomology has done
valuable work this year in showing
fruit growers of the Pacific the proper
method cH fertilizing Smyrna figs. 1t
is believed that in few years the Pa
cific coast will be able to produce as
fine figs as any 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 some
suitable for the culture of these plants,
The United States now imports about
$50, 100000 worth of this supply of rub
Der annually, and it is thought that a
large portion of this supply can be rails
ed in our new island possessions. The
same is true of Egyptian cotton, of
which we import SIS, 100000 worth annu-
ally, while the secretary thinks that
5000 900, 900 worth of tropical products
which we now import each year can all
be raised in Porto Rico, Hawaii and the
Philippines.
Much work has been done in the hy-
bridizing Of grains of some 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 growth now prevalent. r.
rigation work in the west has been
carried on and much alkali land has
been reclaimed. The experiment sta
tion work of the department has been
extended to Alaska and should be eX-
tended to Hawaii, Porto Rico and the
Philippines so that they may be en-
abled to supply the United States with
tropical products, which are now i'm
port. Extensive experiments are being
carried on in road construction in CO.
operation with the local authorities of
ing of sample roads from the materials
found in different localities and the lay
ing of steel track wagon roads. The
third year of experimentation with hog
cholera shows that from 70 to S5 per
cent. of the hogs injected with serum
are saved.
The secretary recommends a more
rigid inspection Of import dairy prod
ucts to counteract the injury done to
this trade by unscrupulous dealers in
the past. Regarding seed distribution
the secretary says that there Is no need
for the department to come into COM
petition with the sales of seedmen, but
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 will not be Sc
cured by private enterprise. Tea grow
ing experiments in South Carolina are
commended and he notes that $500
Of good tea was gathered in the
gardens at Summerville during the past
year.
Turkestan alafa introduced by the
department has been found a valuable
forage plant in the northwest for re-
ssting both cold and drought. Its in
it is said, proba bly, will add |
millions 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 |
brand and should it succeed in Louis |
ana hundreds Of thousands of dollars
will be added yearly to the rice grow
ng industry. The secretary asks for
100000 to prosecute technical and
scientific investigation OF native drug
1lants in cooperation with the Pan
American congress.