The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1899-11-30
VIII SONS ANNUAL REPORT
Summary of the Work of the Ag-
ricultural Department.
RAISING SMYRNA FIGS
In a Few Years California Will Produce
as Fine Fig as the Imported Ar
ticle-Recommendati for
Irrigation.

washington, Nov 29.-The annual re-
port of Secretary Wilson summarizes
the immense amount of work done by
the agricultural department 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 fertilzing Smyrna
figs. 1t is believed that in q few years
the Pacific coast will be able to produce
as fine figs as are imported from the
Mediterranean.
The United States now imports $780,
goo 600 worth of rubber annually, and
it is thought that large portion of
this supply can be raised in Our new
possessions. The same is true Of Egyp-
tan cotton, of which we import $4,000
600 worth annually, while he thinks that
$500, 900, 600 worth of tropical products
which We now import can 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 drodth, rust and
cold The same methods are being 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 lumbeTmen
of several states.
Irrigation work in the West has been
carried on and much alkali land has
been reclaimed.
The secretary's recommendations in
this line include irrigation experiments
in the East and South outside of the
= tI.., ,t1x,
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 and to Hawaii Porto Rico and the
| Philippines, so that they may be en-
abed to supply the United States with
| tropical products, of which our impor-
! tations are now $780, 600 annually.
| Extensive experiments are being car
ried on in road construction in connec-
| ton with the local authorities of several
| states, including the building OF sam
pie roads from the materials found In
the different localities and laying of
steel track wagon roads.
| The third year of experimentation
with hog cholera shows that from Il
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 this trade by un-
scrupulous dealers in the past.
Regarding seed distribution the secre'
tary says there is no need for the de
partmept to come into competition witt
the sales of the seedsmen but tina
there is room for valuable work in the
collection and distribution Of such for
eign seeds and plants as are adapted t
this country, but would not be secured
by private enterprises.
Tea growing experiments in Soutl
Carolina are commended and he note
that $500 pounds Of good tea wer
raised in the gardens at Summervill
in the past season.
Turlsestan alfalfa introduced by tn
| department has been found a valuabl
| forage plant in the Northwest for re
sistance to both cold and drought. 1t
introduction, it is said, probably vii
add millions of dollars to the annua
hay product Of the country. A valuabl
quality of rice has been introduced fror
Japan. 1t is superior to the domesti
product and should it succeed in Louis
lana hundreds of thousands of dollar
will be added yearly to the rice CROWN
industry
The secretary asks for $10,0 900 to prose
| cute a technical and scientific invest
| cation of native drug plants in co-opera
ton with the American congress.