New-York tribune., 1899-11-17
IN AGRICULTURE
FEATURES OF SECRETARY WILSON'S AN
JUAL REPORT.
Srv SEEDS AND PLANTS INTRODUCED BROAD
rS,Sc MARKETS FOR AMERICAN PROD
ucrs-REcoMMENDATIoNs FOR NEW
POSSESSIONS.
fnr TELEGRAPH TO THE TnrpuSs.l


,vash,,ston Nov 16-The forthcoming annual
renort of the Secretary OF Agriculture. which is
nearly ready for transmission 70 the rresiuen'' VIZ
show a wonderful progress FOR TINS Depar 'i"e".
during the year The duties or the department
have been considerably broadened under the pres
-, Admir,stration. and new fields have been oc-
cunied which have never heretofore been toucheu
bv the Government Several OF the lines OF ne"
work and new Investigations undertaken oy oeere
tary Wilson have proved extremely popular, the
results attained being of practical value to farm
ers breeders and fruit growers. Much WORK mas
aIso been started which will require years 10
compIete certain Investigations and experiments
necessarily occupying long period before ueHni'e
results can be attained and in this respect the De-
par.ments researches have the advantage over pri-
yate Investigations in that they can be carried 10
completion whereas private Work Hlust oito" |N"'S
before II is half finished.
l. One particularly Interesting experiment whicn
NAV result in great things has been the CROSSING
or hybridizing OF the orange. Crosses have peeh
made between the ordinary Florida orange ana 'he
hardy Japanese trifolate orange. and thousands Oh
these young hybrids being grown IL is conn
IDENTIFY expected the Secretary says. that some OF
them will combine the frost resisting quaiities OF
the japanese tree and the tender lusciousness Oh
Florida fruit 1t is singular thing largH ho-
ticeabe in the case OF hybrids. that such crosses
frequently assume the strongest and most uesi'a-
bic qualities OF both parents.
VALUABLE NEW SEEDS AMI bE'+''"'
strong feature Of the years work. according
TO the report has been the introduction into th's
country Of new seeds and plants. The Unlted
States imports about 100000 worth OF little
things for which American gold of course. Is sent
abroad and this importation 1t Is the desire OF the
Secretary to stop by the production OF the arucies
within tie United States. Such crops as ginseng
chiccory and Bermuda lilies which were formerly
imported in large quantities. are now being grown
and experimented with different parts or this
country, and will be eventually raised mere sum
cient TO meet the home demand, II not lot export
The Department has had seed gatherers ana eA-
plorers" in every quarter of the globe. ana the
narration OF their Investigations forms hlghly IN
terestlng reading. Their reports indicate that
there Is a vast amount yet TO learn about tne
worlds products and plants. one agent III the
arid regions OF Algeria found species or grasses
and forage plants which are proving OF great
value to the southwestern part OF the United
States where soil and climatic conditions are slHhi-
lar TO the arid countries Of the Old World
plant Introduction of last year, which may prove OIL
millions OF dollars value to Western stock raisers
Is the Turkestan alfalfa. During the severe
blizzard Of last winter nearly all the common
alfalfa of the Central West. where this plant Is
the principal forage crop. was killed. whlle no"
the Turkestan variety Is found to have perfectly
wthstood this weather. thus proving Its great
hardness.
A special feature OF seed introduction is the find
ing in the Orient OF new rice when VIII not pIedh
IN the milling process thus without question saw
ing thousands OF dollars to the rice growers OF
Louisiana and other Southern States. The famous
Smyrna figs are also now assured success on
the Pacific Coast, through the efforts or the De
partment an insect having been secured from the
Mediterranean countries which will insure the pol
nation Of Smyrna fig orchards. otherwise barren.
Forest preservation and tree planting Is sub
feet to which the report gives especial considera-
tion An advanced system Of forest management
has been undertaken by the new forester OF the
Department Clifford Pinchot. in which he practical
ly demonstrates that lumbermen can cut their
forests as heretofore but, at the same time. at
cost OF few cents an acre, can leave them IN
such condition to be valuable for future timber
use instead OF being absolutely worthless. as under
the present management OF most lumber camps
Mr. Pinchot has instituted during the year
forestry class OF young men. who have received
outdoor instruction this branch OF agriculture.
travelling principally through the great forests OF
The Secretary has taken particular interest in
tobacco Investigations. Inquiry has been made
into tobacco ferments, and an important discovery
made affecting the havoring of tobacco through
different modes OF curing 1t is believed that flavor
can be thus largely controlled and specified aromas
| attained through stated treatments OF the leaf.
The Bureau Of Animal Industry is a large lnsti-
tuition in itself and has been doing some important
Independent work in experimenting with cures for
| found to have been effective as at first antci-
! pated and WILL when generally used. the Secretary
predicts. save hog raisers in the west millions OF
| dollars annually. ..,,
feature of the Departments work during the
sfn trip looked into this subject and studied
the problem now agtating the West as 10 proper
has said that the recent rise in the price of beef
was due 10 the increased demand. coupled with
land. owing to overstocSing and killing out OF
the native grasses, He win make a recommenda-
ton 10 the effect that Congress allow the Western
States lease these public grazing lands and apply
the rental TO irrigation and other improvements
will
his holding rest his grass land ana generaIly I'M
grazing capacity for the land and also obviate the
present strife growing out OF the open range meth
sist in this Improvement by making tests Of arid
land forage crops in different sections, furnishing
| seeds. etc.
EXTENDING AMERICAN TRADE.
Another important feature of the report is its
reference to the broadening of foreign markets
Cold storage shipments Of butter have been made
| to Europe These have been continued regularly.
| and excellent reputation has finally been es-
! tablished in Great Britain for this product. The
| Secretary recommends. however. that the existing
system Of Government inspection and certihcation
OF meats and meat products for export be extended
| to include butter, cheese and condensed mix, 50
as TO prevent the flooding Of foreign markets with
| inferior American products by unscrupulous mer-
chants soon good reputation abroad Is
acquired for prime dairy products.
feature OF the report which WILL OF course. at
tract attention is the position Of the Goyernment
| in reference to the island dependencies. The
attitude Of the Department appears to be Of
cordial cooperation far as lies within It's means
Several Of its agents have visited the islands, ac
! quirng a better knowledge OF their productions.
resources and needs than had yet been attained.
In the first place the Secretary says II the United
States is to administer these possessions there is
great need OF inspection law for their importa-
tions, for Americans begin to settle in
them they will be importing new plants and seeds
from all the world and will unwttingly In
troduce diseases and insect pests, which may ruin
the crops. This has been the history OF posses
sions of other countries and in fact the United
States Is about the only country OF any note where
laws are not rgidly enforced requiring the lhsIec-
tion of every plant and seed imported. The De-
partment present Is looking into the rubber
question. with view Of getting the seeds OF all
the commercial trees and plants, and finding out IL
they can be prontably grown In the islands; and II
so. arranging for their propagation. The Secretary
urges on Congress the importance OF more ex-
tended and systematic work In connection with
.A- Inrncr