Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1900-12-06
FARMERS SUBJECTS.
The Work Done by the Agricul-
tural Department.
DISEASES OF LIVE STOCK STUDIED.
Investigation Of Food Aduiterstion-W Warn.
Ing Against the Belgian Hsre-The For
est Preserves = better Roads In.
capitalization Investigation

| report Vi OecretaTy WlisoH, VI Ill
agricultural department, made publ
yesterday, begins with compliment
tary reference to the work Of hi
predecessors, which has brought tn
department to its present state OF, 81
ficiency. The secretary believes ap
preparations for the department
should be regarded as an investmen
for the reason that they make direc
returns therefor by adding to tn
wealth of the country.
Important extensions of the weathe
bureau have been made during tn,
year, Much stress is laid upon thu
continued improvement of the fore
cast service and the value of its warn
ings. The secretary points out that
Notwithstanding the great number O.
craft plying the gulf of Mexico at thu
time of the Galveston storm, the warn
ings were so timely that there was
no disaster upon the open waters
Successful experiments have beer
made with wireless telegraphy.
During the quarantine season OIL
1899 over 100000 cattle were moved
under the supervision Of the bureau
from the district infected with the
southern cattle tick. In Texas alone
over $4,000 cattle were inspected for
shipment to other sections. The sheep
industry suffered greatly from sheep
scab, and much time and attention
have been given to securing its control
and eradication. Results so far are
encouraging and the secretary be-
leves that n few more years of ear
nest work will effectually eradicate
The disease. Over 100000 sheep were
inspected, and nearly 627,OOO dipped
under the supervision of the inspect
ors.
The work of preparing serum for
treating hog cholera and swine plague
and experiments in treatment there
with are continued, with results,
which, while they do not justify def
mite conclusions, are sufficiently en-
couraging to justify continued expert
ments, including some on entirely
new lines, Over 100000 doses of
black leg vaccine have been distribu-
ted during the year Summarized re-
ports of 1000 cattle owenrs testify to
its efficiency. Whereas loss of 10 to
2j per cent. of young stock is re-
ported in the districts where black
leg prevails, the loss where vaccina-
ton has been tried has been less than
Gnc-half Of one per cent. Consider
able space Is given to the considera
ton Of tuberculosis, "the most preva
lent and most destructive disease af-
fecting mankind and the domestica-
ted animals
National legislation on the ques-
tion of food authorizations is urged as
essential to supplement the work
done by the several states. Elaborate
work In the investigation Of food
nd1lteration has been continued Very
little horse meat seems to be sold in
the United States, whether under its
own name or any other name,
Secretary Wilson cites the introduce
ton of wheats from Russia, Hungary
and Austria, greatly exceeding in
yield our present varieties, and points
out that il, as the result of these in
Productions, the wheat yield Of the
United States should be increased by
but one bushcl per acre, this would
mean Mt the farm price for wheat in
1879 an edition of S46,000000 to the
income Of our farmers.
Warming Is given of the possible dan
ger of the introduction and dissem
nation of the Belgian hare and the
destruction of prairie dogs has be-
come n practical question of great in
tercst to the farmers.
The secretary notes keencr and
wider public interest in forestry. The
total requests for working plans for
forest preserves at the close of the
year exceeded 5O,0OC0OO acres, OF
which 100000 were private land
Tree planting plans were made for 50
applicants
There is much inquiry regarding
better roads and better methods of
building them and much worn has
been done in the past year in build
Ing roads. Considerable space is given
in the report to the work of the ex.
pertinent stations. Much consdera.
ton is also given in the report to the
irrigation Investigations, which cover
especially two general lines of lnvesti
cation. namely. the study of the laws
and institutions relating to irrigation
in different regions, and secondly, the
determination of the actual use made
of irrigation waters
Under the head of the section of for
eign markets The report says that the
study Of markets abroad with special
reference to extending the demands
therein Tor the agricultural products
of the United States has been prose-
cuted with zeal and intelligence. The
rapid growth of our export trrde to
the orient in recent years is most
striking. Five years ago our total
shipments of domestic merchandise to
Asia and 0ceanica were valued at
%3,COOOOO, of which only 50 100000
were agricultural In 1O0n mr. nx,orl