The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1900-12-01
DANGER IN THE HARES
Secretary Wilson Against the
Belgian Animals.
IRRIGATION Is STUDIED
BENEFITS WATCHED IN UTAH
AND ELSEWHERE.

Washington, Nov. 30.-In the animal
report of Secretary Of Agriculture VIII
son, warning is given of the possible
danger of the Introduction and dissent
nation of the Belgian hare and the de-
struction of prairie dogs becoming a
practical question of great interest to
the farmer.
Inc secretary notes a keener and
wider public interest in forestry. The
total requests for working plans for
forest preserves at the close of the year
exceeded 5O.0O0,O00 acres, of which p
100000 were private land. Three plant
ing plans were made for hfty-nfne an
plicants.
Much consideration is given i'm the
report 70 the irriga ION investigate
Whlch cover especially TWO general
INES OF NesEigatiOn, namely. the study
OF the laws and institutions relating to
ItIls@ ton IN different regions, and. sec
ohcly, the determination of the actual
use made of irrigation waters Eight
typical streams in different parts of
California have been Thoroughly stud
leu with reference to the condf lions
under which water for irrigation is
owned, distributed and used. Similar
Investigations on a smaller scale have
Deen made IN Utah, Colorado and else
where interest in the use of Irrigation
TO supplement rainfall in the humid re-
gions IS growing, and valuable investi-
satlonS nave been undertaken in Mis-
souri, and Wisconsin.
Work on Diseases of Animals.
The report states that during the
quarantine season of 1899 over 600 600
cattle were moved under the supervis-
ion Of the bureau districts infected
with the southern cattle tick The
sheep industry has suffered greatly
from sheep scab, and much time and
attention has been given to securing
its control ana eradication. Results s0
Iar are encouraging, and the secretary
beIleFeS that few more years of ear
nest work VIII effectuaIly eradicate dis
ease.
The work of preparing serum for
treating hog cholera and swine plague.
and experiments in treatment there
with are continued, with encOura cling
results over 1000 000 dozens of black
leg vaccine have keen distributed dur
ing the year.
Summarized reports of 1000 cattle
owners testify TO its efficiency. Consid-
cradle space is given to the considera-
ton OF tuberculosis, the most preva-
lent and destructive disease affecting
mankind and the domesticated ami
mails"
Most satisfactory reports are received
from California as to the result of the
chronological work in the introduce
ton of the insect which fertiIiZes the
Smyrna fig. In one locality more than
six tons Of Smyrna figs have been pro
duCed. IAN important parasite has been
IntrCeSuced to prey upon the olive scale
So injurious to the OIive-grOwers of
California.
Wheat Profits May Grow.
Secretary Wilson cites the introduce
ton of wheat from Russia, Hungary
and Austria. greatly exceeding in yield
the present American varieties. and
points out that if. as the result of these
intTOduCtiOns, the yield of the United
States should be increased by one
busheI per acre, this would mean, at
the farm price for wheat in 1899 an
addition OF S26,000,000 TO the income Of
our farmers.
As a result of experiments conducted
in Texas, under supervision of the di-
vision OF agriculture, the grazing pas
lures have been so much improved that.
where three years ago they were esti-
mated as capable of supporting one
steer to sixteen acres, they viii now
maintain in good condition one steer to
eight acres. gain of 100 per cent.
There is much inquiry regarding bet
ter roads and better methods of build
ing them, and much work has been
done i'm the past year in building roads.
Progress is noted in Alaska. It is ad-
mitted that Alaska can never become
an agricultural country, but the prob
lem the department has undertaken TO
work out is 10 determine whether "a
sufficient agriculture may be developed
in Alaska To form an important sub
sldiary industry to aid in the develop
meut of the mining, fisheries and lum-
beTiug.