Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1900-11-30
Says Sheep Suffered Much from Scab, and
is Trying 10 GET il Under Control,
Introducing Parasites 60 XIII Olive
Scale-Note of Warning Against
Belgian Hares

Washington, Nov. 3O.-The annual re-
port Of Secretary Of Agriculture VIII
con, states that during the quarantine
season Of 1899 oyee million cattle
were moved under the supervision Of
the bureau in districts infected with
the southern cattle tick. Theh sheep
industry has suffered greatly from
sheep scab and much time and atten-
ton have been given 20 securing It's
control and eradication Results so far
are encouraging and the secretary be-
lieyes that a few more years of earnest
work viii effectually eradicate disease.
The work of preparing for treating
hog cholera and swine plague and ex-
periments IN treatment Herewith are
continued with encouraging results
over one million dozens OF black leg
vaccine have been distributed during
the year
Summarized reports Of two thousand
cattle-oWners testify to It's efficiency
Considerable space is given to the con-
sideration OF tuberculosis. the most
prevalent and destructive disease af-
fectlng mankind and the domesticated
animals"
Experimental shipments Of dairy pro-
ducts are still continued and shipments
OF butter have been extended TO cuba
and Porto Rico. The secretary earnest
ly recommends an inspection Of dairy
products designed for export.
National legislation on the question
Of food authorizations is urged as es-
sentlal TO supplement the work done by
the several States. Elaborate work In
the investigation of food adulteration
has been continued.
Most satisfactory reports are received
from California as 20 the result Of the
chronological work in the Introduction
OF the insect which fertillzes the Smyr-
ma Nc In one locality more than six
tons OF Smyrna figs have been pro-
duced An important parasite has been
introduced 10 prey upon the olive scale,
so injurious TO the olive growers Of
California.
Secretary Wilson cites the introduc-
ton Of wheat from Russia Hungary. and
Austria, greatly exceeding in yield our
present varieties and points out that II,
as the result OF these introductionS, the
wheat yield OF the United states should
be increased by one bushel per acre,
this would mean, at the farm price for
wheat I'm 1899, an addition OF $4,000 600
TO the income OF our farmers. AS a re-
suit Of experiments conducted In Texas
under the supervision OF agriculture,
the grazing pastures have been 80 much
improved that, whore three years ago
they were estimated as capable OF sup
ssa 90 a.fa
viii now maintain in good condition
one steer TO eight acres, a gain Of 100
per cent.
Warning is given Of the possible dan
ger OF the Introduction and disscmlna-
ton Of the Belgian hare and the de-
stwction OF prairie dogs become q prac-
teal question of greater interest TO the
farmers The secretary notes a keener
and wider public interest in forestry.
The total requests for working plans
for forest preserves az the close Of the
year exceeded fifty million acres OF
which two and q half millions were pri-
vate land. Three planting plans were
made for hfty-nine applicants.
There Is much inquiry regarding bet
ter roads and better methods OF build
ing them and much work has been done
~ Altf INHN 'NA NAA hAiNAAAAH ANtANAHF
Progress Is noted I'm Alaska. IL 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 suf-
ncient agriculture may be developed in
Alaska 70 form an important subsidiary
industry TO aid I'm the development OF
the mining. fisheries and numbering.
Much consideration is given In the
report 10 the irrigation Investigations
which cover especially two general
lines Of investigation, namely the study
Of the laws and institutions relating 90
irrigation IN different regions; and
secondly. the determination OF the ac-
tual use made Of irrigation waters
Eight typical streams In different parts
Of California have been thoroughly
studied with reference 20 the conditions
under which water for irrigation Is
owned, distributed and used. Similar
Investigations on q smaller scale have
been made In Utah. Colorado and else
where. Interest I'm the use OF irrigation
TO supplement railfall IN the humid re-
gions is growing and valuable investi-
cations have been undertaken In Mis-
souri, and Wisconsin.
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Tor Cold In the Head