Hot Springs weekly star. (Hot Springs, S.D.) 1892-1917, 1900-08-03
BEET SUGAR AREAS.
DEFINED ey THE DEPARTMENT
OF AGRICULTURE.

DEFINED BY THE DEPARTMENT
OF AGRICULTURE.
Trade Possibilities for Farmers Arts.
ing from Our War with Spain-Ex-
pcrimeuts with Grasses and Forage
Plants-Importins Foreign Seeds.
An attempt has been made by the
Department of Agriculture to define
with greater certainty the areas in the
United States suited to the growth Of
high-grade sugar beets. To this end,
seeds of the sugar beet have been dis
tributed in the most promising locali-
ties and grown under identical condi-
tons of culture. according to instruc-
tons prepared by. the division. The
only variance, therefore, has been he
soil and climate. The beets thus grown
have been analysed, either in the Dr.
vision Of Chemistry or at the agricul-
tural experiment stations, and their
saccharine qualities a%scertained. As
a result of the experiments which have
been conducted in this manner, the
areas in the original map constructed
by the division, showing the probable
areas suited to beet culture, have been
more definitely pointed out. This work
Is still in progress, and IL continued for
3 few years longer will result in OBJ
tanning the data whereby the sugar
beet areas OF the country can be
mapped with q considerable degree Of
accuracy.
OF the work accomplished by the Sec
tion OF foreign markets during The past
three years Il of the most important
features was tire study of trade posi-
bilities growing out of the Spanish
American war. The islands that were
brought into closer relationship to the
United States by the war naturally be-
came the subject of great commercial
interest, and numerous inquiries were
received regarding the trade oppOrtuni-
ties that might Ire expected to result.
AS the war progressed the requests
for information relative to Cuba, Porto
Rico, and the Philippines increased to
such an extent that the section was
obliged to devote its attention almost
entirely to the subject of these new de-
tendencies. To meet the active de-
mand for information along this line,
several special reports were prepared
for publication embodying such dataY
as could be obtained regarding thY
that was beginning to at
tract so much interest.
just before the breaking out of the
war, when tire prevailing conditions
seemed to point to probable hostilities,
a report was published on the subject
of our trade with Cuba, presenting de-
tailed information as to the nature and
value of the products imported and ex-
ported. and suggesting the commercial
possibilities that could be looked for
with a fuller development of Cuban
AS soon as Porto Rico began to be Of
special interest. owing to the shifting
of the war campaign in its direction, ?
an exhaustive report was prepared on
the of the island, setting
forth in the fullest possible manner
the character of the trade carried on
with the several foreign countries, and
especially with the United States.
Later a report of 1G0 pages vas pub
lished regarding the trade of the Phil
ippincs, embracing practically all of
the available statistics on the subject
that could be collatcd from the official
import and export returns of the vari-
Gus countries enjoying commercial in
%tercourse with the islands.
The report on the trade of the Philip
pines was supplemented by a circular
dealing with the agricultural
of the islands and describing the most
important plant products.
Owing to the scarcity of reliable data
relative to Cuba, Porto Rico and the
Philippines, the preparation of the re-
ports on these former Spanish posses
sions required a vast amount of re-
search. 1t was profitable work, how
ever. for the reports proved to be ex-
ceedingly useful as a means of an
swering the frequent requests that
were received for information about
the new dependencies.
Experiments with grasses and forage
plants have been vigorously prose-
cutcu during tne naSu three years.
These experiments are necessary in
order tll;H rancilers and farmers nav
be informed of the kinds suitable for
their respective districts. After these
preliminary facts are determined the
promising varieties can be recommends
ed and adopted without further and
useless expenditure of time and money.
T.... - A.. - e.
West have been practically DESTROYED
by overstocking or mismanagement.
and it has become q serious question
as to what are the best grasses with
Which to reseed them. The division.
has spent much time and energy in
this line of investigation. and, through
it's work in the field aud experiments.
is prepared to meet many Of the more
important forage problems of the vari-
ms nartS of thp JInitnd Stotos nu.-