The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1900-11-30
on
Agriculture


trict of Columbia, and points out the
special danger to children from rabid
dogs. Owing to the very serious ex-
pense to families In moderate circutn-
stances In subjecting their children to
the Pasteur treatment. he recommends
either that the secretary OF agriculture
be authorized to pay for such treat
ment for parties bitten in the district
or that one of the medical services Of
the government be directed to furnish
such treatment free of charge.
The report states that ticks received
from Porto Rico nave been found iden-
tical with the well-known Southern
cattle tick. The main problem still
presented by the Texas fever question
is the finding of dip that will effect
ually destroy the tick without injuring
the cattle. Efforts in this direction are
TO be continued.
Division Of Chemistry.
Elaborate work in the investigation
of food adulteration has been con-
tinued. Over 500 samples of preserved
meats of all kinds, purchased in open
market, have been examined. The
meat of the horse has been examined
for the discovery of Il method whereby
it may be detected when sold under
another name. Very little of it seems
to be sold in the United States. wheth-
er under its own name or any other
name. Active cooperation has been
had with other bodies, notably the
Pure Food congress, in an effort to Sc
cure legislation on the subject Of food
authorizations. National legislation on
the subject is urged as essential to
supplement and make efficient the
work done in the several states. The
sugar-beet work has been prosecuted
with vigor and intelligence. Foreign
food products introduced into this
country have been the subject of care
full study. The results are confid.n-
tial and are used for the information
of the authorities of this country con-
trolling imported food products. 20
operation of the chief chemist has been
invited in several other directions and
always cheerfully extended. So, also,
there has been cooperation with the
other divisions of the department
sary.
Seed and Plant Introduction.
Seed and plant introduction receives
extensive notice, special stress being
laid upon the importation Of cereals,
including the macaroni wheats of
Southern Europe, of grasses and for
age plants. and of vegetables whicn
have already demonstrated their val 10.
The kiushu rice introduced from Jap
an has already added 100000 bushels
annually to the Louisiana rice crop.
The successful introduction Of date
trees in Arizona Is another valuable
achievement. In concluding this sub
ject Secretary Wilson cites the intro
duction of wheats from Russia, Hun
gary and Austria. greatly exceeding in
yield our present varieties, and points
out that if. as the result of these in
Productions. the wheat yield of the
United States should be increased by
but one Dushel per acre. this would
mean at the farm price for wheat in
1899. an addition of $26,000,0O0 to TIT,
income of our farmers.
Forestry Work.
There has been a great growth in
this work. which is of such a kind as
to fully justify additional resources.
Moreover. there has been an enormous
increase in the demand, both public
and private. for services of this char
acter throughout the country. The re-
lations of the division of forestry with
practical lumbermen and tree plan
ters have been closer and more useful
than ever before. The total member
ship of the force at the highest last
summer was 1876 The public interest
in forest matters is not only keener
and wider than at any time before, but
inr wifi
cedent. Cooperation in forest work
has been sought of this department by
the secretary of the interior in refer
ence to the national forest reserves.
and from the forest, fish and game
commission of New York, for working
plans for the New York state forest
preserves. The total requests for
working plans at the close of the year
exceeded 5O,000,000 acres, of which two
and a half millions were private land.
Personal examinations We're made of
As tracts in II states, covering nearly
100000 acres, plans We're actually pre-
pared for 200, 900 acres. and 10000 acres
We're put under management Tree
planting plans We're made for 50 appli-
cants.
The department is receiving with In
creased frequency applications for
planting and working plans fer water
sheds from which cities obtain their
supplies. A typical instance is that
of the water company of Johnstown,
Pa. one of the chief objects being
to prevent recurrence of the disaster
there.
Domestic Silk Culture.
III 1899 the United States paid over
$32, ,0O0, 900 for imported raw silk, and
in 1900 over $45. 0,000. The secretary
believes that large amount of cheap
and now unemployed labor among the
colorcd youth in the Southern states
could be made available for domestic
silk culture; and he desires an appro-
priation of $4,000 to set ON foot re-
search regarding ths production of
silk to the end that the money now
paid to foreign labor be distributed at
home.
n