Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1901-11-26
FIELD HAS WIDE NED
Scope Of Agricultural Departments
Labors is Greatly Enlarged.
SECRETARY WILSON'S ANNUALREPORf
irrigation Should BIZ Subject to
National Control.
A RECORD YEAR IN EXPORTS

Secretary James Wilson has submitted to
the President his fifth annual report as ex-
executive of the Department Of Agricul-
ture.. The document is larger than any Of
the annual statements previously made by
the present Secretary, and Is viewed by his
subordinates as rejecting by it's additional
length only the enlargement Of its field and
the development of its methods.
The Secretary announces an important
extension Of the forecast field of the wealth
er bureau. which now includes reports from
certain points in the British Isles and on
the continent Of Europe. from the Azores,
Nassau. Bermuda and Turks Island.
A large portion of the report covers the
subject of animal industry. The grand to-
tai Of animals and animal products export
ed during the year exceeded $3.50, 0OO, 900 In
value. This vast foreign market is only
igable efforts of the department and the
rigid inspection exercised through the bu-
reau of animal industry" says the secre-
3S5.OOO cattle. 22s,00O sheep and $1,000
horses and mules. and nearly 900 vessels
carrying live stock. Imported animals were
also inspected to the number Of s42. 600.
and, where necessary. quarantined." The
Secretary suggests that with the enormous
interests our stock raisers have at stake
and inspection or quarantine affording,
Ii,
antee of protection, IL might be well for
this country to follow the example of Great
Britain and exclude live stock from other
countries entirely.
Extension of American Agricultural
IntereSts.
The agricultural conditions of our new
possessions are being thoroughly studied
and special attention is being given to the
production in these possessions of tropical
f1,,
millions of dollars annually.
The Secretary asserts that much loss has
resulted to the cattle industry in the west
in recent years. owing to the injudicious
management Of ranges. The departments
experiments show that much could be DONE
under proper control, to restore the ranges
to their original condition, and he recon-
mends action by Congress giving the Pres
tdent authority to secure for the expert
mental needs Of his department such tracts
of public range lands as may be necessary
Pathological Investigations have been es-
pecially directed to the extension of our fruit
markets abroad and to the encouragement
of the domestic production of fruits hitherto
largely imported.
Seeds Introduced and Distributed.
Great activity has characterized the in
PRODUCTION Of valuable seeds and plants
from abroad. with most satisfactory re-
suits. The development of the rice indus
try in Louisiana and Texas since the in
PRODUCTION by the department of the Japa-
nese rice. during the past three years. has
been remarkable. Macaroni wheats have
been introduced in the past two years
very successfully into the Dakotas and
also into Kansas and Nebraska. Fully 90
per cent of the date palms introduced in
recent years from Africa are now grow
ing vigorously in Arizona and southern
California This yearFial collection Of the
choicest varieties in Egypt has been OBJ
tanned. Progress is reported in the intro
duction Of Egyptian cotton!i5H
In regard to congressional seed distribu-
ton, the Secretary states that he has en-
deavored to meet the wishes Of Congress
in every way possible and to secure seeds
of as high character as can be obtained
under the conditions under which the work
is done. 1t has been arranged to send out
cotton seed. tobacco seed, sorghum seed
and sugar beet seed and grasses and for
age plants. under the direct auspices of the
department and not through the contractor.
Scope of Department Widened.
In connection with the bureau of forestry,
the chemist is taking up the work of forest
chemistry, and is studying forest trees in
their relation to the soil and the products
they yield.
Another Of the newly organized bureaus
is that of forestry. The Secretary reports
that this bureau is cooperating with the
federal government, with several states
and many private owners in handling their
been asked for total area of $1,000 600
acres, of which 100000 are held by private
owners. The work of forest management Is
reviewed in some detail.
Secretary Wilson regards it as extremely
desirable that agricultural Investigations
should be undertaken in the Philippine IS
lands under the War Department and in
cooperation with the Department of Agri-
culture. In furtherance of this work, he
recommends an additional appropriation Of
$4,000 for the ensuing fiscal year ITO in
stitute agricultural investigations In tie
Philippines and, if feasible, to locate and
maintain an agricultural experiment sta
ton there"
Problems of Irrigation.
The Secretary expresses the belief that
irrigation WILL in the near future, become
subject for legislation by Congress- there
being important reasons why it should have
the attention Of that body
The departments position in this matter
Is expressed tersely in the following propo-