Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1901-12-04

Secretary Of Agriculture Wilson in his
annual report calls attention 20 the fact
that the grand total of animals and ami
NAL products exported !ring the year
exceeded S250,000,00o vSlue. This
vast foreign market is only preserved,
he says, to our producers by the indefati-
gable Efforts of the department and the
figid inspection required through the
bureau of animal industry, This bureau
inspected for export $50, 900 cattle, 22s,-
100 sheep and $4,000 horses and mules,
and nearly 1000 vessels carrying live
stock. Imported animals We're also IN
spected to the number Of 342,Ooo, ana
where necessary Quarantined.
The Secretary suggests that with the
enormous interests our stock raisers have
at stake. and inspection and quarantine
affording, after all, relative and not an
absolute guarantee of protection, it might
be we'll for this country to follow the eA-
ample Of Greet Britain and exclude live
stock from other countries entirely
Work of Vast Proportions.
The meat inspection service involves
the inspection at time of slaughter OF
nearly 37.000,000 animals. or the more
than 100000 cattle inspected, the con
demned carcasses were about one-fourth
of l per cent; of the 6,500o00 sheep. one
tenth of l per cent, and of 24,oO0.o00
hogs, one-third of / per cent. In the
control of indigenous diseases 1,o00oOU
inspections We're made. and over 4a,OoO
cars disInfeeted in the Texas feyar SER
vice alone. In the repression of scables
in sheep nearly 100000 animals were
inspected, and over 100000 dipped I'M
der the supervision of the department in
spectors. The Secretary points out the
serious evil resulting ffom a system OF
State inspection which. il it became gen
eral. would effectually prevent the mar
keting of live stock in some sections and
would destroy much of the usefulness OF
the federal inspection.
Particular attention has been given to
the distribution of forecasts by means OF
the rural free delivery. There are now
in operation 800 centers. Supplying an
aggregate of nearly $1,000 families in the
farming districts with the latest weather
predictions. With some additional ap
preparation 1t is the intention 10 reach
several hundred thousand farm houses
with the daily forecasts and warnings
during the coming year. Msnh
The agricultural conditions of our new
possessions are being thoroughly studied
and special attention is being given TO lie
! production in these possessions of tropical
crops. for which the United States pays
out raillions of dollars annually. Rails
! ing coffee in Porto Rico has been tbs
subject of special study. Our annual i'm
portations of this valuable crop amount
| now to s70o00,o00.
stud nE Va'ue of foods.
The work of the bureau of chemistry IL
investigating the composition, nutrihy'
value and adulteration of food products
during the year was devoted particularly
the Secretary says, TO the study of pre-
served meats, the composition and nntri
| tive value of the preserved article beini
compared with the original. and the pre-
servatives, if any We're employed. deter
| mined.
/ Food products imported into this coun
try and suspected of adulteration or 0
containing injurious constituents, hav
! also been examined. The Secretary I
! authorized to inspect American food pro
1 ducts intended for export. Unfortunate
! ", Congress has not provided appropria
tons adequate to the proper execution
of this law.
Referring to grazing lands, the See
rotary says probably 400,oo0.O0
acres Of the public domain has no agri
| cultural value except for pasturage. !
| is at present an open common, with u
laws for its protection or disposal. II
refers to the frequent conflicts of tn
| farmers under irrigation with the rang
| stockmen, and recommends as remedia
| and beneficial measure the leasing OF 10
grazing land in such way as not to in
terfere with the homesteader.
The rentals. he believes, would amour
| in the aggregate to a large sum, whic!
could be appropriately applied to the re
| clamation of the irrigabie lands Ii
points cut that such Leasing is not an eX
| periment, as it has been successful.
tried. although in limited way, in Colo
RADIO. Idaho. Montana Nebraska, ttal
! and Wyoming He winds mp the discus
! sion OF this subject ny presenting the fol
lowing recommendations;
| /. That private enterprise will have f
be supplemented ny public aid in certain
! classes Of irrigation works II we are u
secure the largest Development OF west
ern agriculture.
,. That reservoirs located in the chan
nels of running streams should be pub
/ lie works.
9. That the first step for national aic
of irrigation should be the passage o
enlightened codes OF water laws by III,
States to be benefited
4. That the land laws should be modi
fed by repeating the desert act aud bs
requiring cultivation as we'll as residence
on a homestead.
5. That the non-irrigable grazing lands
should be leased in small tracts so as tC
unite the rrigable and the pasture lands
/ MANY KILLED IN a BLAST.
/ Ewofnsior of n Roller in Detroit Briu us