Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1901-07-02
Secretary Wilson Tells of Agricul-
tural Experiments Made.
WHEN THE SUGAR TRUST WILL VANISH
Successful Cultivation Of Tea in
South Carolina.
MAY FAMISH ANY NATION

secretary Of Agriculture Wilson predicts
the most glowing era in history for the
agricultural interests of the country during
the new fiscal year which has just begun
incidentally Mr.. Wilson asserts that II
the United States is given few months
more time any or all the foreign nations OF
the world may form a commercial combina-
ton against the country with impunity.
He says that before July next this coun-
try, with its new possessions, will be raising
and producing everything that it uses, and
that If We so elect we can famish almost
any other nation on the globe.
1--WE are now pushing Investigations and
experiments along a great many lines.
said Mr.. Wilson today to a Star reporter.
Our agricultural exports maintained their
position In the fiscal year just closed and
compared with some years past increased
appreciably.
One Object in View.
Zone of the principal objects which this
department has in view Is to enable the
people of the United States to produce the
agricultural products we are now purchas-
ing from foreign countries. During the
year 1860, for instance, we bought half as
much agricultural goods we sold: that
is to say, we sold about SS44 200, 900 worth
and bought about $500, 900, 0U0 worth. The
nations is sugar. This commodity COM
prises nearly one-fourth of the total of
products imported. The department in the
past has been making experiments to as
certain in just what sections of the country
sugar can be raised to such advantage as to
obviate the necessity Of going to foreign
markets to complete our supply. We want
to raise beets, as therein lies the principal
source Of the sugar product Within the
United States there will be over forty beet
sugar factories In operation by next fall.
They will be situated in almost every state
along the northern border, from New York
to California. L believe that within a few
years we will produce all the sugar we re-
quire and We will then be in position to ig-
more the foreign product. Our experiments
have shown that the sugar produced from
our quality Of beet is much richer than
that manufacture In foreign countries. Our
product, therefore, will be much more de-
sirabIe.
When this result shall be attained the
sugar trust WILL in my opinion. vanish. for
the reason that the trust retines imported
brown sugar, while all the American fac
tories will finish the product and place 1t
In entire readiness for sale on the markets.
Tea Production q Success.
1--WE are now succeeding admirably in
the production of tea in the United States
continued Mr.. Wilson. "It is only ques-
ton Of short time when we will be able
to raise all the tea demanded for use in this
country. The two tons of tea grown at
fed the New York investors Interested in
the industry that they Immediately formed
a syndicate and bought 5000 acres of land
in the state upon which tea will be grown.
This department last year sent tea plants
to every gulf state In the Union from the
Carolinas to California for experimental
raising. We have just heard from South
Carolina that imported machinery in use
there Is able to make green tea from the
black product in one hour. We do not yet
manufacture such machinery in this coun-
try, but we will get to that later. Then
there is no question concerning the avail
ability or labor when we get to growing
tea on a large scale. There is any numper
of young people who will seek employment
as pfckers of the leaves, wages VIII be
good. We are now importing plants from
China, Ceylon and Japan. and We purpose
raising the highest grade of the product
In this country.
Three years ago the department began
consideration of the subject Of rice cult
walton in the United States. At that time
we produced about Is per cent OF what we
consumed. and when we examined the sit
uatton We found that there was a demand
for much better grade of the product
than was being grown here. We sent an
expert to Japan to look over the field and
this man found just what we were looking
Tor. The result is that next year we will
grow an excellent grade of rice-a class, in
fact. which Will equal that of any other
nation producing the grain.
Interests in Our New Possessions.
THE department is just now also busily
engaged in consideration of a diversity of
interests which are to be promoted in our
new possessions. We have found upon IN
vestigation that the people of the new
lands need agricultural instruction and en-
couragement. This we propose to give
them to the best of our ability. For in
stance, we must be able to produce large
quantities of hay in the Philippines to feed
the 1900 horses and mules which the
United States is now maintaining there
The demand for fodder is far in excess of
the home supply, SO that it has been found
necessary to import the product. This
ought not to be- There is ample opportu-
nifty for raising hay and other food pro-
ducts for horses and cattle in the Philip
pines, and steps will be taken to relieve
the situation.
Coffee is another product which we are
looking after. Our scientists are investi-
eating the coffee outlook in our insular
possessions, and we expect to accomplish
something during this fiscal year which
will greatly encourage the industry.
several years ago this department be-
gan to collect specimens of rubber At
present the United States buys annually
$50 ,O0O, 900 worth of rubber, but the outlook
is that we will now be able to raise in our
new possessions every bit of the product
needed. 1t will be produced in Porto Rico,
Hawaii and the Philippines, and the result
will be that people using the commodity
Will be able to save many thousands Of
uOldTS III us purchase. Inen there Is the
subject Of macaroni wheats to be consid-
cred. The macaronf which we have been
manufacturing here In the past is not quite
equal to the italian product, but we are on
the right track. and it will not be long be-
fore we viii be able to produce a grade
that will be superior to that imported from
Europe. The semi-arid regions Of our
country are adapted to the growth Of mac
aroni wheat, and all Of the $4,000 600
pounds Of the product which we now con-
sumo and which comes mainly from Italy
will be shortly grown upon home ground
las for spices, our new possessions will
furnish us with an abundant quantity as
soon as we can get the machinery Of their
production in full operation.
Cross Breeding of Cottons.
Another important matter being con-
sidered by the department is the cross
breeding Of cottons. which operation, when
completed. will result in the establishment
Of the fine grade of the product which we
are now bound to import from Egypt.
About 5000 600 worth Of this refined COM
modify finds its way here from that region
every year, but after we have finished our
experimental work in this direction we hope
to be able to arrive at a combination which