Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1901-11-28

wood spirit, charcoal, and other prod
ucts. The sugar laboratory of the
bureau continues to study all the
chemical problems relating to the pro
duction of reproducing plants and
the manufacture of sugar. The chief
part Of this work is devoted to the
study of sugar beets In cooperation
with the office of public road in
quiries, 6 laboratory for the study of
road materials has been organized in
the bureau Of chemistry. The prime
object is to aid road builders in select
ing the best materials in their local.
ties.
Forestry.
The secretary reports that the bu-
reau Of forestry is cooperating with
the federal government, with several
states and many private owners in
handling their forest lands. Alto
gether assistance has been asked tor
total area of 100000 acres. of
which 100000 are held by private
owners. During the year nearly 500.
900 acres under private owners were
examined by representatives of the
bureau, and four detailed workinp
plans, covering 226,000 acres were pre-
pared. The working plan for the
black hills forest reserve was complet.
ed and working plans were undertaken
for the Prescott and Big Horn, aud the
Priest river reserves.
Forest Investigations include tn
study of commercial trees, and econ
omic tree planting, Of forest fires
grazing, numbering, forest production
and other important lines. The regior
containing the proposed Appalachian
forest reserve was examined in coop
Grafton with the United States geOlOg
zeal survey and nearly 10,000,vU0 acres
were mapped, lands classified, and thE
forests carefully studied. The secre
tary. regards the creation of the pro
posed forest reserve as urgent in order
to protect the head waters of import
ant streams, to maintain the already
greatly impaired supply Of timber, anG
to provide a national recreation
ground. The effects of grazing anC
forest fires were investigated or
twelve of the forest reserves.
Experiment Stations.
The work OF the stations is becom
ing better understood by the farmer
and broader, deeper foundation O.
scientific inquiry is being laid eacl
year. Cooperation between this de
partment and the stations continues
to increase, and the value of these CO
operative methods to the agriculture
interest are very generally acknowl
edged. The movement for the separa
ton Of the Office Of director of the sta
tions from that of president of th'
college has advanced, and at prescn
there are but eleven states and terri
tories in which the college presideu
exercises the functions of director o
the station.
| The experiments of the station il
Alaska, with headquarters at Sitka
| and subsidiary stations at Kenai, o.
| Cook Inlet, and at Rampant in the Yu
/ kon valley, are regarded as distinct,
! encouraging. From all the evidenc
| received at the department, it seem
clear that agriculture may be sufficient
| ly established in this territory t,
| serve as an important aid to the min
| ing, numbering, and fishery industries
| During the year a station has BEEF
! established in Hawaii. Among tn
| first work at this station was the plan;
| ing Of tarO, with the special object o
| studying the diseases seriously affect
| ing that crop. Probably so per cerl
! Of the working population in thes
! islands depend on taro for their dali
! food, and; owing to these diseases an
! the attendant deterioration Of tn
! 500 per cent. in the last decade. Som
| other diseases of fruits and vegetable
! call for study, and poultry experiment
| have been inaugurated with a view :
| increasing the supply of poultry. 1t i
| reported that live chickens sell i
! Honolulu at SIS dozen and eggs at 4
! TO so cents a dozen. Hogs bring from
! 10 to II cents a pound on the hOof an
| experiments have been undertaken Il
| the feeding of swine with variou
| tuhers and roots. The station a
! Porto Rico has not yet been fully es
| tablished, owing to the difficulty of Sc
curing suitable land for the purpose
The Philippines.
I He regards it as extremely desirabl
! that agricultural investigations SHOULD
| be undertaken in the Philippine isl
ands under the war department am
| in cooperation with the department G
agriculture. In furtherance of thi
| work, the secretary recommends al
| additional appropriation of $4,000 70
the ensuing fiscal year "tG institute
agricultural Investigations in the Phi
lippines and, If feasible, to mainta.r
an agricultural experiment station
there"
Farmers Institutes.
In 1899 over 1000 farmers insti
tutes were held in this country, ut.
tended by over half a million farmers
He asks for an appropriation of $4,000
to enable the Office of experiment sta
lions to enlarge it's work with view
to giving definite aid and encourage
ment to farmers institutes.
Dietary Studies.
The dietary studies, experiments IN
cooking, digestion and metabolism
have been conducted in various parts
Of the United States in cooperation
with experiment stations, agricultur.
81 nrd mathematician