The Butte inter mountain. [volume] (Butte, Mont.) 1901-1912, 1901-12-03
Department OF AGRICULTURE.

The departtnent or agriculture curing
the last Is years has steadily 'bro3 dened
it's work on economic lines and has ac-
complished results of real value in up
building domestic and foreign trade 1t
has gone Into new fields untfl-it is now
in touch With ail'sectAons of our country
and with two OF the island groups that
have lately come under our jurisdiction
whose people mt,st look to agriculture
as Il livelihood.
1t is searching the world for grains,
grasses. fruits and vegetables specially
fitted for Introduction into localities in
the several states and territories where
they may add materially TO our re-
sources.
by scientific attention to soil survey
and possible new crops to breeding OF
the varieties of plants; 20 experimental
shipments to animal industry and ap-
piled chemistry, a very practical aid has
been given our farming and stock grow
ing interests. -
The products of the stock farm have
taken an unprecedented place in our
export trade during the year that has
just been closed.
Public opinion throughout the. United
States has moved steadily toward q just
apprecia ton OF the value of forests.
The great part played by them in the
creation and maintenance of the national
wealth is now more fully realized than
ever before.
Wise forest protection does not mean
the withdrawal of forest resources.
whether of wood, water. or grass, from
contributing their full share to the well
fare of the people, but on the contrary,
gives the assurance of larger and more
certain supplies.
The fundamental idea of forestry is
the perpetuation Of forests by use. Forest
protection is not an end of itself; 1t Is u
means to increase and sustain the re-
sources of our country and the industries
which depend uron them. .
The preservation of our forests is an
imperative business necessity. We have
come to see clearly that whatever de-
stroys the forest, except to make way
for agriculture threatens our weli-be-
ing.
The practical usefulness of the ma
tional forest reserves to the mining.
grazing, irrigation, and other interests
of the regions in which the reserves lie
has led to a widespread demand by the
people of the West for their protection
and extension.
The forest recerveS will inevi ably be
of still greater use in the future than
in the past. Additions should be made
to them whenever practicable. and thcfr
usefulness should be increased by
thoroughly business-iike mana cement.
At present the protect on o. the forest
reserves rests with the general land
office, the mapping and description OF
their timber with the United States Geo
logical Survey. and the PREPARATION OF
plans for their conservative use with
the Bureau of Fores .ry. which is also
charged with the general .vancement
of practical forestry in tie United
States.
These various functions should BE-
united in the Bureau of Forestry, to
which they properly belong. The present
diffusion Of responsibility is. lad fro.n
every standpoint.
1t prevents that effective cooperation
between the government and the men
who utilize the resources Of the reserves,
without which the interests of both must
suffer.
The scientific bureaus generally should
be put under the Department of Asy:-
culture. The president should have by
law the power of transferring lands for
use as forest reserves to the Department