The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1901-06-11
NEWS FROM THE NATIONAL DEPABT-
MENT OF AGRICULTURE.

In recent bulletin, Prof. Hill, of
the Agricultural Department., has
published several plans for houses,
barns, etc., for the use of farmers,
that can be erected very cheaply.
One of the designs presented is of a
house, capable of enlargement, which
combines many comforts and con-
veniences. According to these
plans, for 1000 a two-story, nine
room house, including, a bathroom,
with large, dry cellar and broad
veranda, can be constructed. Fer
this price the house can be plastered,
painted, and heating apparatus sup
piled. For a small additional cost
hot water heat can be supplied and
running water can be placed in the
bathroom. Prof. Hill also gives the
plans for a number of barns costing
from $275 to $3.50. Many valuable
suggestions are given for the com
fort of farmers and their families,
as we'll as for the care of their
live stock. Suggestions are made in
relation to sanitary conditions and
methods are proposed for maintain
ing the purity of drinking water,
which if adopted would in all proba-
bility conduce to the health of those
living in the country. There is quite
a demand for this paper, and the
supply of the Department is limited.
Few people have any idea of the
enormous publishing work done by
the Department of Agriculture. The
Year Book alone, which is now being
issued, consists of $50 pages, and
will be in an edition of half a mil
lion copies, 10000 of which are dis
tributed by the Department and 47O,-
600 by Members of Congress. "Dur-
ing the last fiscal year." says Mr..
Hill, Chief of the Publication Divis-
ion, "we published about 100000
copies of our various publications,
an increase of 10000 over the pre-
ceding year. The Congressional ap-
preparation for the forthcoming year
has stipulated that each Congress
man shall receive IA, 900 copies of
each farmers bulletin instead of the
5000 he is now receiving. For the
next year my lowest estimate of cur
publications is about II, 100000. We
have mailing list of about ZOO
persons which, altogether with others
receiving the copies outside of our
aid-through their Senators or Rep
resentatives-and making a low esti-
mate will bring the number up to
500, 900. At the present time many
of our documents are wasted; care
lessly thrown aside or misplaced. If
paid for, at even five cents apiece,
they would receive more care. I
have also suggested that each of our
publications be sent to library to
be established at all fourth class
pOstOffices. There are 10000 of
these, so even by that means, count
ing the increase which is bound to
come, our books would receive a
wide dissemination In the Year
Book may be found all the general
information which the farmer would
like to have in the way of reports,
statistics OF crop growing, names of
officers of agricultural, forestry,
anu bee keeping societies, of expert
ment stations, and a vast amount of
information which is valuable.
Most people will be surprised to
learn that it appears from reports
to the Geological Survey that Ari-
ona has the largest unbrOken pine
forest reserve in the United States,
covering an area of over 5000 square
miles. The total quantity of pine
timber suita BILE for saving purposes
within the boundaries of the Terri
tory amounts to 10000, 900, 900 feet,
which is enough to supply the needs
of thickIy populate1 State for more
than a century. The principal forest
area is in CoconinO county, and bor-
ders the Grand Canon of the Colo
RADIO, although Gila, Apache and
Yavapia counties have considerable
timber. In New Mexico there are
two enormous forest reserves, one
on the Pecos river, in the northern
part of the territory, the other on
the Gila river, in the southwestern
section, comprising 3,7O1, ,O4O acres.
This domain is as large as the States
of Rhode Island, Delaware, and one
half of Connecticut com bined.
MARRIOTT.
Washington, D. G.