The progressive farmer., 1901-12-03
THE REPORT OF THE SECRETARY OF
AGRICULTURE.

INC Work OF the National Department of
Agrioulture-New Duties Proposed.
Correspondence of The Progressive Farmer.
Secretary Wilson has just made
public his fifth annual report. re-.
viewing the work of his department
for the fiscal year, Referring to the
work of the Weather Bureau. he an
nounoes that it's foreoasters now re
oeive reports from Europe. the
Azores, Nassau, Bermuda and
Turks Island; that, in connection
with the rural free delivery system
arrangements are being made for
the daily delivery of the forecasts to
farmers, and that the Departments
system of wireless telegraphy is
making satisfactory progress, one
hundred and fifty miles now being in
practical operation.
He devotes much space to
THE BUREAU OF ANIMAL INDUSTRY
The total vualue of live stock ex
ported exceeded in value $3.50, 900, 900.
The Bureau inspected 66l, 900 head
of stock intended for export and
1000 vessels carrying stock and
342, 900 head of imported stock The
total inspection covered $1,000, 600
caroasses. The Bureau distributed
over 5OO,O 900 doses of "black leg"
Vaccine, reducing the loss from the
ten per cent. of former Ye4rs to less
than one per cent. The Secretary
states that he has secured the CO.
operation of the Department. of JUS
tice in an effort TO bring certain
State inspection laws, which he re-
CARDS as mimioal to the live stock in
dustry of the West an South west,
before the Supreme Court and he
suggests the feasibility of prohibit
ing all importation of live stock as
preCaution against disease. Speak
ing of
PLANT PHYSIOLOGY AND PATHOLOGY,
he relates encouraging experiments
in the effort TO breed variety of
oDtton immune TO wilt; the produc-
tion of an excellent acclimatized
variety of Egyptian cotton, COM
modify which we now import TO the
extent of IS, 900, 900 yearly and the
development of a hardy orange on
which he bases the prediction that
the effort TO produce a frOst-proOf
orange will meet with ultimate suo
cess he also reports considerable"
success in the attempt to breed
"coulure' proof raisin grape.
He reports as ''in progress a care
ful study of the
CROPS OF OUR NEW POSSESSIONS
both present and potential, dwelling
especially upon the subjeos of Porto
Rioan coffee Our coffee imports
aggregate $40, 100000 per annum.
He expresses the wish that Con-
gress may confer on the Presi.
dent authority to place at the
disposal of the Agricultural Depart
ment such portions of public range
lands as it may seem desirable TO use
for experiments looking to better
methods of range management. He
believes that much could be accom-
pIished towards restoring the ranges
80 their original productiveness.
Mr. Wilson records the successful
production of 4,5OO pounds of
HIGH GRADE TEA IN SOUTH CAROLINA /;
gratifying increase of the produc-
ton of rice, as a result of the De.
partment's introduction of Japanese
s5eC an a cOnsequent falling off of
importation from 154, 100000 to 73,-
900, 900 pounds, and the suocessf al
introduction of macaroni wheat,
date palms, etc.
Secretary Wilson alleges that we
can easily produce
THE SO, 900, 900 WORTH OF TOBACCO WE
NOW IMPORT,
anG gives credit for the discovery of
soil suitable to growing Sumatra TO-
oacco to the ''soil survey" of the
Bureau of Soils. This survey has
also developed the fact that under
drainage will relieve alkali lands of
their excess of alkali.
Mr. Wilson says the Bureau of For
estry has prepared working plans for
226, 900 acres forest land held by pri,
vate owners and tree planting plans
! for nearly {. 600 acres The Score