Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1901-05-20
Secretary Wilson Always on the Look
out for Information.
COMBINES BUSINESS WITH PLEASURE
He Tells of Some Work of the
Department.


Dan FRANClSCO Cal, May 14.-SeCre-
tary Wilson of the Department of Agricul-
ture has been finding great satisfaction in
studying agricultural conditions along the
route of the presidential train. The other
day when he was not busily engaged, The
Stars Representative asked him for an in
terview some of the things the depart
ment is doing to assist the farmers all over
the country. 1t is doing so many things
that to speak of them all would take much
space, but Secretary Wilson gave many in
teresting facts that have never been made
public. He said:
The Department of Agriculture Is great
ly interested in. studying soil conditions
end plant growth, especially that of the
forest. in all of the states and territories
through which the Presidents trip has
been scheduled, as well in all other
states. The southern states depend on
agriculture for their prosperity more than
upon anything else. The department
through its soil division, is mapping the
more important soils of the several states
and territories so as to show the people
what they can most prOfitably produce in
each locality. The explorers of the de-
rartment are introducing from every part
or the habitable globe grasses, vegetables
fruits. flowers and trees. to be dstribut ed
TO localities most nearly resembling the
conditions from which they come The de-
partment is in active cooperation with the
experiment stations Of the several states
and territories
Especial Interest in Cotton
Especial attention Is being given to the
cotton crop. We purchase from Egypt
strange to say, over 100000 pounds of
cotton annually. Efforts are being made
to produce substitutes for this cotton by
hybrldlzing. There is every prospect that
We are succeeding in producing the long
hne staple that comes from the land
OF the Pharaohs, and for which we nav over
S6,ooo,oU annually. This work is being
Done by DIR. Weber under the direction of
Or: Galloway of the new bureau of plant
industry. The experiments are being made
partly in Washington and partly in the
Sottn: An interesting exhibit of the new
hyprloS was shown to the Cotton Spin
ners' Association of the United States at
Lhelr meeting in Washington last winter
concerning these the spinners said the ex-
nlplt amply repaid them for going to Wash
lnston and was the most entertaining feat
ure Of their meeting
"A good deal of work has been done al
ready toward mapping the soil of the state
Of Maryland by the department, in co-onnra
ton with Johns Hopkins scientists The de-
sign or the department is to indicate to the
people OF each state interested the most
STRIKING features of their soils Congress
became alarmed somewhat last winter
Whlle making an appropriation for this
work, fearing the work would be too thor
od6h anu toO expensive. especial attention
is being given in the vicinity of Washing
ton to the bitter rot of apples and also TO
the peach rot. With regard to the peach
industry of the United States, the depart
ment has encountered one of its few dis
appointments. 1t sent a scientist ND the
Yang-tse-Kiang river in China, to its head
waters in the kuenlin mountains the orig
mai nome OF the peach to procure that
plant IN Its original strength and purity
with view to introducing new vigo- to fh,.
orchards of the southern states near Wash
ington. The Boxer movement interfered
to some extent, and while the explorer was
heard from, the peaches, in 1heir various
conditions, were not received. The work
will be done over again, however.
Virginia n Grnpe-GrOwlng State
Virginia is great grape-gro state.
The rot which attacks the grape has
caused heavy losses in past years. The de-
partment has already found remedies Cor
the black and brown rot, and is now max
ing special investigation of all the diseases
which attack grapes not only in the south,
but in all parts of the country. Valuable
additions to the grape culture Of Virginia
and adjoining states have been introduced
from Europe, which promise to do much to
beneht grape growers.
Extensive investigations ara-abou: to be
made by the department of the whole ques-
ton of fruit harvesting and marketing. in
Guiding the application of refrigera ton 20
fruit storage, both in the warehouse and in
u 81 DIS " Htlp the people OF an Inc
states in putting their fruits upon foreign
markets"
Secretary Wilson tells an interesting story
with regard to the prune industry Of the
Pacific coast. The people in sections cf the
coast found all the conditions 70: produce
ton in high excellence, but they did not
know enough about preparing their I,runes
for the market. When this came to the at
tention Of the Secretary he quietly went to
the senators from the coast states, tod
them to get him some extra MONEY in the
agricultural appropriation bill for this pur-
pose, without saying anything about it on
the floor of the Senate, and this they
promptly did.
A professor was selected from one OF the
agricultural colleges Of the country and
sent to France with instructions to stay
there until he learned all about the prepa-
ration of prunes for shipment. His re-
port is now in press and will be distrib-
uted in due time. The report will be of
immense value to the growers of prunes
on the Pacific COAST The Secretary want
ed the matter of the appropriation kept
quiet because Of an experience he had in
another matter year ago. He had visited
the coast looked into the Industries of the
people and found, among other things. that
the hop growers needed earlier varieties
that the season might be heightened.
Explorer Sent to Bohemia.
He gave instructions to one of his eX-
plorers, who was going to Europe, to stop
in Bohemia, get the earlier varieties and
ship them to the department for distribu-
ton. The explorer found the hops, made
a contract for a given number and then
started on his way to the far northeast to
find wheats rich in nitrogens to the end
that we might make our own macaroni.
The people Of this country interested in
hop culture knew what was being done
and permitted the facts to find their way
into the newspapers. This news found it's
way across the Atlantic, whereupon the b.
hemians broke their contract and refused
to send the hops. This necessitated the
sending of the explorer straight back to
Bohemia, with instructions to get the hops,
pay for them the spot and ship them
to the United States. This was promptly
done, 10000 roots having been received,
and they are now growing in different
states, New York and California being
among the number.
Speaking of the industries that affect the
southern states through which the Presi-
dent passed, Secretary Wilson said: "A
very dangerous fungus disease known as
cotton wilt that attacks the roots of the
plants is becoming widespread and has
threatened to destroy the cotton industry
The disease became prominent in the sea