Omaha daily bee., 1902-12-05

AFFORD a suggestion as to its climatic pecu-
larities ana agricultural possibilities. which
aids one to conclude what foreign crops and
varieties of fruits will or will not be likely
to succeed In a particular place The bio
logical survey Is engaged In the preparation
Of maps showing the natural distribution
OF the fauna and nora areas and conse-
quent courses for crop belts. Much impor-
tant work In this direction has been accom-
plished In california and Texas. and feld
kotas, Nebraska, Kansas. Indian Territory
and New Mexico.
Crop RePortinE and statistics.
Two additional field agents have been APP
pointed in the division Of statistics with a
view to turther improving its crop reporting
service, and the statistical expert, who for
some years had charge OF the crop stats
tics OF foreign countries competing with
the United States has now been stationed
in London. England. so as to be In close
touch with the statistical officers OF Euro
with authoritative. commercial intelligence
OF interest to American farmers, he trans
mits to Washington by mail or cable
Statistics Of attendance at the land grant
colleges show over 1900 students enrolled
an increase over the previous year of
per cent The attendance for the four
year course in agriculture increased more
than 26 per cent. The marked success OF
agricultural high schools In Minnesota and
demand for agricultural courses with those
afforded in various manual arts in the city
mers are sending their children to public
high schools and paying for their tuition.
four ststes and teTritories, including e
Hawaii over $500 Institutes were held
last year the funds contributed by the diff
nearly $4,000 and 1909 persons attended
these Institutes. But while the persons ac-
numbered about 10 'OOO, 900 the total number
OF persons reached by the institutes and
the agricultural colleges is not much over
Z per cent OF that number, while the pub
liCations OF the stations reach about 500, 900
farmers.
Talks of Irrigation.
The distribution and use of western rivers
requires legislation on the irrigation indus
try, which, in turn, renders II necessary
that there should be better understanding g
OF the subject than now exists. The depart
quantity OF water used, where It is used,
how much water is required In the matter
of crops, how 1t can be distributed with
the least loss and applied to the best ad-
vantage. Much has been done to educate
farmers and ditch managers as 10 the
direction in which Improvement IN the
method OF practice must come. They have
made plans, have shown the need OF bet
| ter work in constructing and maintaining
water through leakage in transit Is far
greater than is generally supposed. Inc
! large problems which the complete use of
western rivers is destined to create and the
measure of public control which recent leg
! islation renders inevitable, give, added In
| terest to the departments studies OF the
! legal and economic phases of irrigation.
Through the courtesy of government OFF,
dspsrtment diJls m Was enabled to become fully
acquainted with the administration OF laws
! governing the use of the Nile. allowing
| for differences in conditions the lessCn OF
! one OF the oldest irrigated countries in the
! world cannot fail to be of interest and
value to one of the youngest. number OF
! the arid states cooperate with the depart
/ ment in these studies OF sociological and
| legal problems.
The secretary concludes his report with
| some interesting figures illustrative OF the
magnitude Of the agricultural industry. In
| 1900 the fixed capital Of agriculture was
about $40, 900 OOO, 900, or four times that in
vested in manufacture. In that year these
were nearly 5000, 74O farms in the country.
! covering s41, ,OO0, 900 acres, AIS, 100000 OF
which consisted Of improved land. Accord
ing to the returns OF the last census, about
30 900 900 people, or more than half OF the
total population in 1900, resided on farms.
| OF the 2s, 600, 900 persons reported as en-
gagged in gsinful occupations, 10000, 900
more than a thIrd-were employed in agri-
cultural pursuits. The produce OF American
agriculture in 1899, including farm animals
and other products, aggregated nearly S5,-
! 900 ,0OO, 900. The most valuable crop was
Indian corn, Ss2S, 900. 900; then hay and for
age, $4S4, ,0OO, 900; then cotton, 1924, 900, 900
wheat returned S370, 900, 900, and oats S217,-
oOo, 900. The animals sold and slaughtered
during the year we're valued at over $780,
900 900. the products of the dairy gave s472,-
OOO, 900. while poultry and eggs returned
1891. 900, 900. The concluding statement oi
the secretary is that results in the work Of
the government for agriculture are Justify
ing expenditures, and "the future will still
further show the value of science applied
to the farm"