Audubon Republican. [volume] (Audubon, Iowa) 1894-1925, 1902-12-11
AGRICULTURAL
WORK OUTLINED
Secretary Wilson's Annual Re-
port for His Department
Made Public.
PROGRESS OF THE COLLEGES
More Interest Is Taken In Agricultural
Education Than Ever Before-Estab-
lishment of Macaroni Wheat Has Been
Accomplished

Washington, Dec. 5.-The annual
report of the secretary of agriculture,
James Wilson. opens with reference
to the EDUCATIONAL work of the depart
ment. which he says has grown in ef-
fectiveness since his last annual re-
popt. He finds that the demands OF
many public institutions for men to
conduct research in scientific fields
and for ability to manage agricultural
enterprises encourage young men o
take advantage of the opportunities
thus afforded. The teaching of the
science of agriculture and of the
sciences relating to it are receiving
more attention in the colleges insti.
tuted for the purpose, many OF which
have neglected their full duty in the
past. The report in part follows:
Research into the principles gov.
erning the growth of plants has result.
ed In increased varieties to select
from. The department is helping the
gent knowledge oftheir soils, and ofthe
most profitable uses to which they
may be devoted. The departments
explorers are continuing to search the
old world for valuable plants which
may NC ouNSCooluliy uCiCs
The purpose is to help toward the pro-
duction in our own country of every.
thing that soil and climate will per.
init, and to avail ourselves of our new
island possess. ons to grow such prod.
ucts as demand tropical conditions.
The past year affords gratifying EVIL
dence of the value of forecast warn
ings of the weather bureau in saving
life and property. Ample testimony
is afforded that the value of property
thus saved from loss amounts to many
times the cost of maintaining the bu-
reau. The secretary urges the desir-
ability q extending the distribution
Of daily forecasts co extensively with
the rural free delivery. OF the 10000
rural free delivery routes existing
August /, 1902, it has been founu pos
sible to serve only 1000 To make
the distr.. Ltion co-extensive with the
rural free delivery would, he esti.
mates. cost about 100000.
The work on The growing of Amer
lean tea vas continued during the
year at Pinehurst near Summerville,
South Carolina, in cooperation with
DR.. Shepard. There are now about one
hundred acres In tea gardens. The
yield of tea in these gardens last year
was about $500 pounds and this year
will re alb Ut 5000 pounds of market
able tea. During the year careful at
tention was given to reducing the cost
OF the reduction of tea with very sat
isfactory results. A tea farm will be
established In Texas, II suitable land
and cooperation can be secured"
During the year the lines OF work
on introduction Of foreign seeds and
plants have been pushed forward as
rapidly as the means available would
permit. The introduction and estab-a
lishment of macaroni wheat in the
United States may be regarded as &C.
complished. About 100000 bushels.
Of this wheat have been harvested the
past season, but the demand is still
in excess of the, supply. The winter
wheat introduced and tested promises
great value. Varieties obtained from
east and south Russia are much more
hardy than our own and will extend
the winter wheat several miles north
and considerably farther west than
now. The secretary anticipates a pos
sible increase of FIVE to ten bushels
per acre over the standard spring
wheats. Particular Improvement has
been made in the rice growing regions
of Texas and Louisiana, largely
through the efforts OF the department
in the Introduction of new forms. As
result rice production in this coun-
try now about equals the demand. The
Jordan almond is another successful
introduction during the year. This is
the best imported kind, and 1t is GER
tain that In few years California
grown Jordan almonds will be on the
market