The Saint Paul globe., 1902-12-04

been made in the sugar laboratory
with view to improving the quality
and quantity Of table sirups. An ex-
tensive collaborative work has been
Instituted with many agricultural ex-
pertinent stations to study the effect
of environment on chemical compost
ton of wheat and other cereals.
The native fauna and flora of a
region afford suggestion as to it's
climatic peculiarities and agricultural
possibilities which aids one to con-
clude what foreign crops and varieties
of fruits will or will not be likely to
succeed in q particular place. The
biological survey is engaged in the
preparation of maps showing the nat
ural distribution of the fauna and flora
areas and consequent courses for crop
belts. Much important work in this
direction has been accomplished in
California and Texas, and field work
has been dcne in Montana, the Da-
kotas, Nebraska, Kansas, Indian Terri
tory and New Mexico.
Two additional field agents have been
appointed in the division of statistics
with view to further improving its
crop-reporting service and the statis-
| teal expert, who for some years had
charge of the crcp statistics of foreign
countries competing with the United
| States, has now been stationed in Lon
don, England, so as to be in close touch
with the statistical officers Of Ell
ropean governments, whose reports, to-
gether with authoritative commercial
intelligence of interest to American
farmers, he transmits to Washington
by mail or cable.
| The secretary announces that the
work of this division will shortly form
the subject of a special report to con-
| gress.
Progress in Experiments and Educa-
ton.
The functions of the office of ex-
pertinent stations have been enlarged
in several directions. Special efforts
have been made to- aid the movement
to extend agricultural education and
| research. The secretary reports the
rapid increase during the year in the
public interest manifested in the agTi-
cultural experiment stations, and also
an increase in the number Of students
in agricultural colleges and schools, a
large attendance of farmers Institutes,
and the establishment Of a number Of
new institutions for Investigations in
agriculture established in different
states. Over $1,500,G9G are now an
nually contributed by the states to the
| maintenance of the stations. Evidence
of the influences of station work and of
lie CO-OpGIdl1OH D0lWSc1 llCt CIllcIS1lt
bureaus and divisions of this depart
ment and the stations continue to
| multiply. This influence is felt in all
of the various phases Of agricultural
industry.
The secretary urges that the num-
Der of workers in the station service
be increased so as to permit proper
specialization.
Statistics of attendance at the land
oo11 oh CTR
dents enrolled-an increase over the
previous year of per cent. The at
tendance for the four-year course in
agriculture increased more than 26 per
cent The secretary points to the
marked success of agricultural high
schools in Minnesota and Nebraska as
an indication that there is a demand
for agricultural courses with those af-
forded in various manual arts in the
city high schools. He states that ell
over the country farmers are sending
their children to public high schools
| and paying for their tuition.
Farmers Institutes.
In regard to farmers Institutes he
states that these are now held in for
ty-four states and territories, includ-
ing Hawaii. Over $500 Institutes were
held last year, the funds contributed
by the different states and territories
to this work amounted to nearly $780,
goo, and 1909 persons attended these
Institutes. He points out that while
the persons actually engaged in agri-
cultural pursuits number about TO-
100000, the total number of persons
reached by the Institutes and the
agricultural colleges is not much over
per cent of that number. while, the
publications Of the stations reach
about 100000 farmers. He includes,
therefore, the great need of a wider
dissemination among farmers of the
results of agricultural study and re-
search.
Irrigation.
The distribution and use of Western
rivers requires legislation on the irri-
cation industry, which, in turn, rem
ders it necessary that there should be
better understanding of the subject
than now exists. The department is
securing information as tc the guam
tity of water used, where it is used
how much water is required in the
matter Of crops, how it can be distrfb-
uted with the least loss, and applied to
the best advantage. Much has been
done to educate farmers and ditch
managers as to the direction in which
Improvement in the method of prac-
tice must come.
The secretary enumerates reasons
calling for the systematic study by the
department of agricultural engineering
in its relation to the interests Of farm
ers. The development of farm ma
chinery increasing demand for labor
saving devices, problems relating to
the laying out Of farms and buildings.
drains, water supply, the disposal of
sewage and stable sanitation are all
subjects calling for study on the part
of the department to enable it to sup
ply farmers with suitable Information
on these important topics.
The investigations of the division of
foreign markets show exceptional ac-
tivity on the part of our competitors
in the agricultural export trade, es-
pecially Australia, Canada and Ar
gentina- Our own agricultural ex-
ports for the fiscal year 1902 amounted
to sse0,009,000. This, next to the ex-
ceptional record for 1901, is the high
est ever reported.
Problems ef Road Building.
The most noticeable work under
taken by the office of road inquiries
has been in the building of object les
son and experimental roads. Co
operation in this work has been had
with national good roads associations,
manufacturers of road building ma
chinery and the railroad corporations.
In most cases the building of these
roads has been accompanied by i'm
portant meetings. where the subject
of good roads has been ably handled
by prominent public men and the ex-
perts of the department.
The road material laboratory is
operated in collaboration with the bu-
reau of chemistry, and the chief of
that bureau reports the laboratory as
now equipped for the testing of road
materials of every description, as well
as cement and concrete for drains and
buildings. A large number of samples
were received from all parts of the
country, including our island posses
sinns. showing the value practical road