Arizona republican., 1902-12-05
THE COUNTRIES FARMS.
Continued From First Page)

mutation of alkali. Important work cn this line is being carried out on a tract of forty acres near Salt Lake City. Arrangements are being made to carry on similar work at Fresno, Cal. and 1t is proposed to extend it to the tropical urea in Montana and possibly in Ari- cana, to demonstrate that these un- favorable conditions can be controlled. Land located in the immediate vicinity of Salt Lake City, he believes, can be increased in value by at least three millions of dollars, exclusive of the cost of reclamation, should it prove sue cessful
 The bureau of animal industry has continued its investigations in conta gioIs diseases with a view to their prevention or remedy. Over one and one-half million doses of blsck-leg vac cine were distributed during the year. Reports show that its use reduced the loss of cattle to 0.51 per cent of those vaccinated. The use of this vaccine has thus saved to stock raisers many thousands of head of cattle.
 There were inspected and admitted from Mexico over 65.CQ0 cattle, and fully COCO sheep, lambs5 and goats. Impor tations from Canada of cattle num- bered only 27.716. We imported from thct country 14S,3i3 sheep. The strict est quarantine is maintained at the ports on the sea coast in order to pre- vent the introduction of animal plaques. Tn addition to cattle and sheep there were quarantined animals of various species for menageries and Geological parks. The department veterinarian stationed in Great Britain treated with tuberculin all cattle over six months old destined for export to the United States. Of 1.067 cattle so treated 139 were rejected
 The losses to sheep owners on the great stock ranges of the northwest from poisonous plants aggregate an- nuaIly S4C0,O00. The study of these poi sonous' plants has developed an anti dote for some of them, not only effect i've but which can be rapidly applied
 The secretary concludes his report with some interesting figures illustra- tive of the magnitude of the agricul- tural industry. In 1900 the fixed capitar of agriculture was about twenty bil- lions of dollars. or four times that in vested in manufacture. In that year there were nearly five million seven hundred and forty farms in the coun- try, covering eight hundred and forty one million acres. four hundred and fifteen millions of which consisted oc improved land. According to the re- turns of the last census. about forty million people. or more than half of the total population in 1900, resided on farms. Of the twenty-nine million per sons reported as engaged in gainful oc- equations. ten million-more than q third-were employed in agricultural pursuits. The produce of American agriculture in 1899. including farm ami mals and other products. aggregated nearly five billions of dollars. The most valuable crop was Indian corn. SSzS.Co0,000; then hay and forage, S4Sf.- OOo,0oO; then cotton. S324. 900. 900; wheat returned SS7O, ,OOO, COG. and oats -SZ17.- GOC,oCO. The animals sold and slaugh- tered during the year were valued at over $900,O0O.0O0 the products of the dairy gave $472. OOO. GOO. while poultry and eggs returned over S2S1. .OOO. 900. The concluding statement of the secretar, is that results in the work of the gov einment for agriculture are justifying expenditures. aud the future will still further show the value of science ap- piled to the faTm.''