Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1902-12-04
RECORD OF PROGRESS
Report of Secretary of Agricul-
ture Shows Betterment of
Farm Conditions.
DIVERSITY OF SUBJECTS TREATED
Many Discoveries Are Applied to
Conditions of Plantand
Animal Life.

,fhe report of Secretary James Will
son, for the department of agricul-
| ture for the year 1902, which was
made public today, contains story
of progress along many lines of vital
Importance to the country. 1t also
serves as reminder of the vast work
that this department is engaged in.
The department of agriculture dur
ing the past year has been concerned
in every part of the country and in
its insular possessions in studying
and experimenting with the propa-
cation and growth of all forms of do
nestle animal and plant life, in wild
ening their distribution, in broaden
ing and improving the market condi-
tions for all sorts of agricultural pro-
ducts, and in lettering the general
condition of the agricultural classes.
The different directions in which in
vestigations have been conducted are
| almost numberless.
Education Promoted
The secretary opens his report with
| reference to the educational work of
the department, which he says has
grown in effectiveness since its last
annual report. He finds that the de-
mand of many public institutions for
men to conduct research in scientific
fields and for ability to manage agri-
cultural enterprises encourage young
men to take advantage of the oppor-
tunities thus afforded. The teaching
of the science of agriculture and of
the sciences relating to it are re-
ceiving more attention in the colleges
instituted for the purpose, many of
which have neglected their full duty
in the past
Statistics of attendance at the land
grant colleges show over $1,000 stu
dents enrolled-an increase over the
previous year of per cent. The at
tendance for the four-year course in
agriculture increased more than 90
per cent. The secretary points to the
marked success of agricultural high
schools in Minnesota and Nebraska
as an indication that there is a de
mand for agricultural courses with
those afforded in various manual arts
in the city high schools. He states
that all over the country farmers are
sending their children to public
schools and paying for their tuition.
Research into the principles gov
erning the growth of plants has re-
suited in increased varieties to select
from. The department is helping the
people in many localities to an in
telligent knowledge of their soils, and
of the most profitable uses to which
they may be devoted. The depart
ment's explorers are continuing to
search the old world for valuable
plants which may be successfully
transplanted. here. The purpose is to
help toward the production in our
own country of everything that soil
and climate will permit, and to avail
ourselves of our new island posses
sions to grow such products as de-
mand tropical conditions.
The secretary reports the establish
ment within the bureau of an office
of farm management. He announces
it's object as The bringing together
in concrete form of all the facts
developed in the bureau as a whole,
sitting the results, and applying them
in practical way where they will do
the most good"
Experiments in wireless telegraphy
nave DecH the uiIcCtiOI
of the chief of the weather bureau,
beginning nearly two years ago. Much
valuable information has been Sc
cured but the progress reported will
not justify the department in dispens-
ing with it's coast telegraph and cable |
lines.
Growth of Forestry.
Considerable space is devoted to the
work of the department in forestry. |
1t is shown that interest in this sub