New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1903-12-01
AIDING THE FARMERS.
YEARS. YORK REVIEWED.
Secretary Wilson Tells What His
Department Has accomplished.

Department Has WpttSRed.
Washington. Nov so.-The annual report OF the
Secretary Agriculture has been submitted to the
President 1t opens with discussion OF the educa-
.i5nal requirements Of the research work Of the
department. Although the department has avaled
itself to the fullest extent OF graduates OF the
agricultural colleges II has been necessary, IN view
of the rapid development OF the work. to secure
competent men wherever they could be found In
the training OF specialists for its various lines o:
work the department has become practically post
graduate institution Mr.. Wilson. in illustration OF
this fact reports the admission to the department
since 1897 Of 1876 students: 24s OF these still
the department not less than 80 having passed into
the classified service.
Secretary Wilson reviews at length the production
and exports OF American agricultural products
The increase in the exports of farm products for
the half century ended 1901 from S147o00OG0 to
saS2Oooooo-S60 per cent The exports of farm prod
ucts for the closing decade OF the last century
than s7O0Oo0e0O. and for 1908 more than ss7s-
00O,oOO. amount second only 10 that OF 1901
Although the consumption OF cotton IN this coUn-
try Is greater than that Of other country in the
world. yet, In addition 70 supplying the home
market, the South exported last year mora than
$500 100000 pounds of cotton. worth ss17.co00O0.
OF grain and grain products the export exceeded
in value s22l. 0O0000 and in the supply OF animals
meats and meat products the value Of expectation
was s211. 100000.
BALANCE OF TRADE DUE TO FARMERS
shows that the favorable balance to the credit OF
this country is due entirely to the farmers. The
balance OF trade in favor OF farm products during
the last fourteen years. year excepted. aggre-
gated S. OOo. In products other than those OF
the farm. during the same period the balance OF
trade adverse to this country to the extent CT
sS65 o00000 Our farmers not only cancelled this
mense obligation. but placed SS940.G00oo0 to the
credit OF the nation when the books of international
exchange were balanced. He concludes that 1T is
the farmers who Maid fOrafsn ho7d-
holders
NEW SEEDS AND PLANTS
In the Introduction Of new seeds and plants from
abroad much attention has been given to grains.
New wheats from the Northwest. new oats new
rjllets and other crops have been pushed
The work durunn or macaront whsats has been
highly successful The value OF these wheats in
the dryer portions Of the Great Plains has been
fully established Maearonl wheats should not Be
Grown where the rainfall is sufficient for the varte-
ties Of spring and winter wheats. Not less than
twenty mills known to the department. are now
handling this wheat Experiment has shown that
a fine quality OF bread is made from uacaronI
-four.
Extensive field tests have demonstrated the value
Of the ntrogen-hxing bacteria in sguminous
crops; good stands of clover alfalfa and other
crops have been secured on soils where without
these bacteria these crops a failure. As a
result of these experiments. the department is pre-
pared to furnish reasonable quantity CT organ
sms for the principal leguminous crops. anc pat
ents have been applied for covering the process
used in order to make them securely available for
the public.
Secretary Wilson reports a satisfactory develop
Of the beet sugar industry In 1886, 1920 tons
of sugar were made, and year ago 10000 tons
Careful estimates put the present crop at about
100000 tons. The growing of seed in the United
States of superior quality is assured. He con-
ciudes that the industry Is now well established
The Secretary reports in some detail the expert
mining the effect of certain preservatives used in
human foods. The experiments made already with
the volunteers who undertook to comply with the
necessary conditions have covered foods to which
cal data resulting II pm the experiment. wiz shortly
d Judgment would approve. The experiment is
sidered.
ENFORCEMENT OF PURE FOOD Law.
Looking to the enforcement of the Pure Food
law enacted March 3. 1905 and geing into effect
July l last preliminary arrangements were made
with the Secretary OF the Treasury and with the
Secretary OF State. and their active cooperation
secured. United States consuls were instructed to
prepare and forward to the Secretary Of Agricu-t-
ure special declarations concerning imported foods
and through the Treasury Department collectors
TO the steps necessary TO be taken in sampnns
and the reshipping or DESTRUCTION of shipments
which might, upon analysis be excluded from the
Marked progress Is reported in the work of the
effected by closer union between the stations and
vauabIs work BEING done by the statio1s With me ne
suggestion that possible, additional financial aid
should be provided by the national government
He reports that special appropriations for thu bef
ter equipment and maintenance OF the agricuItuTaI
colleges aggregatng over ST. $4,000 being made
by tho States
WORK FOR GOOD ROADS.
Important work is reported from the oAies Of
Public Roads Inquiries. especially In its co-opera
tive work. most Of which has been undertaken
with local or State authorities agricultural expert
ment stations. and some OF the good roads asso-
Citations. In this cooperation the department fur
nishes only the services OF its road experts ma
terials being supplied and other expenses paid ~
the other factors in the work. The Secretary pNns
the intimate relation which exists be tween COOS
country roads and the rural free delivery and ar
cues that communities which would enjoy the lat
ter must make and maintain the former.