Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1903-12-09
SECRETARY WILSON REPORTS.
Tells of Tasks Performed by Agricul-
turai Department.

Tells of Tasks Performed by Agricul-
turai Department..
Secretary Wilson OF the Department
Of Agriculture has submitted his sew.
enth annual report to the President.
Secretary Wilson emphasizes the re-
Quirements of tie department for re-
search work and says it is not possible to
secure enough graduates from the asri.
cultural colleges to supply the demand
for education in the various branches of
the department Since 1897 there have
been admitted to the department 496
students and other scientists have been
secured wherever possible.
Mr.. Wilson gives the total agricul-
tural products not fed to live stock at
SO, 742. 100000 and the balance of for
eign trade in favor of the farmers of
this country during the last fourteen
years, 81, S06,000,000 He says sit is the
farmer who has paid the foreign bond
holder"
A great falling off in exports of horses
is reported. due to the lack of demand
from British army.
The Secretary recites the inspection
work of the Bureau of Animal Industry
in cattle and meat exports, an inspec-
ton which included cattle, sheep, calves,
hogs and horses; total ante norton in
specti,lls aggregated 37.261,629. There
was ole shipment of horse flesh.
Mr.. Wilson says the department has
made strong effort to improve the quail
ity Of seeds for distribution to farmers,
but regrets that the work does not ac-
complish the ends for which the law was
originally framed. He believes that no
practical benefit is derived from the dis
tribution of seeds on congressional or
ders. and recommends that the distribu-
ton be confined TO new and rare sorts.
Macaroni wheats, he says, should not
be grown where the fainfall is sufficient
for the varieties of spring and winter
wheats. The value of ntrogen-hXing
bacteria in leguminous crops has been
well established, and good crops of clO-
yer, alfalfa and other crops have been
grown on soils that have been failures
without this bacteria.
The derartmenr is striving to secure
the genera adoption of more accurate
and systematic methods Of grading
grains. The Secretary recommends a
thorough study of our principal crops to
determine the best locality for seed pro-
duction, and the advantage or disadyan-
tage of changing seed from one locality
TO another
Secretary Wilson reports satisfactory
development of the beet sugar industry.
] n 1896 %, 300 tons of sugar were made,
and year ago 10000 tons. Careful es-
Inmates put the present crop at about
100000 tons The growing Of seed in
the United States of a superior quality
is assured. He concludes that the indus
try is now well established.
The area surveyed and mapped during
the present year exceeded $4,000 square
miles, or nearly 100000 acres-as
much as the total area previously sur
veyed since the work was begun. Par
ties are now kept in the field all the year.
moving into southern areas in winter.
The work of the year covered sixty-three
areas in thirty-four States and terrific
ries. the total soil survey to date cover
ing nearly 100000 acres. The cost of
the survey for the year amounted to
S63, 313.51, of which S1,74S.35 was paid
by State organizations The Secretary
reports a great demand for men expert
enced in this work from colleges and ex-
pertinent stations and in private enter
prises.