Fergus County argus. [volume] (Lewistown, Mont.) 1886-1946, 1903-12-09
Fighting Sheep seab.

could not have been stamped out for
years.
Fighting Sheep seab.
The work of fighting sheep scab
has progressed favorably. During the
year over $4,000 sheep were inspected
by the department officials and over
10000 900 animals were dipped. An i'm.
mense amount of work has been done
in suppresslng Texas fever. The ef.
forts of the Bureau OF Animal In.
dustry. which has for years been en-.
deavoring to discover a practicable
method for destroying the tick by
which this disease has spread with.
out ~injuring the cattle. seem likely to
be successful. The percentage OF
deaths from blackleg has been reduc'
ed during the year from 2.6s to SO,
A great falling of In exports of horses
is reported, due to the lack Of de-
mand from the British army.
The secretary recites the inspec'
ton work of the Bureau Of Animal
Industry in cattle and meat exports
an inspection which included cattle
sheep, calves, hogs and horses; total
antemortem inspection OF all animals
50, 230,7l3 post norton inspections
aggregated 81. 261 ,629. There was one
shipment OF horse flesh. The cost OF
the work Of ordinary meat inspection
for the year was Sill, 546.18.
Mr.. Wilson says the department has
made a strong effort to improve the
quality of seeds for distribution to
farmers, but regrets that the worl
does not accomplish the ends fol-
which the law was originally framed
He believes that N practical benefit
is derived from the distribution Of
seeds on congressional orders, and
recommends that the distribution be
confined to new and rare sorts.
Value Of Maearoni Wheat.
In the introduction Of new seeds
and plants from abroad much atten
ton has been given to grains. New
wheats from the northwest, new oats
new millets, and other crops have
been pushed. The work on durum OF
macaroni wheats has been highly sue
cessful. The value OF these wheats
In the drier portions of the grea,
plains has been fully established
Macaroni wheats should not be grown
where the rainfall Is sufficient for the
varieties Of spring and winter wheats
Not less than twenty mills known t.
the department are now handling this
wheat. Experiment has shown that Q
fine quality of bread Is made from
marcaroni -four.
The value of nitrogen-ixing bacter
la In leguminous crops has been well
established, and good crops of GLOW
er. alfalfa and other crops have beer
grown on soils that have been fail
ures without this bacteria.
Work of the bureau Of plant indus
try has shown that the bacterial
blight Of pears and apples can be con
trolled. The only way the disease
can be met is by the use Of restraint
varieties.
The department is striving to Sc
cure the general adoption of more &C
curate and systematic methods Of
grading rains. The secretary recon
mends a thorough study Of our prin
cipal crops to determine the best 10
cality for seed production, and the ad
vantage or disadvantage OF changing
seed from one locality to another.
Investigations by the department o.
pomology have shown that Bartlett
pears and some other fruits can b.
probably shipped across the Allan
tic and sold at an advance over home
prices. Winter apples r now beint
shipped direct to Paris with profit
and some Delaware peaches have also
been exported.
Beet Sugar Industry.
Secretary Wilson reports a salts
factory development of the beet sugal
Industry. In 1896 1920 tons of sug
ar were made, and a year ago 100000
tons. Careful estimates put the pres
ent crop at about 100000 tons. Tit
growing Of seed in the United States
OF a superior quality is assured. HI
concludes that the industry is nov
well established.
The pure food law is being enforc
ed, and the department officials ar,
now working in harmony with thu
United States c~onsuls, who r In
structed to keep careful watch ovel
i~mportations and take vigorous meas
ures to prevent the entry Of improper
food.
The area surveyed and mapped dur
Ing the present year exceeded 23.O0'
square miles, or nearly 15.O0O,O O'
acres-as much as the total ares pre-
viously surveyed since the work wa
begun. Parties are now kept In thu