Wausau pilot. [volume] (Wausau, Wis.) 1896-1940, 1903-12-08
SECRETARY WILSON REPORTS.
Tells of Tasks Performed by AgricuI-
turaI Department..


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 the department for re-
search work and says it is not possible to
secure enough graduates from the agri-
cultural colleges to supply the demand
for education in the various branches OF
the department. Since 1897 there have
been admitted to the department 400
students and other scientists have been
secured wherever possible.
Mr. Wilson gives the total Ggricul-
tural products not fed to live stock at
So, 42,000.000 and the balance of for
eign trade in favor of the farmers of
this country during the last fourteen
years S4,S06000.000. He says lit 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-mortem in
spections aggregated 37,26l 600. There
was one shinment 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-
complsh the ends for which the law was
originally framed. He believes that no
practical benefit is derived from the dis
tributiou of seeds ON congressional or
ders. and recommends that the distribu-
tion be confined to new and rare SORTS
Maearoni wheats, he says, should not
be grown where the fainfall is sufficient
for the varieties of spring and winter
wheats The value of nitrogen-tixing
bacteria in leguminous crops has been
well established and good crops of clio
yer, alfalfa and other crops have been
grown on soils that have been failures
without this bacteria
The department is striving to secure
the general adoption of more accurate
and systematic methods Of grading
grains. The Secretary recommends IA
thorough study of our principal crops to
determine the best locality for seed pro-
duction. and the advantage or disadvan-
luSe OF CHdHSlnS Seeu from one localtN
to another
Secretary Wilson reports a satisfactory
development of the beet sugar industry.
In 1896 1920 tons Of sugar we're made.
and year ago 100000 tons Careful es-
Inmates put the present crop at about
100000 tons The growing of seed in
the United States of 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-tllree
areas in thrty-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
$G3,313.51, of which $1,74S.35 was paid
by State organizations. The Secretary
reports n great demand for men expert
enced in this work from colleges and eX
pertinent stations and in private enter
prises.