The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1904-12-06

man activity college-trained men are
the leaders. The farmer had no oppor-
tunity for special training until the
congress made provision for it forty
years ago. During. these years progress
has been made and teachers have been
are in attendance at our state agricul-
tural colleges. The federal government
expends ten millions Of dollars annu-
ally toward this education and for re-
search in Washington and in the sew
eral states and territories. The depart
ment, of agriculture has given facili-
dred young men during the last seven
years, preparing them for advanced
lines of work in the department and in
the state institutions.
Study Of Meteorology.
The facts concerning meteorology and
its relations to plant and animal life
Temperature and moisture are control
ling factors in all agricultural opera.
tions. The seasons Of the cyclones of
the Caribbean sea and their paths are
being forecast with increasing accur-
acy. The cold winds that come from
the north are anticipated and their
times and intensity told to farmers, gar
deners and fruiterers in all southern To-
calities.
Exports of Animals.
We sell $25O,OOO, 900 worth of animals
and animal products to foreign coun-
tries every year, in addition to supply
ing our own people more cheaply and
abundantly than any other nation is
able to provide for it's people,. Success
full manufacturing depends primarily on
cheap food, which accounts to consid-
or h nvfn fos >1ry+h g
direction. The department. Of agricul-
ture, by careful inspection Of meats,
guards the health Of our people and
gives clean bills Of health to deserving
exports; it is prepared to deal promptly
with imported diseases of animals, and
and herds in this respect. There should
be an annual census of the livestock of
the nation. E
We sell abroad about $6OO,OOO,O 900
worth Of plants and their products ev-
cry year. Strenuous efforts are being
made to import from foreign countries
such grains as are suitable to our vary.
bought three-fourths of our rice; by
helping the rice growers on the gulf
coast to secure seeds from the Orient
suited to their conditions, and by Civ,
ing them adequate protection, they now
supply home demand and export to, the
|
other rlce-growlng countries.
Imports of Grains.
Wheat and other grains have been i'm
ported from light-rainfall countries tc
our lands in the west and southwest
that have. not grown crops because Of
light precipitation, resulting in an ex
and our home-making territory that can
not be irrigated. Ten million bushels
OF first-class macaroni wheat were
grown from these experimental impor
tations last year. .--- 49, :.
Fruits suitable to our soils and eli
mates are being imported from all thu
countries Of the old world-tne fig from
date from Algeria, the mango from
India. We are helping our fruit grow
ers to get their crops into European
markets by studying methods of preser
walton thru refrigeration, packing an,
handling, which have been quite sue
ers by importing varieties that ripel
earlier and later than the kinds the,
have. been raising, thereby lengthenin
the harvesting season. 49,
Menaces to Cotton Crop. ..~
The cotton crop Of the country i
threatened with root rot, the bollworr
will find immune varieties that will re
sist the root disease, and the bollwor1
can be, dealt with, but the boil weevi
IS a serious menace to the cotton croI
It is Cen al American insect tina
has become a*:li1nated in Texas and ha
department of agriculture has found til
Weevil at home in Guatemala being KEEP
in check by an ant, which has bee
brought to our cotton fields for observe
ton; 1t is hoped that it may serve
good purpose.
) The soils. of the country are gettin
: attention from tie farmers standpoint
We have duplicates of the soils tina
grow the wrapper tobacco in Sumatr
and the filler tobacco in Cuba. It wi
be only question of time when tn
large, amounts paid to these countrie
: will be. paid to our. own people. TIL
? reclamation OF alkai lands is progress!
ing, to give object lessons to our peop]
in methods by which worthless land
r may be made productive.
: Farmers Friends and Foes. "
The insect friends and enemies of tn
' farmer are getting attention. The Ell
l envy Of the San Jose scale was foun
near the great wall of China. and
l now 20 &C. cleaning up all our orchards. !: I'll
- ~ oAAAAAAAS@ AA!OSSo A1ApO1 CCu lIOlll L u
? key has helped'rto establish an indu
: try in California that amounts to fro
t fifty to one hundred tons Of dried fs
i annually, and is extending over the p;
e ciic~ coast. A parasitic fly from Sout
J. Africa is keeping in subsection the blac
t scale, the worst pest Of the orange an
: lemon industry in California. ~.
d Careful preliminary work is bein
e done towards producing our own sill
t The mulberry is being distributed
d large numbers, eggs are being importe
q and distributed, improved reels wei
8 two expert reelers were. brought
D Washington to reel the crop of cocoon
t and teach the art to our own people,
l. The corresponding system Of the d
: partment of agriculture is being brougl
9 closer, to accuracy every: year. It h;
f 10000 reporters selected from people
e EIGHT vocations in life. 1t has arrang
ments. with most European countries f
e interchange of estimates, so that o.
J. people may know as nearly as possib
O with what they must compete.
J LAND RECLAMATION ~
9 What the Federal Irrigation People A,
Doing in the West.