The Montgomery advertiser., 1904-11-30
THE REPORT OF WILSON
DEALS EXTENSIVELY WITH THE NATIONS AGRICULTURE.
Much Space Given to Cotton, and Ac- count is Printed of the EMorts to Check Spread of Boil
 Weevi1. s.s-

Washington, Nov. 29 29.-(SpeciaL)-- No department of the government mas grown more in ways that most con cern the material prosperity of this great world-inf1uencing agricuitural country than the Department Of Agri- culture The likelihood that Hon James B. Wilson, the head of that De- partment, will be continued in the cab inet of President Roosevelt and the un- disputed diligence of the farmer of the cabinet make his annual report to the President, which is just now out of press, more interesting and tnstruc- tive than ever.
 The farming interests of the coun- try. notwithstanding Its world-beatfnR growth in manufacturing. are more surpassing than ever. They are vas' and varied and wonderfully wealth productive. They have brought gold to our shores from distant lands which have impressed the stupendous re- sources of this republic upon the rest of the consuming earth more than any dozen of other lands, continental though their governmental proportions may be.
 None of the great variety of inter- ests has been neglected. The Depart nlent of. Agriculture has devoted no little attention to the South's great cash-compeIler. its royal staple. cot ton.
 Along the line of discussing the De- rartment's combat with the Mexican boil weevil which has cost many mil- lions to the planters of Texas. Score tary Wilson's report says
 The Bureau of Plant Industry has made a special effort to aid the farm CTS of Texas. Louisiana and other Southern States where the Mexican cotton boil weeviI has already appear ed or is likely to appear. In all sec tions the energies of the Bureau have been put forth to encourage better methods of farming, with highly grat- flying results.
 Eo-operation with Farmers.
 With a view to bringing directly home to the farmers of Texas. and Louisiana, especially those in the boil weevil districts. the advantages of bet ter methods of cultivation, the value of early maturing seed. etc, the Bu- reau organized an extensive line of propaganda work. The farmers in the various counties were organized and were brought into cooperation in such a way that large plantings were made under the direct supervision of the Department. Tracts of 5. 10, Is and 20 acres were handled by individual farm CTS under working plans furnished by the Bureau, the object being in all cases to demonstrate the practicable ity of growing cotton despite the pres ence of the weevil.
 More than 5000 farmers were en- gagged in this work, and the results have been highly satisfactory. At 9 recent meeting held in Houston, where more than 200 representative farmers from all parts of the State were pres ent records were presented showing the yields. of cotton under the plans of the Department compared with old meth ods. The increased yields. ranging all the way from 25 per cent to 100 per cent in districts badly infested by the weevil. show that by proper methods of culture, the use of early maturing varieties of seed, and the application of proper fertilizers excellent results may be obtained. A complete record of the yields from the various farms conducted under the direction of the Bureau has been kept, and a report embodying these data will soon be published.
 Co-operatiOn with the Texas Agricul-
 tural College.
 In the special work on cotton the Bureau of Plant Industry has been in the closest cooperation with the Texas Agricultural College. The President of the college has taken charge of the farmers institute work, and with the aid of several men selected py him and men furnished by the Departments all parts of the State were visited 5 early in the spring, and the necessity for giving strict attention to better methods of cultivation was set forth . This institute work will be continued dueing the present autumn and winter