The evening times. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1906-1914, 1906-01-29
the Importance and value of proper
methods of caring for the fruit before

the Importance and value OF proper
methods of caring for the fruit before
1t is shipped. Attention was specific
ally called to the important work Of
the department in the matter of stor-
age iof fruits, especially apples. It
was pointed out that apples in storage
behave very differently when taken
from different kinds of soil, gathered
at different times Of the season and
taken from different parts OF the trees.
All these questions have an important
bearing on the keeping qualities of
the apple after the fruit is put into
the storage house. The department is
making an effort to extend American
fruit markets into :ore1gn countries
and to this end has made trial ship
ments of apples, pears, peaches, and
other fruits. A great deal of interest
was aroused in the committee by the
discussion of the work of the bureau
of plant industry in the matter of
studying. seed authorizations Under a
clause inserted in the last appropria-
ton the department has been gather
ing seed from all over the country,
making examinations of the same, and
publishing the namessof the firms who
are adulterating the seed, especially
forage crop seed. 1t has pointed out
that about 100000 pounds of Canadian
bluegrass is brought into this coun-
try every year for the purpose of adul-
terating Kentucky bluegrass. The
Canadian seed is worth about half as
much as the Kentucky product Two
hundred and fifty thousand pounds Of
trefOil, a common and almost worth
less seed, is imported every year for
the purpose of adulterating. alfalfa
seed. A great deal of red clover is
adulterated with seed of burr clover,
which is obtained as waste product
in the cleaning Of wool. This wool is
sent in from South American coun-
tries, the burr clover is cleaned out
of 1t, and then used for adulterating
the higher grade clovers.
Attention was called to the work of
the department in the matter Of grad
ing of grain. A great deal of interest
has been aroused in the question of
proper and effective systems in grain
grading. The officers of the bureau
discussed this problem from many
standpoints, indicating that it is the
aim of the department, through it's in
yestigations and studies, to standard
ize the various grains in such way
that uniform system might be adopt
ed throughout the country. BY this
process it is believed that much of
the complaint now made by foreign
ers against grain could be overcome.
A, special feature of the bureau of
plant industry's work has beeen a
Study of what is called Farm Man
agement" in different parts of the
country. These studies have for their
object the securing of facts bearing
on the manner in which some of the
best farms are managed. When this
data is once secured it is planned to
utilize it in its application to other
sections of the country. Here and
there throughout the country there
there are always to be found farmers
who are highly successful. Systems of
rotation. methods of handling animals
and crops practiced by these success
full men are being studied and records
made of the cost Of production and
profitsi resulting therefrom in such
way that the results can be applied
as already indicated.
Attention was also called to the ex-
tensive work of the bureau in it's in
vestigation of the improvement of the
conditions in the far west, so far as
they relate to forage crops and the
improvement of range lands. 1t was
pointed out that some special investi-
cations have shown that the cactus,
grown all over the region mentioned,
could be made very valuable by sim
pie methods of treatment so as to re-
move tho spines. y
In connection with the foreign ex-
ploration work being carried on by the
department, attention was directed to
the efforts being made to introduce
crops OF all kinds from different parts
of the world, the object being to Sc
cure things not, heretofore grown in
this country and which might be used
probably in building up new indus
tries. "a AN a
Attention was also called to the very
varied work in encouraging new lines
Of investigation, such as the growing
Of medicinal plants in this country.
Four or five million dollars worth of
medicinal plants are imported an
nually and it was pointed out that a.
good many of these plants could be
profitably grown here. Special men
ton being made of some of these
plants. Recently much Interest has
been manifested in the camphor ques-
ton. Camphor is rapidly becoming
more and more scarce and the depart
ment has been making a special effort
to determine whether it could be sue
cessfully grown here. The tree is al
ready we'll established in certain por-
lions of the south anu the department
has had for its object the demonstra-
tion Of the Feasibility Of extracting
d Continued ON page ~