Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-11-29
FRUIT Of THE EARTH
Agriculture ExtoIIed by Secre-
tary Wilson
IN A SPECIAL SERVICE
At the Mt. Pleasant Congregational
Church.
DISTRICT COMMISSIONERS WEST
Also Makes an Address on the Second
Part of the Presidents
Proclamation.
DISTRICT COMMISSIONER WEST

The Thanksgiving service at the Mount
Pleasant Congregational Church was of I'M
| usual interest today. as it included an adj
dress by Secretary Wilson of the Depart
ment of Agriculture upon the part his great
department had taken in producing a boun-
| tiful supply of good things of the earth.
The service was well attended this MORN
ing and contained many features of es-
pecial interest. In addition to Secretary
Wilson's address Commissioner West spoke
upon the significance of the day. The two
speakers were presented by Rev. NJ. Ross
Fishburn, pastor of the church, who presd-
ed during the service.
The Presidents proclamation was read by
| Judge F. L. Campbell of the Interior De-
partment, and prayer was offered by Prof.
/ J. w. Chickering. A special musical pro-
gram was rendered by the choir
instead OF the customary Thanksgiving
sermon there were two addresses, based on
| an analysis Of the proclamation By
way of introduction to these addresses.
Mr.. Ffshburn pointed out that the pro-
clamation set forth two reasons for the
observance of the day. First. the abound
ing material prosperity of the past year.
Second, the necessity Of building upon the
foundation Of well being "a superstructure
of individual and national life lived in &C
cordance with the laws of the highest NOR
atty"
Secretary Wilson's Address.
The first speaker was Secretary Wilson of
! the Department of Agriculture He re-
| viewed the work of his department In the
upbuilding Of the farming interests of the
nation. and declared that while people talk
of arid regions and soil that has lost its
fertility. there is not an acre of land under
something as soon as We know how to
make 1t produce His confidence in the ever
increasing power of the great body of spe-
ciailsts In his department to continue to
conquer the forces of production was shown
by his optimistic view of the problem of
feeding the constantly increasing numbers
of people
We are now engaged" he said, '.in solv-
ing problems that could not be determined
upon the foundation of this nation Some
years ago 1t occurred to Congress that steps
must be taken for the promotion of the
agricultural interests and gradually eduea-
ton along those lines was begun and has
since been carried forward. We ere en-
deavoring to help educate the American
FARMER until now We have 900 special
agents making researches into all that per-
tains to production, and they are at work
wherever the American flag flies"
He said hundred or hundred and fifty
years ago a man going to his library could
lind practically nothing on agriculture and
uiAl WHICH, was tHeH written was by men
who knew nothing Of the subject they
/ treated
Now. he said "the Department Of
Agriculture sends out Il. 100000 copies of
reports by these special agents annually for
the education of the people. We have more
men making. research. along these lines
| than all the outside world combined The
| results of this work are being shown. Last
year we produced products worth $iOJ 600 :
COO more than those of the previous year
| Our products last year were valued at
S. 7O4. 100000. 1t is difficult for us to COM
prehend these figures
I'VE are sending agents to all the lands
of the earth to find out what is being dis
covered in foreign countries. We are bring
Ing to our shores whatever Is desirable for
our conditions"
The Wheat Industry
The Secretary spoke of the wheat indus
| try and said that while wheat Is no longer
grown in New England and in the middle
states 1t was merely because the people
| in the past did not know that they could
not rob the soil year after year without
taking away Its productive qualities Some
thing must be put back. All the soil Is
productive or can be made productive for
something. he declared. After three or
four crops are taken from the soil it rebels
and the farmer has to learn how to care
for the soil he cultivates. He spoke of the
problem that faces the country in providing
variety of crops for that great country
| in the northwest that is famed for its
wheat The department had sent to Asia
thing that would grow there.
Within ten days" he said. word has
come from Siberia that an agent has
found what he went for. We wanted an
down to 40 degrees below zero. We want
| ed dry land crops. and that Is what we
have found. That variety Of alfalfa Is
coming to the United States now. That
lie n % net ipfn tfnex .
has been brought to my attention during
| the past year."
What We Sold Last Year.
He spoke of the higher prices that are
| demanded for meat products. But 40 per
| cent of the cost of the meat is because of
| the charge the retail dealer makes.
Much had been said.' he stated, ''about
| the meat products Of this country, and it
| was supposed that our meat industry
abroad had been injured, but last year
| we sold of such products $37, 900 more
| to foreign countries than were sold the
year before.
The inspection now given the meat by
| 1900 inspectors insures the best meat that
| can be had any place in the world.
The government Is doing much to pre-
serve the wild birds and animals that are
sought by hunters and without such efforts
might be eXterminated. BY ingenious meth
| DDS the recently introduced cattle tick Of the
out Of an area as large as the state of Vir-
ginia.
The farmers of the country, he said, were
never SO rich as today: They are putting
money in the banks and sending their boys
and girls to college. They will have to buy
automobiles pretty soon or learn some other
way of getting rid of their wealth.
| He referred to the fear Of some people
that this country could not raise rice be-
cause Of the cheap labor In China. But
| machinery and modern methods had been
applied in this country that make the
labor of one farm hand in operating them
as valuable as that of 400 Cinnamon. Last
year the United States was able to export
7GO, coo, 900 pounds of rice. and some of it
went to rice-producing countries.
Commissioner Vests Address
Commissioner Vests address dealt with
the second part of President Roosevelts
Thanksgiving proclamation. wherein it was
pointed out that material wealth could be
only the foundation Of true national great