Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1907-12-05

are equal to one-third of the value OF
all cereals.
The poultry products are worth
more than the wheat and perhaps as
much as the hay.
The live stock sold from farms and
slaughtered on them is worth nearly
twice as much as the cotton crop.
1t is only by comparison that glim-
mer of understanding can be given to
such numbers as the foregoing.
Enough is apparent, however, to make
it plain that the farmer of the United
States is in a business that counts
for national welfare by providing the
whereWithal on scale of magnifi-
cence that defes the imagination to
comprehend.
improved Tobacco
An important result of the past sea-
sons Investigations has been the in
PRODUCTION of the new varieties OF
tobacco which the Department has
originated The Brewer and the
Cooley tObaccos have given increased
yields of a better grade o. cigar wrap
per tobacco than the unimproved va
rieties, and many growers are plan
ming to use these varieties exclusively
next season. Improved practical
methods of seed selection and seed
separation have been discovered and
are proving of benefit and practical
value to all tobacco growers.
introduction of New Plants.
During the year an agent of the De
partmcnt has explored the little
known regions of southern Siberia,
the border of Manchuria, the exces-
sively dry mountains west of Pekin,
and through the fertile country be
tween Pekin and Hanaku, and has
sent to this country over a thousand
living seed and plant specimens for
trial. Another agent ha- returned to-
this country with seeds of the yellow
foweref Siberian alfalfa, the results
of whose trial in the Northwest
where they are now growing promis-
ingIy,. will determine whether wei
shall import large quantities Of the
seed. Totem clover from Norway,
where it is cultivated for its extreme
hardness, was also secured by the
same agent and is being tested in the
Dakotas, For the rec growers Of the
South there have been. introduced 40
varieties from different parts OF the
world, among them the To-day rices- |
eaEly sorts which Ia Japan give
crops when ordinary Eices fail. The
explorers have also sue
caede in securing an abundance OF
young stock of oriental and Egyp- |
dan mating plants, Kinds which are
essential to the success of the mating |
industry in this country. A new vari- |
ETY. of alfalfa, one that will grow
the winter II some OF
QUIZ southwestern states, has been in
troduced from Peru.
Alfalfa and Leaumes.
In cooperation with state expert |
ment stations, about 500 carefully |
planned experiments were conducted |
with farmers the past season in por- |!
lions of the country where alfalfa is |
not row a staple crop. OF the alfalfa |
tested during the year the Arabian
type IS enc of the most promising. |
At Mecca, Cal, this alfalfa has yielded |
Twelve cuttings in the year as against
light for the ordinary type, and at
Chico, Cab, seven cuttings Of the for
mer as against five Of the latter One
Of the most important forage crops OF
the south is the cowpea, and during
the year extensive investigations have
been made with a view to securing
cheaper and better seed SO as to bring
about great increase in cowpea cul-
.ure. To meet long-felt need Of the
rice growers Of Louisiana and Texas
Tor legume that might be grown IL
rotation ON their rice lands the de-
Dartment has successfully introduced
! specially adapted variety of soy
bean. A valuable new early maturing
7etch suitable for the south has re-
Gently been discovered
Road Object Lessons.
In the construction OF obiect-lesson
,oads, In cooperation with local au-
.horities. greater attention than here
.ofore was given to earth, sand-clay.
md gravel roads. Local authoritiesl
furnished common labor, materials,
cams, and fuel. The engineers rep
esenting the department were In