Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1907-07-12
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE.
A Few Of the Many Things 1t Has Done
for the Farmer.

Many laughed a few years ago when
the Department of Agriculture was
established, and by the thoughtlrss
its first head was dubbed the COW
secretary. Vet no government de-
Inrtmrnt has grown ST. fast. is more
prompt in meeting new conditions,
is more hoSpitablc to new IDEAS, or
touches the daily lives of millions at
so many points.
In his address before the AmcricliS
club ut Pittsburg recently, Secretary
Wilson mentioned some of the things
his department is doing. At this
time attention will he directed. not
SO much to the broad lines of its
work aS to some of the minor ones.
which may seem small in themselves
but which all count toward the sum
total of national prosperity.
The beet sugar industry has grown
slowly. despite an ample market for
its product. because of the large
amount of hand labor required The
department is trying to make Il beet
different from any now known. which
can be planted, cultivated and gath
cred by machinery, and with fair
prospects of success. by SO doing ii
will greatly lessen our tribute to for
eigners and make the nation more
completely independent.
n notable feature of the depart
ment's work is the way it is always
looking for chances to keep the ma
tion 5 wealth at home. There is to-
bacco, for instance. for which we
now pay to others many millions.
Yet it is being shown that We can
grow wrappers equal tn those of Su-
matra and filters equal to best Cuban,
on our own soil
We pay $4,000. 900 a year for straw
mattings. although there is an Amer
lean machine that weaves as much in
one day Us the Oriental weaver can
weave i'll thirty days. Material for
the machine is needed, and the de-
partment is introducing the ruShcs
used. Ii is also showing us that we
can grow our own camphor and we
are beginning to do it.
An unwary student let some for
eign moths escape, and New Eng
lands shade trees were being de-
strOyed in spite of all efforts to save
them. An agent of the department
tracked the gypsy moth to its home
in Crimea, found there and brought
back its natural enemy. with results
expected to be as beneficial us u sim
liar pursuit of the San Jose Scale to
its home in North China and the
bringing thence of its natural enemy
To destroy it.
In this matter of insect pests we
have lately been called upon to help
other countries. A disease which
was decimating the camclS of Algeria
was found to be carried by Il gadtly
The French government turned to
Washington for advice. where it was
suggested that what is known in the
South as the horse guard might
deal with these gadtlies. A large
consignment of these insects is going
to Algeria in the hope that they will
check the camel disease by killing
the flies that carry it.
In the semi-arid Northwest dry
farming"-a process of saving the
rain water in the soil for plant use-
is attracting wide and increasing at
tentiOn. But only one crop of grain
in two years can, as IL rule be grown
on these lands. A clover, or similar
plant, was needed to alternate with
grain. The departmpnt searched and
found in Northern Siberia clOvers
that would endure great cold.
Considering the multifariOus activ
tiles of the Department of Agricul-
turc and the zeal with which it pur-
sues the smallest as well Us the larg-
est tasks, the complaint of thirty
years ago, that the farmer was neg
lected by the government, certainly
has no foundation now.