The Montgomery advertiser., 1908-08-12

that the total produCLtOn or nay tHiS year will be from slxty-five to seventy millions of tons valued at not less than s750. 100000. The value of the timothy crop Is being increased to the extent of $45.000,000 year, or twenty per cent, owing to investigations by the bureau of plant industry. This bureau has also improved the hay crop by introducing brome grass and other grasses, the production of which in the Dakotas alone is valued at about half a million dollars a year. Alfalfa, un- der the fostering care of the govern ment. has been made worth many mill lions a year.
 While the plant industry bureau has been perfecting durum wheat and other grain crops, the entomology bureau has been saving millions annually in these crops by assisting in the de- struction of bugs which live on the wheat. The injurious insects referred to include the Hessian fly, which for merly destroyed from $100, 100000 to $200, ,000, 900 worth of wheat and other grains; the green bug and other pests. These bugs being under subjection, the spring and winter wh eat crop this year will probably aggregate 640,000, 900 bushels worth upwards of $460,000,000
 Other grain crops also derive a great deal of benefit from the agrlcul- tural departments activities against bugs of various kinds. Of these crops, it is estimated, oats will produce 760,- 900, ,000 bushels or more, barley 160,- 0O0.0 bushels. rye 35 5,O0O,000 bushels and buckwheat. flaxseed and rice in proportion, the total cereal crop be- ing worth S2,500, 900 .000, according to unofficial estimates. :.
 Next to the cereals. cotton and hay, the tobacco and potato crops are lead CTS. In 1907 the amount of tobacco produced was nearly FOG, ,000, ,000 pounds which was worth s76,2S4,o00. This year the tobacco acreage is nearly 60,- 900 acres less than last year, but the condition of the crop is considerably better. so that what the planters lose in quantity they will make up in qual- | ity and price. In this connection 1t is estimated that the annual value of im- l provements of the tobacco crop through the introduction of new types and improvement of old ones by the | agricultural department, Is not less than 900 a year.
 | Cuban tobacco has been introduced and is being cultivated successfully in Texas, while the growing of Sum- atra wrapper tobacco in Connecticut and elsewhere is on a paying basis. | Millions of dollars in damages for l merly done by worms and other insects l which feed upon the nicotine plant have been prevented by the govern ment experts, who have been at work in Kentucky and other tobacco -produc- ing sections.
 The size of the potato crop this year will be due in no small measure to the l campaign that entomologists have con- ducted against the potato bug. This pest probably never will be eliminated, but 1t can be controlled, experts say | The result of at least partial control is shown in the fact that about 30O,- ,000 bushels of Irish potatoes are being raised this summer. This crop will have an estimate value of $tS5,- 000 900.
 The production of various fruits and vegetables bids fair to exceed all past records this year. The peach crop is the largest that the country has en- Joyed in number of years. The con- dition of the pear, apple, grape and tomato crops is better than at this time last year, while melons and vegeta bles of the various kinds are doing fine. Detailed figures concerning these crops cannot be obtained for some time. It is possible, however, to estimate that | the vegetable crop will be worth sev- eral million dollars more than it would otherwise be, were it not for the use of measures introduced by the agricul- tural department for the destruction Of Injurious insects, particularly such as attack truck crops in the South.
 The orange crop has been saved bv fumigation from the ravages of the white fly, so that the crop is worth hundreds of thousands of dollars more | than 1t would have been without the help of the government scientists. Importation of the black-seale parasite improves the olive crop to the extent of $250,000 a year. In Pennsylyania. grape vineyards have been cleaned of the pestiferous grape root worm, while California pear orchards have had a million dollars. or more, worth of their crop saved from the destructive pear blight and pear thrips. Spraying peach trees under the directions of the agricultural department has re- suited in increasing the peach crop at least a million dollars a year. The introduction of new varieties of oranges. tangerines, grapefruits and pineapples by the government has in- | creased the value of the fruit crop to the extent of a million dollars annu- ally. The apple crop is worth $6,OOO,- 900 to $S,0O0.000 more because the coddling moth has been fought by the government.
 The American sweet tooth will not be neglected in this years crop. The | Value or SuSdT-Cane, sugar DeetS. l ghum, molasses and syrup produced this year will probably be not less than S65 COG, 900. The beet sugar industry l furnishes a striking example of the effectiveness of the government In in- troducing new crops. In 1888 it was in an experimental stage. while this year over 5O0,OO0 tons of beet sugar is being produced.
 The grand total of forest products, while not the production of American farms, is yet indirectly related to American agriculture. is increased to the extent of $100,OO0,000 a year through the destruction of forest in- sects under government auspices. That much work against insects remains ] to be done Is evident from an esti- mate of S7OO.OOO.oOO as the annual damages to crops from bugs.
 Next in importance to the AgricVl- tural Department among government bureaus. from the farmers standpoint, is the reclamation service. This bu- reau has added 50O.00O acres to the ] farming lands of the West and is at