The Washington herald., 1908-08-12
BY FREDERIC j. HASKIN.

Quoted against the potato bug This pest
probably never VIII be eliminated. but it
can be controlled, experts say. The re-
suit Of at least partial control IS shown
in the fact that about 30.00o.000 bushels
Of Irish potatoes are being raised this
summer This crop viii have an esti-
mated value Of SlS5.e51,090
The production Of various fruits and
vegetables bids fair 20 exceed all past
records this year The peach crop is the
largest that the country has enjoyed u
a number Of years. The condition OF the
pear. apple. grape. and tomato crops IS
better than al this time last year, while
melons and vegetables Of various kinds
are doing fine. Detailed figures concern
Ing these crops cannot be Obte' ned Tor
some tine Il IS possible. however. 70
estimate that the vegetable crop VIII be
worth several million dollars more than
il would otherwise be. We're il not for the
use Of measures introduced by the Agri-
cultural Department for the destruction
Of injurious insects. particularly such as
attack truck crops in the South
The orange crop has been saved by
flmigatlou from the ravages Of the white
fly. so that the crop is worth hundreds
Of thousands Of dollars more than It
would have been without the help Of the
government scientists. Importation Of the
black-scale parasite improves The olive
crop 20 the extent Of $4,000 year. IN
Pennsylvania. grape vineyards have been
cleaned Of the pesuferoUs grape root
worm. while California pear orchards
have had Sl.G500oa. or more. worth Of their
crop saved from the destructive pear
blight and pear tbrips. Spraying peach
trees under the direction OF the Agricul-
tural Department has resulted in IN
{ creasing the peach crop NJ least S1.o09.oo
year The Introduction OF new varie-
/ ties Of oranges. taugerines. grape fruits
and plueapples by the government has
increased the value Of the fruit crop TO
the extent OF SIFo 600 annually. The ap-
PIE crop IS worth s. 10000 20 SSo0tf67
more. because the coddling moth has been
fought by the government
The American sweet tooth viii not be
neglected in this years crop The value
I Of sucar-csne. sugar beets. sorghum. mo-
lasses. and sirup produced this year VIII
. probably be not less than S55.lo'.9lo. The
{ beet sugar industry furnishes a striking
Z example 0T the effectiveness OF the gov
Z eminent IN introducing new crops In
ISIS 90 was in an experimental stage.
while this year over 5lo.jl5 tons Of beet
sugar is being produced
The grand total Of forest products.
while not the production of American
farms. IS yet Indirectly related % Amerl-
{ can agriculture. is increased 70 The eX-
i tent Of Sl.ar1a on q year through The de-
I s--ucclon Of forest insects under govern
I msnt auspices That much vy-k against
/ insects remains 20 be done is evident
/ from an estimate OF 500 111.0'0 as the an
ulal damage 20 crops from bugs.
! Next iu Importance % the Agricultural
( Department among government bureaus,
I from the farmers standpoint is the re-
/ clamaIioa service This bureau has add
I ed 50fa acres 10 the farming lands ot
/ the West. and IS ar work on irrigation
! projects sufficient 10 furnish water for
! z. 165,018 more acres. Il is said that this
land is so rich as TO produce everything
except polar bears and whales Much Of
the land produces crops worth S3.--0 an
acre. The total crop produced on land
. irrigated by the government cannot ue
. ascerra-ued as vet as the irrigation has
only been lu progress for about a year
3 and this IS the first big crop year In
. addition TO government irrigated land
about -5.G-F600 acres OF land are being
E irrigated by private enterprise, which
. area Is believed 20 be producing crops
T aEEregatilg $4,000 o01 IN value and sup
porting q population Of 10000 persons.
In addition 90 the farm crops. dairy
/ products bring $50 ll6.1do. eggs and poul-
Try. $50. 1la 900. and farm animals. SlS)o--
90 co. The savings resulting from rlt
. work OF the Bureau of Animal Industry
are estimated AZ So n0011@ a year The
. Weather Bureau. the Soils Bureau. tE5
Public Roads Once. The bureaus Of Biol
. 0Ev. Forestry. and Chemistry save the
( farmers $1,000 010. All things considered
( the Secretary of Agriculture has every
I reason 70 be proud cf the crops
lCcpg-zErr. -e9s bg Fre5e--- J. HassrJ