Bismarck daily tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, Dakota [N.D.]) 1881-1916, 1909-08-24
THE FARMERS YEARBOOK.


A new issue of the Yearbook, the
great popular annual of the United
States Department of Agriculture,
has appeared In size, appearance.
and contents, the Yearbook for 1908
is very similar to it's predecessors,
and it will doubtless be of interest
and value to people engaged in agri-
cultural pursuits.
For nearly half century the
Agricultural Report" appeared
every year until the name became
so firmly fixed in the public mind
that it is still current through four
teen years have elapsed since Con-
gress substituted the Yearbook for
the old Report. In fact, Congress-
men will speak of their stocks of
Agricultural Reports" which about
the capitol and government printing
Office are Familiarity known as "Ags.,'
and thousands of farmers every year
write for the Agricultural Reports"
when it Is the Yearbook they want
and that is what they get. 1t is true
there is still an annual Report of
the Department Of Agriculture" but
it contains merely-to quote the law
THE purely business and executive
matter which it is necessary for the
secretary to submit to the president
and congress-" Only small edition
Of this report is printed.
The Yearbook, on the other hand,
must contain such reports from the
different divisions and bureaus, and
such papers prepared by their special
agents, accompanied by suitable IL
Illustrations, as shall be specially suit
ed to interest and instruct the farm
ers Of the country" The Yearbook
must also Include a general report
of the operations of the department"
Besides these there is an appendix
which includes the organization of
of the department.; directory of
the leading farmers organizations,
agricultural colleges, experiment sta
tions, etc.; brief review of the
weather conditions prevailing in all
parts Of the country during the year;
an account of the prevalence Of in
sect pests and fungous diseases; a
report of the progress made in soil
survey work, in forestry, and along
other important lines; and last,
though by means least, a very COM
plete collection Of the latest reliable
statistics Of crops, animal products,
exports, imports, etc.
AS already stated the Yearbook for
1908 is similar in plan and scope to
its predecessors. The primary feat
ure is the secretary's report giving
"a general account of the operations
of the department" Secretary Will
son also gives brief summary Of the
agricultural progress, of the United
States during the twelve years since
he became the departments head.
The % popular papers designed to
Interest and instruct the farmers,
which occupy 304 pages of this issue,
are strictly new and original, and
they cover a field almost as wide as
agriculture itself Only a few Of the
salient features can be mentioned.
A. F. Woods discusses the WASTES
of the farm" and tells how intelli-
gent farmers may prevent many Of
them. A. K, Fisher tells how wild
birds and mammals benefit the
farmer. and therefore deserve his
friendship. Frank Andrews contrf-
butes an instructive paper ON "Cost
and methods of transporting meat
animals" c.. ". Piper gives an ac-
count of "The search for new legum-
inous forage crops especially in In
Ola, Japan, China, and Siberia,
whence many valuable species have
been introduced. The plague Of
mice which recently occurred in Ne
yada is described by Stanley e. Pip
err. David e. Lantz tells how to use
poisons in destroying coyotes, prai-
RE dogs, rats mice, etc; and A. l..
Quaintance tells how to destroy or.
cnard insects by spraying. D. A..
seeley describes the devices used in
observing the weather and tells the