The silver state. [volume] (Winnemucca, Nev.) 1909-1925, 1910-10-11
NEWS FROM THE
NATIONS CAPITAL
Especial to the Silver State.)
To Raise Farm Horses.


To Raise Farm Horses.
) WASHINGTON, October IL
! Through the cooperation of prom
inent merchants and bankers in South
Carolina and Georgia, the farmers Of
those states are carrying out plan
suggested by the department of agri-
culture for improving their draft
stock. Heretofore the custom has
been to import mules mostly from
Missouri for farm work. DR.. s. A.
Knapp, the special agent in charge of
the farmers cooperative demonstra-
tion work under the direction of the
bureau of plant industry, suggested
that the farmers secure grade per-
cheron mares and secure grade per-
own stock. The cost of percheron
stations being too high for the farm
ers to undertake their purchase, the
progressive business men agreed to
attend to that themselves. The first
carload of mares was sent from Vir-
ginia to the farmers of South Caro-
lima and Georgia last week.
Pecan Investigations.
For two or three years past there
has been rapidly increasing interest
in pecan culture. The Improvement
of the pecan nut has stimulated the
interest in its growth, and the almost
fabulous stories of the profits to be
obtained from it's culture have led to
the planting of large areas to the nut.
Several large nurseries are sending out
literature of very optimistic char
acter, and journal is published in
the interests of the nut growers. The
department of agriculture has made
some Investigations regarding the cul-
ture of pecans. and it is receiving from
four to ten inquiries daily about the
nut, its culture, habitat and the prob
able profits to be derived from it.
1t has no satisfactory information to
give, and it has begun collecting data
which may be of value to growers and
prospective growers. G. A. Reed, one
of the experts employed by the
bureau of plant industry, has started
out on trip through the south to get
in touch with the pecan situation. He
will visit as many OF the original trees
as possible, and will canvass the situa-
tion in Georgia. North Carolina, F1ori-
da, Alabama, Mississippi. Texas and
perhaps other states. He will report
on the questions which intending
ing about. The pecan grows and four
ishes as far north as Indiana, Ohio and
Illinois, and as far south as Florida
and Texas. It's culture promises to be-
come highly important and profitable
The Russian Cotton Crop.
According to a late report by Con-
sui General John HI. Snodgrass, of
Moscow, Russia is now producing al
most if not quite one-half of the
$130.000.000 worth of cotton it needs
for consumption in it's mills. The num-
her of spindles is rapidly increasing
S5.74S spindles being in course of con-
struction on February 1, 1910. The
imports of raw cotton for the first
four months of 1910 amounted to 23,-
l310.960. showing large increase over
lprevious records. The principal cot
ton growing region is at Ferghana, in
Central Asia, where 615,600 acres are
under cultivation, as compared with
$4,000 acres in 1909. During 1909
new districts were opened in Central
! Asia. Southern Russia. the Crimea and
the Caucasus. The government has in
augurated several irrigation projects
for southern Russia and Central Asia.
The best cotton is practically equal to
! fully good middling New Orleans and
Texas cotton.
Africa Exporting Corn.
Tt took the rest of the world good
while to learn the value of "Indiano
corn. known in Europe as maize. The
consular bureau is advised that South
Africa now grows so much corn that
it exports large quantities to England
and Mexico. Very recentlv one vessel
carried 6.400 tons, or $1,000 bags of
corn from Durham to Mexico
| During the first six months of 1910
63.7S0,225 pounds of maize were ex-
ported. valued at $1.654,371. as com.
pared with 16222.57S pounds, valued
at $1S2.70S in the corresponding period
of 1909. IT is expected that the calen.
dar year 1910 will far surpass any
previous wear for the export of maize
from South Africa.
The average price at which maize
is being purchased in the principal
producing sections of South Africa
the Orange Free State and Transvaa'
lis $1.70 per bag of 200 pounds fol-
round yellow and $1.s2 to $1.s5 pei
bag for white flat.
Portsmouth in Demand.
The old gunboat Portsmouth, reli'
of the DAYS when the "new navy
had not been even dreamed of ant
walls of oak were the ideal defens'
for the gallant tars who manned tn
old muzzle-loading cannon with whicl
on occasion they could win such splen
. did victories as are emhlazened on tn.
pages of our naval history--the OBJ
solete, almost worthless, old Ports
, mouth has suddenly become a bone OF
contention for which several interests
are fighting. At present the vessel il
assigned to the naval militia OF New
Jersey The people of San Francisco
want her because she was in the bay
before the old Spanish pueblo whel
that settlement, then known as Yerb'
Buena. was taken by the forces of th
United States. and her presence is he
lieved to have prevented the Britisl
from interfering and laving claim I
, California at that time. But the Ports
mouth is not sufficiently seaworthv t
+ warrant the navy department. in per
} mitting her to try to navigate tn