The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1910-10-19

600. II Is well recognized that the
campaign OF education waged by the
department has resulted In much
larger Increase In crop production than
that. Between its work OF advising
the farmer how to grow the food sup
ply OF the nation most successfully
and Its labor to guarantee the quality
OF that food TO all the people, the de-
partment Is a busy institution. It's &C
tivities cost the government about SIC,
000, 900 year
The secretary of agriculture has
many assistants. An assistant secre-
tary aids him In the general supervi-
sion OF the work Of the department, n
chief clerk supervises the working
force. and a solicitor acts as the legal
advisor OF the department. The divi
sion OF publications issues about 1900
different publications during a year
These contain more than 10000 pages
and seventeen million copies are cir,
culated. During twenty years the de-
partment has circulated more than
100000 farmer bulletins.
The weather bureaus main purpose
Is TO forecast the weather and issue
warnings as to storms, cold waves
frosts and foods, for the benefit OF
agriculture. commerce and navigation
The nation spends nearly 100000 q
year on this bureau. Besides fore
casting weather conditions. the bureau
Is engaged In q scientific investigation
OF the eartn atmosphere. At Mt
Weather. Virginia. II has an observa
tory far removed from the disturbing
conditions of surrounding civiliza
ton. Here most OF its atmospheric
Investigations are made. One OF the
buildings at this observatory Is with
out windows, and another without the
presence Of iron. Even the horses
cannot wear iron shoes while certain
delicate magnetic experiments are be-
Ing carried on.
The live stock interests Of the ma.
tion are looked after by the bureau OF
animal industry. II has charge of
meat inspection, national quarantine
regulations for live stock, and the
study Of the relations uf animal dis
sesss to the human race. Each year
In the meat inspection service $4,000
900 live animals are inspected before
their slaughter, and 1000 600. 600
pounds Of meat after slaughter This
bureau also furnishes the farmers OF
the country black leg vaccine. free OF
charge. for the innoculation OF young
calves. Over q million doses were
given away last year, and 100000 dos
es Of tuberculin, which Is used in de-
termining the presence Of tuberculosis
I'm milk cows.
Inc country Is indebted to the
bureau Of plant industry for its ser
vices In helping the farmer grow his
grain, forage, truck. and fruit crops.
Ii ransacks the whole world for plants
which may be grown with profit In the
United States. II has brought dates
from Palestine. durum wheat from
Russia. millet from Siberia, wild
peaches from China, and many other
promising plants from every region OF
the world. The bureau has charge OF
the investigation of drug plants, seed
distribution, cotton Standardization
farm management, and many other
problems which bear an important re
lation to the operations of the farm
The forest service has charge Of the
national forests Of the country. II Il
engaged In scientific investigation OF
forest problems. tree diseases. and al
questions which will aid In the per
petuhtiou VI the ioicSt TcSouTCes vi
the country, at the same time permit
ting the present generation to use
such timber supplies as 1t may need
II costs two cents an acre to maintain
the national forests OF the United
States, as compared with from one &c
/ two dollars an acre In France. Ger
many and Switzerland. The forest
service Is almost self-supporting. Its
expenditures amount to about $4,000,
900 year, and its receipts from the
sale OF lumber. grazing privileges. AM
other resources amount to approx
mately S1,800,000. The corps OF for
est rangers whose duty II Is to patrol
the national forests, Is made up Of
highly intelligent young men, and thou
sands OF serious forest fires have beer
| averfed hx their vigilance and timely