The Pleasantville press., 1912-10-23

American farmer may know Whit ne
has to meet IN foreign countries.
Strenuous efforts sre berg made T.
encourage the home production of ar
ticles we have been importing from
foreign countries. During the last four
teen years there has been an increase
in the production of sugar from beets
which makes the product of 1910,
amounting to $4,000 tons, over twelve
times that Of 1896, and It's value about
thirteen times Fifteen years ago we
produced only one-fourth of the rice
consumed in the United States The
fostering work of the federal govern
ment has enabled the rice growers 10
produce more than the equivalent Of
our home consumption, and foreign
markets are being sought for the sur
plus. There was an increase in the
production of rice from 97O00,000
100000 pounds during the last four
years.
Scientific research by the bureau OF
soils demonstrates the fact that we
can product at home the fine tobaccos
for which we have been paying over
100000 a year to foreign countries
Our explorers have searched foreign
lands for grains, legumes, fiber plants,
teas, etc, for introduction into sec
lions of the United States suitable for
their production. The producing area
for grains has been extended westward
t~<1 49, 1x.xv r.o<r;nnc ~ nr1r car1utr.v
/ through the introduction of plants that
are at home, where the rainfall is light.
/ Nearly fifty million bushels of wheat
i are being grown in regions that have
heretofore been unproductive.
The federal government is studying
the diseases of domestic animals with
view to their complete eradication
Our animals and their products go to
foreign countries with bills of health
fulness The American meats are the
most wholesome in the world, as the
world knows. An imported disease OF
domestic animals was promptly stamp
ed out within a year of an expenditure
of 100000 to prevent it from spreading
/ throughout the country among ou1
herds and focks. Rigid inspection
against foreign countries having ami
NAL diseases is maintained at our ports
of entry. in order to protect the health
1 of our domestic animals.
Within the last fifteen years the gov
ernment has become thoroughly
equipped to deal with plant diseases
The loss Of $5OOO0O annually was
stopped by pathological examination OF
our sea island cottons. New varieties
of fruits, cereals, cottons, ETC., are be
ing created by hybridizing to meet the
demands of producers Of these crops
In the north and in the south.
Our forests have been mostly de
stroyed and our mountains, the natural
reservoirs for water, have been rem
dered incapable Of retaining moisture.
Efforts are being made to reforest the
country, to prevent fires, to regulate
grazing in our forests, and to study
numbering and forest products.
4 The federal government is making
inquiry into road material, and be
ginning has been made in the educa-
ton of young men toward road build
ing. A laboratory has been estab
lished in the department Of agricul-
ture for the study of materials with
which to construct roads, and rocks.
gravels clays, tiling, cement, concrete
pavements, stone, brick, wood and as
phaltum are being studied.
The Central American boil weevil.
now the greatest menace to the cotton
crop of the United States, is being ac-
lively studied as it increases in range.
and means of control have been de
vised which make the growth of cot
ton nearly as profitable as ever. The
insect enemies of other great staple
crops are being investigated through
! out the country, and the gypsy and
browntail moths, which are threaten
ing the forest areas of New England
are being checked and brought into
the federal government In cooperation
with state authorities The losses oc
casioned by insect pests in general
amount to hundreds Of millions an
nually, and much of this loss may
gradually be prevented by the kind OF
work done by the department of agri-
culture.
! The practicabiIity of growing tea iii
the United States is being demonstrat
ed, and extensive experimentation is
being made in the production Of silk.
The atmosphere in its relations to
agriculture and commerce is being
carefully studied. and trained meteor
4 ologists for the first time in our histo
ry are being detailed from the depart
ment of agriculture to give lectures in
institutions of learning In order that
we may have scholars In the land
along this line of inquiry to the end
that the farmer and the mariner may
have all the protection that intelligent
forecasting can give them.
An aim of the department is to make
the American independent with regard
to everything that can be produced in
our ATTITUDES. Corps of scientists have
been placed in each Of the new island
l