St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1912-01-31

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through which much work was DONE
on the grasses of the United States;
division Of soils in the weather
bureau and a division Of dairying I'm
the bureau Of animal husbandry
were organized In the latter bur-
eau work with sheep scab and tu-
berculosis were continued, and a
considerable activity in the protec-
tion of human life from tuberculo-
sis diseases was effected; inspec-
tions of beef and milk were made
and the sterilization Of milk recon-
mended.
The Present Secretary.
James Wilson OF Iowa took charge
of the department on March 5, 1897
and is still secretary of agriculture.
nder his able direction the work Of
the department has gradually ex-
tended and reorganized into a.
complex but efficient Unconstitutional
service which has In hand nearly
every agricultural problem of i'm
portance in the United States today.
Under the heading OF the bureau Of
plant industry the allied subjects OF
plant diseases, plant physiology
and breeding, botanical, pomo-
logical and horticultural in
vestigations, and seed testing
and distribution have been grouped.
Several other kindred subjects have
been added to the work OF this bur
eau, such as dry-land agriculture,
physical Investigations, experimental
farms on reclamation projects, etc.
The bureau Of forestry has been re-
organized and extended, adding to-
its control the national forest re-
serves. Bureaus of chemistry, en-
tomology, soils, statistics and bio-
logical survey have been added to
the organization of the department,
the lines Of work under each bureau
being quite strictly segregated.
So much work of value to the
country has been done under Sec
rotary Wilson's administration that
it is possible only to acknowledge in
general way the subject headings
of the Investigations. Seeds Of
imported sugar beets were distribut-
ed to growers in many states, and
the agronomical work with them
pushed until the output of this crop
had increased from 1885 tons
from four states in 1897 to 312,920
tons from IL states in 1905. Agri-
cultural explorers were sent into
foreign countries to search for new
crops and varieties Of old crops, to-
investigate farm operations, con-
troll of plant and animal diseases,
etc, with variety of successful re-
suits; durum wheats were introduce
ed to the northwest, yielding now
over % million bushels each year
for macaroni making and other pur-
poses; Egyptian cottons have been
introduced to the southwest, and
are now being experimental with
on a commercial basis, with every
prospect Of success; date and fig
production is being conducted on a.
commercial basis in Arizona and
California, in the latter state the
success of the Smyrna fig industry
being due to the Importation Of the
blastophaga wasp which makes fer
tilization of the fig possible; rice
production has been established in
the tide lands of Louisiana and
Texas from imported Japanese rice;
and new forms of alfalfas, emmers,
millets, grains, fruits and animals
have been introduced to this country,
to the great enhancement OF the
value of growing each one.
The Breeding Of Plants.
A great deal of work in the
breeding of plants has been carried
on, resulting in the production OF
many new forms and varieties of
fruit and crop plants. New varieties
of citranges, tangerines, oranges,
pineapples and grapes have resulted
from these efforts, and are of very
great value. Work in breeding cot
tons, for weevil-resisting drought
resisting and wilt-resisting quail
ties, as well as the quality Of long
and firm lint, has met with large
success.
The study of the fertility of the
soil has been considerable portion
of the work OF the bureau Of soils,
and included the classification Of the
soils of nearly every state, showing
their present uses and products
and the Investigations of soils
adapted to particular crops.
The work with food inspection
and study has been followed with
great vigor, by inspecting imported
and exported foods and allowing
their sale only on the basis OF their
composition. and by deter
the nutritive value Of diff
ferent foods and food products.
Boys Club and School Gardens.
Work with agricultural educa-
ton and farmers institutes is an
important part of one division Of
the Office of experiment stations. The
features Of gardening I'm connection
with city schools and the organiza-
ton of price competitors between
boys clubs for the growing Of corn
and other crops are becoming very
popular, especially in the west.
(Only a few days ago I looked out
of my window at the Office and no
ticed a large group Of very young
men on the agricultural grounds,
most of them being not more than
is years old, and many younger. AS
they presented an altogether differ
emf appearance from the regular
type Of capitol tourists ] asked the
Waterman who they were, and was
informed that they represented the
in the western boys
corn clubs, who had been given a
free trim TO washington and