Brownsville herald. [volume] (Brownsville, Tex.) 1910-current, 1912-07-16
THE FUTURE OF THE GARDEN

THE FUTURE OF THE GARDEN
While the South Texas Gardeners
are in session it is timely to consid-
er the future possibilities of the
South Texas Garden.
There is no necessity to disguise
the fact that the farmers Of the Val
ley have been much disappointed,
and we may say disguised with the
past policy of the Z. 5. department
of agriculture in regard to the Gar
den.
It was popularity supposed that
the appropriation was originally OBJ
tanned for experimenting with staple
crops for the valley. for field demon
stration work, and for an things that
would tend to assist the farmer with
his work in a new country. N
Acting under such a superstition,
the Rio Grande Cane Growers As
ISOLATION last Spring, asked for a Co
vernment appropriation for the nnr-
pose Of establishing a Sugar Expert
ment station. and further requested
that the present policy of the Gar
den be changed and that experiment
work with staples be undertaken to
assist the farmer, and pointed out
that the work being done was Of
little, if any value to the farmer.
1t was then disclosed that the Gar
den had never been intended for a
local experiment station, that under
the direction Of the bureau Of for
eign Investigations and that under
the acts of congress governing
the work of the department, they
could only undertake certain speci-
fled work.
The Cane Growers kept on plug
ging for their appropriation. 1t was
turned down by the House, and they
then tackled the Senate, and finally
procured the passage Of an apprO-
priation for $4,000 i'll which it IL
understood the House viii acquiesce.
This appropriation was appar-
emily unwillingly forced up
on the department, and the
Cane Growers are still confronted
with the problem Of seeing that the
department make the proper cXpen-
ditures. They also found themselves
up against it on the other part of
their request, for the d%epartmcr.
informed them hat Id could not un-
der it's present policy conduct e1he
a sugar experiment station, or farm
experiments on the valleys staples. .
but that the appropriation could be
used for certain defined work that
would properly come under the de-
partment's sphere OF activity.
In this dilemma. the Cane Grow
ers' Association turned to the State
Agricultural Department for assist
ance. TO which appeal Director
Y~oungblood cordially replied, and a
meeting was then arranged between
representatives of the L. s. Depart
ment, the state Department. and the
Cane Growers Association, at which,
il was agreed that a cooperative
station shonld be asked for. and adj
,,noa4ad nv all a0upprnnI /
The program being for the L. :. :
Department TO urn over the Garden
with all its buildings and appurte-
nances TO the State Department, who
would Immediately take charge.
The U. S. Department would then
cooperate by doing certain work in
sugar cane Investigations to the eX-
tent Of its appropriation Of $4,000. 1
and would also continue TO prosecute
its present work for which it al
ready has money appropriated.
The State departmer& would ask
for a sufficient appropriation M the
next meeting Of the legislature 90
hermit il TO undertake in a thor
ough manner all of the work that
the u. S. Department would leave un-
done. including the much needed X
periments in staple farm crops, etc,