The Manchester journal. [volume] (Manchester, Vt.) 1861-current, 1912-04-04
TAFT INSISTS ON
AID TO FARMERS
Says Department Of Agriculture
Work Must Go On
lADORS FOR CONSERVATION

rsrfssehlne Lsaisisssn sdn'nis'srsu
b. Scientists 81 Rank Brings Good
Results TO Tiilsrs 81 sod--Feea ard
Drugs Ae, Upheld 10 tn. Letter
ln bis inaugural address President
Taft called attention 10 the deficit thea
existing Ia the revenues and the con
selaeut necessity for rigid economy IN
expenditures However. the president
singled out the department 81 agricui.
ture as an exception Tie said. TO quote
bis exact words. ''ln the department
o. agriculture the use OF scientific ex-
perlmepts on large scale. and the
spread Of information derived from
them for the improvement OF general
agriculture must 20 on" This view
the president has steadily maintained.
and repeatedly has urged apprcpria'
lions for the work OF the department,
In bis comprehensive message on
conservation President Taft said, THE
feature that transcends all others, In
Guiding woods. waters. minerals. is the
soil OF the country" aud that all means
at the governments disposal should be
used TO conserve the soils, adding, "A
work Of the utmost Importance TO In
form and instruct the public on this
chief branch Of the conservation OF our
resources Is being carried on success
fully IN the department of agriculture
Reports made recently TO Secretary
Wilson Of the department OF agricul-
ture by the heads Of his bureaus JUST
~ this solicitude on the part OF the
president for the department. In call.
ing for these reports the secretary ask
ed that they be brief and that they
mention notable achievements OF the
last five years only. inasmuch as that
period Is really the period OF fruition
IN the department. the period during
which, owing to the broad foundations
previously laid by the training and
grouping OF many corps OF scientific
men, by securing farreaching legisla-
ton, by gathering together masses OF
statistics and other information. by
providing scientific and other equip
ment. II has been possible to produce
most marvellous results for the com
mon good Of the people.
Taft For Conservation.
In his conservation message presi.
dent Taft emphasized the importance
Of the maintenance Of the forests and
urged their scientific treatment so
that they shall be made TO yield large
return In timber without really reduc
Ing the supply" and In other messages
he pointed out the necessity Of refor
estation. In accordance with these
views much available work has been
done In protecting the national forests
and by researches In the laboratory OF
the department at Madison. Wis. and
In the past five years the work OF re-
foresting burned over areas has pro
ceeded al the rate Of 1900 to 10000
acres year. The department takes
jnstifiable pride In Its forest work. con-
sidering the administration Of 100000
COO acres Of land protected and man
aged for the public benefit great
achievement
Since Jan. /, 1907 when the food
and drugs act went into effect, more
has been done TO provide good. clean
food supply than In all the preceding
life Of the nation. A wonderful change
has also been effected In the character
of the drugs ON sale, The department
has trained force Of inspectors and
chemists doing excellent work In all
parts Of the country in behalf OF pure
foods and pure drugs. This salutary
law, however, needs amendment, as
the supreme court held In May. 1911.
that its provisions, to quote President
Tafts words In bis vigorous message
TO congress a month later. do not
cover the knowingly false labelling OF
nostrums as 10 curative effect" Th'
president added: IAN evil which men
aces the general health Of the people
strikes at the life OF the nation. In
my opinion the sale OF dangerously
adulterated drugs constitutes
such nm evil and warrants me IN call
ing the matter to the attention Of the
congress-
Work Of Soil Mapping.
or Importance 10 the farmer has
been the work carried on In the past
1--WE years OF soil mapping and classic
cation, so that now the area included
Is 1909 square miles, or nearly A.,
100000 acres. The value OF this work
IL incalculabie.
Disseminating the valuable informa
ton acquired by the department has
proved wonderful work. Practically
2o0,000,o0o publications have been dis
tributed since Secretary Wilson as.
sumed control OF the department. and
more than half Q03.59s 1901 OF that
number have been distributed within
the past I've years.
Other work accomplished by the de
partment includes comprehensive
system OF weather warnings and fore
casts, the meat inspection service IN
which $500 experts are employed. who
see that every pound OF meat sent 10
terstate Is III for human food. protec.
ton OF live stock, the checking OF 70
dent pests, the destruction OF noxious
Insects. the conservation Of water sup
plies. the building aud care OF public
rads and the policy for better farm
houses. so that every dollar expended
ia the prosecution Of this work in It's
numerous phases has brought back
hundred fold to the people.
suspenders. and the other lads coat