Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1913-03-19
BIG INCREASE IN
FARM PRODUCTION
Secretary Wilson Tells Iowa Legis-
lature About Work Accomplished.
OF AGRICULTURE
LARGELY IOWA INSTITUTION
Brief Synopsis of Accomplishments Of
Agricultural Department in Past
Sixteen Years.

An increase in the value of the an
nual farm production of the United
States from four thousand million
dollars to over nine and a half thou
sand million dollars, is the report Of
James Wilson, brought back to his
Iowa home from his 16-year service
at the head of the department of ag-
riculture.
He appeared before the Iowa legis-
lature Friday by invitation to report
to the home folks <of what he has
been doing while away ON temporary
leave of absence, and was given the
ovation that is due one with such a
creditable record.
The Department of Agriculture
now has its fifth cabinet officer and
during 1S of it's 20 years of exist
ence it has been held by Mr. Wilson.
The department has never had any
head other than an Iowa man or one
from state which adjoins Iowa
Wilson of Iowa. Morton of Nebraska,
Ruskin of Wisconsin, Soleman of
Missouri, and now Houston of Mis-
souri,.
Secretary Wilson gave the follow
ing as a brief summary of the work
in which he has been engaged, or
rather statement of the headings
of the vast field of activity which he
has developed in the department, and
upon this he elaborated in interesting
details.
THE crops of our farms last year
had value which amounted to nine
and half billion dollars, and this
value is sure to Increase as iEcreas-
ing population requires. There has
been steady advancement In this val
ue and more in recent years than ev-
er before in the history of the Unit
ed States. :
The results of the researches made
into all that pertains to agriculture
appear in the publications of the de-
partment. of which thirty-four mil
lion pieces were distributed last year.
The work has been along these
lines.
To organize bureaus to study spe-
cialties relating to agriculture, TO
train scientists regarding production
from the farm where the present day
education stops short.
To demonstrate in the fields of the
inefficient, the methods of the prosp-
erous.
To instruct the boys of the farm
in the ways and means unknown to
their fathers.
To help the girls of rural homes
toward better sanitation, home at
fractions and economic foresight with
regard to preparing for winter the
surplus fruits and vegetables which
abound in summer.
To fit crops of all kinds to condi-
tions of soil and climate throughout
the land by hybridization, selection
and importation from all lands from
the equator to the frigid zone.
To make research into production
in our semi-arid states, to the end
that they may contribute more to-
To inquire into diseases of domes-
tic animals that they may be eradi-
Gated.
To study the life histories of in
sect pests that they may be EXTERN
mated or kept in check by encourag-
ing their enemies. s.
To study as to road material and
to promulgate the principles of road
making.
To study milk and its sources.
The cost to the farmer of poultry
and their products, their preparation
for market and sanitary storage.
The inspection of meats intended.
for interstate and foreign commerce
The execution of the pure food
law.
The care of our forests, reforesta-
tion, sales OF ripe timber, grazing and
fire prevention.
The study of our soils, their map
ping and analysis.
Inquiry into drainage, irrigation
and economic uses of water.
Observation of river fiowage,
weather as 1t affects crop growth and
ocean commerce.
The development of the making of
sugar from beets in the northern
states and the growing of rice in the
states.
The introduction of figs from
the Libyan desert, grasses from Aby-
sinnia, alfalfas from Siberia and Tur-
kestan, grains from Asia Minor and
northern Africa for our dry lands.
The Egyptian cotton is successful
in the Imperial valley in California
and will meet demand now being
supplied from the valley of the Nile."