Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1913-12-17
INTEREST TO FARMERS
,spoRr OF THE SECRETARY
p" nr AegrouLTURE FOR 1913.
-,,ssrs MANY BROAD ECONOMIC
QUESTIONS, INSTEAD OF SIMPLY
REVIEWING CONDITIONS.


..sure. has published his ANIMAL report
me wear 1918. The report, which con
~, =. ouiy iifty-eight pages, differs from
.r,aus reports in that, instead Of
r,n,v reviewing the agricultural situ-
ss,or /, presents 10 summary many broad
..onoe,ic questions.
throughout tine report strong emphasis
4, r.eed upon corporation hvtween the
,r.,,gaent OF agriculture and other
e.s.ral departments and the state sgri-
lateral agencies TO promote oo-ordina-
NM and eliminate duplication OF effort
~ KEYNOTE Is Cutting the departments
,.,orma,ion ia all fields more directly and
!, more valna hte form to the people.
rhs following are summarized state
scents Of the more important subjects and
,s,omnendalions discussed in this report:
PROBLEM or PRODUCTION.
Increased tenancy, absentee ownership,
oils aill depleted and exploited, made
,..ts business methods, tina relative fail
s,e TO induce a great majority of farmers
10 .ppiy existing agricultural knowledge
and toe Suggestions OF dependence on
,orriRn nations for food supplies, warn US
a, orr shortcomings and incite us to ad-
siuonAl efforts TO increase production.
The report states that there IL no
appsoximated tho limit of our output
from he soil, but that we have iust begun
10 attack the problem, and have not
rssched the end OF the pioneering stage,
ard only in few localities have devel-
cred conditions WHERE reasonably tuii
rs,urns are secured. We have unmistak-
sbly resc he'd the period where We must
ihink And plan.
# IA recommended that the conRres-
sionsl ssea distribution as now conducted
he discontinued, and that constructive
work IN securing and distributing new
end vAluabls seeds and plants be substi-
ta,sd.
Foon AND DRUGS ACT.
Certain reorganixstions have been ef-
tc,ed 10 the bureau OF chemistry looking
losard more effective administration OF
tie food and drug act. Effort will be
zads 10 make tns act more Of hygienie
MEASURE through increased attention to
Nnilk, eggs, oysters and fish, whtch are
satieet 10 organic contamination ar
say become carriers of disease.
Experience las revealed certain weak
nssses ia he food and drugs act notably
the lack o, provision for legal standards
and ~ failure to apply to certain external
remedies. The secretary ~ill ask that
au,bority he granted TO prepare and sub
nit suen amendments to this law as may
b deemed nsedful TO safeguard the health
u tbs people. establish standards, better
esans drugs, improve The food supply, aud
Prcmotr uniformity la the matter OF food
legislation.
Prosecutions aud,r the food and drugs
act and other regulatory statutes Will be
expedited and maze stiii more effective
through co-o; efa'ion with the depart
nsut Of lustics, " ereby the solicitor viii
pFsparc cases in the form Of criminal In
formations ANA place at the service OF the
I. :. district attorneys in the trial OF
cases the departments attorneys, who are
thoroughly familiar with the technical
aspects of many OF these causes.
MArkE1INo.
In many directions further production
Satis on better els rinntion, and the field
OF eistrinution presents problems whieh
False, IN very grave ~ 8, tire simple issue
OF lus.iee. Under kissing conditions the
aEmrr dess not get what he should for bis
PRODUCTS; be consumer rs required to pay
an unihir pfiee, and unnecessary burdens
are imposed unAer the existing systems
Of dislribuGio !. No one can see off, hand
Just " hat part of the burden is due to
lack Of systematic planning or ineffici-
sncy, economic waste, or TO unfair manipu-
istion.
Tho report outlines the projects in this
aeld as covering marketing surveys,
net hods and costs OF marketing, Includ-
ing available market supplies in given
Production areas, demand at consuming
esnlers, cold and other methods Of stor-
age, marketing systems and prices, and
costs OF " hoiesale and retail distribution
u farm products. Other studies in this
branch include investigation Of trans
postation problems and the elimination OF
Saste In shipment, study of city market
ing and distribution, study OF grades, and,
hnalIy, cooperative production and mar
keting.
The necessity for standardizing agricui-
iaral products as a prerequisite TO proper
marketing is given special emphasis. The
adoption and universal application OF one
Uniform standard for cotton would result
70 great simplification OF all transactions,
and do away with the complex methods of
hguring buyers limits. Practically the
same results would follow and the same
evils would be removed II standard grades
ior corn were universally adopted.
The individual farmer, acting alone, is
helpless before the problems OF rural
credit and marketing. Concerted action is
essential. In cooperative effort, equity
ana Justice must be kept in mind. Coz
operation does not mean that an organize
ii0n shall attae.pf IN aatahIizn a closed /