The Fargo forum and daily republican. [volume] (Fargo, N.D.) 1894-1957, 1913-12-08
Reorganization OF
the Department of
Agriculture Planned
This Is Forehadowed in the Report of Secretary Houston
Which Was Sent to President Today
Free Distribution of Seeds Should Be
Redistrict Country to Enforce Pure Food Laws

Washington, D. c., Dec. 8.-DaVid
T. Houston, secretary Of agriculture,
today published his annual report
for the year 1913. The report, which
contains only fifty eight pages, differs
from previous reports in that, instead
Of merely reviewing the agricultural
situation, it presents in summary
many broad economic questions.
Throughout the report strong empha-
sis is placed upon cooperation be-
tween the department of agriculture
and other federal departments and the
state agricultural agencies to promote
coordination and eliminate duplica-
ton Of effort. The keynote is getting
the departments information in all
fields more directly and in more val
liable form to the people. The follow
ing are summarized statements of the
more important subjects and recon-
mendations discussed in this report;
The Problem of Production.
Increased tenancy, absentee owner
ship, soils still depleted and exploited,
inadequate business methods, the rel
ative failure to induce a great major
ity of the farmers to apply existing
agricultural knowledge, and the sug
gestions Of dependence on foreign
nations for food supplies warns us of
ditionaI efforts to increase production.
The report states that there is no
ground for thinking that we have yet
approximated the limit OF our output
from the soil, but that we have just
begun to attack the problem, and have
not reached the end Of the pioneering
stage, and only in a few localities
have developed conditions where rea-
sonably full returns are secured. We
r.
where We must think and plan.
increases Asked.
Increases in the appropriations for
the next fiscal year are recommended,
as follows:
Two hundred fifty thousand, eight
hundred sixty dollars for extending the
work OF eradicating animal diseases,
feeding and breeding live stock, and
for dairying and the enforcement OF
the meat-inspection law; $45,66O for
the Introduction and breeding OF new
plants, the control of plant diseases,
and for improving the methods OF
crop production, especially cereals;
$143,577 for the classification OF agri-
cultual lands and the survey OF home
steads In the national forests; $60,44
for extending Investigations of the
handling, shipping and storing of
vegtigating fertilizer resources soil
fertility, and the chemical and physi-
cal properties of soils; $1,000 for ex-
tending Investigations OF insects at
tacking deciduous fruits, cereal and
forage crops, and forest trees: 100000
to enforce the migratory bird law;
S113,500 for road management and
road building and maintenance; $144.-
900 for Investigations of the market
ing and distribution Of farm products;
900 for live stock and other DEM
onstration work in the sugar cane and
cotton areas in Louisiana,
A decrease of $37, 7,340 is made in the
funds of the weather bureau, MADE
possible by the increased efficiency
shown in handling its work.
It Is recommended that the con-
gressional seed distribution as now
conducted be discontinued, and that
constructive work in securing and dis
tributing new and valuable seeds and
plants be substituted.
Plan to Reorsanize the Department.
To promote coordination, allow
greater latitude in carrying out of
projects, and to establish more logi-
cal handling OF regulatory work and
research, investigation and demon
stration work, the secretary will ask
the congress in the coming estimates
for authority to prepare plan for
reorgantzing, redirecting. and system
atizing the work OF the department as
the interests Of economical and eff
ficient administration may require.