The Miller press. [volume] (Miller, S.D.) 190?-current, 1913-12-11
HOUSTON COVERS
FIELD THOROUGHLY
SUMMARY OF THE ANNUAL RE.
PORT OF THE SECRETARY
OF AGRICULTURE.
EFFORT TO HELP PEOPLE
Departments Information to BE Dis,
trihuted In All Fieids-changes in
Weather Bureau-Estimates
Of Years Crops.

Washington, Dec. s. David +.
Houston, secretary of agriculture, to-
day published his annual report for
the year 1913. The report, which con-
tains only So pages, differs from pre-
vious reports in that, instead OF mere
ly reviewing the agricultural situa-
ton, it presents in summary many
broad economic questions. Strong
emphasis is placed upon cooperation
between the department of agriculture
and other federal departments and
the state agricultural agencies to pro
mote coordination and eliminate du.
plication Of effort. The keynote is
getting the departments information
In all fields more directly and in more
valuable form to the people.
Increases Asked.
Increases in the appropriations for
the next fiscal year are recommended
as follows:
$250,s60 for extending the work
OF graduating animal diseases,
feeding and breeding live stock,
and for dairying and the enforce
utHl oI the meat INSPECTION law.
$4,000 for the Introduction and
preceding OF new plants, the con-
troll OF plant diseases, and for inn
proving the methods OF crop pro-
duction, especially cereals.
$~143,577 for the classification OF
agricultural lands and the survey
Of homesteads In the national for
$60,4it for extending investiga-
tlons of the handling, shipping and
storing OF poultry. eggs and fish.
S-4,42O for investigating fertil-
iZer resources. soil fertility, and
the, chemical and physical prop
critics OF soils.
$71,000 for extending investiga-
tons of Insects attacking decidu-
Gus fruits, cereal and forage crops.
and forest trees.
$4,000 to enforce the migratory
bird law.
$4,000 for gathering crop fore
casts and estimates.
$ll3,500 for. road management
and road building and mainten-
ance.
$4,000 for Investigations of the
marketing and distribution OF
$4,000 for live stock and other
demonstration work in the sugar
cane and cotton areas In Louis
1t is recommended that the con
gessional seed distribution as now
conducted be discontinued, and that
constructive work in securing and
distributing new and valuable seeds
and plants be substituted.
Changes In Weather Bureau.
Changes in the organization and
work of the weather bureau have re-
suited in increased efficiency and
economies which make possible a re-
duction of $37, $40 in its funds. The
crop and flood warning service de,
signed tn enable crop growers or
those along certain waterways to have
notice In time to take protective
measures will be strengthened. The
scientific work of the bureau will be
emphasized. especially In fields hav-
Ing a direct bearing on agriculture,
commerce, navigation and aviation.
Certain reorganizations have been
effected in the bureau Of chemistry
looking toward more effective admin.
istration of the food and drugs act
and to greater constructive technolog-
ical assistance to manufacturers in
avoiding waste, reducing cost of man.
ufacture and to help them develop
purer products which will comply
with the law.
Rural Financial Needs.
When all necessary allowance has
been made for these fundamental fac
tors, 1t is probably clear that the ru.
raj communities are not as efficiently
served as they should be by existing
financial arrangements. longtime
loans are needed for permanent in.
vestments. such as the purchase price
OF a farm or for the erection of build
ings. 1t Is wise economy to c
age the extension OF credit for safe
productive use, and no less wise to
discourage the use of capital along
non-productive or speculative lines.
The Crop Outlook.
From the estimates at hand it APP
pears that the production of crops in
1918 was materially below the aver
age, the yield per acre of all crops
combined being smaller than in any
year in the past decade with the ex-
ception Of 1911. The corr crop, the
most valuable product of this country,
according to the estimates. fell below
$500, 600, 900 bushels. which Is smaller
than any cron since 1904