Lower coast gazette., 1913-10-25
The U. S. Department of Agriculture.

The U. S. Department OF Agriculture
UNDER the control of the Hon. James vii
son the u. S. Department of Agriculture within
a generation rose from a somewhat obscure de
partment of the general government into one Of
its most conspicuous departments with appro
priations Of hundreds of millions of dollars, al
most equal to war time expenses, and reaching
out all over the earth for improved methods and
improved varieties Of plants and animals with
which to advance American agriculture as fa1
as possible. Secretary Wilson'S success with
his department during the sixteen years of his
department during the sixteen years of his Of
fetal career therein, marked a degree of advan-
cement in American agriculture that is most
extraordinary. Perhaps part of this was from
other causes than those of his initiative, but
nevertheless he took up the work of his pred
ecessors and carried it to a higher fruition than
they ever expected.
Now that Secretary Houston has taken over
the control of that department he is giving evi-
dences of his willingness to maintain the lead
ing routine features OF the departmental work
as hitherto organized and is endeavoring to add
thereto in an energetic way all the facilities
that he finds possible for the promotion of the
good of the agriculturists of the nation. He
seems to manifest a distinctively aggressive
character in the direction of good work and is
endeavoring as far as he can to promote the
continued success of the Boys Corn Clubs, that
have been so thoroughly organized throughout
the South, which clubs have taught the fathers
of the boys how to secure results that they
never dreamed possible. When we remember
that the average yield Of corn throughout the
United States is but little over 20 bushels per
acre and that many Of the boys of the corn
clubs have produced over a hundred bushels
per acre and that several produced from $50 to
200 bushels of corn per acre, it is manifest that
intense culture is capable OF producing extra
ordinary results and the problem that forces
itself upon our attention is as to whether or not
the intense cultivation costs more than the in
creased realization in the way of crops produc-
ed. All of this however, will efectually settle
itself.
In recognition Of the splendid work done by
the boys corn clubs the fifteen winners from
fifteen different states, were given a trip to
Washington as their reward and it is a pleasant
thing to contemplate the visit of these boys
with their open eyes looking through the halls
of congress and doubtless wondering in their
minds whether or not they viii ever he there as
congressman, and surely some Of them will be.
Secretary Houston is now arranging for a
like trip for the winners in the girls canning
clubs, fifteen girls from fifteen different south
orns -&-A-- ~ wv asuIIIp I4I Ip1usS-..4
,a.ar.-s-sa by the women agents OF the cam
ming clubs, who have been summoned to Wash
ington at the same time so as to act as chap
erones. The beautiful homes and gardens Of
Washington and the magnificent public build
ings will all be of great interest to these young
women and will stimulate others to try for a
future visit on the same conditions.
Secretary Houston doing admirable work in
this way and as soon as he gets his hands fair
" into the work we have no doubt but that
further improvements and newer ideas will
come to the front all for the common good.
We wish him every success in the work he is
engaged in.