The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-04-09

agriculture, however, is yearly becom-
ing of vaster service to the people.
Forecasting the weather and stamp
ing out diseases among cattle, inspect
ing food and. drugs. protecting migra-
tory game birds as we'll as forest
growths. securing the known world
for new varieties of plants and shrubs
and trees adaptable to American soil,
are some of the widely different works
centralizing in this department.
Costs $1S,OOO,O0O Annually
It costs annually s1s,oO0,ooo to run
the department of agriculture. While
this is but a fraction of the amount
spent on the army, or navy, or the
postoffice department none of them
comes closer to the elemental things
of wealth production and health pro-
lection, and the upbuilding of the ma
tion.
When the federal government enters
upon a policy of extending aid IN
building good roads, it's annual expen-
ditures will probably exceed $780,
100000.
Among the newer activities and the
problems which Secretary Houston Will
be called upon to help solve is the pro-
lection of migratory game birds, the
establishment of bureau OF markets.
the study of European systems OF rural
credits and the extension of agricul-
tural demonstration work directly 10
the farming localities.
The passage of the Mclean migra-
tory wild fowl bill, which was added
as an amendment to the agricultural
appropriation bill for 1914, represents
the successful end OF a 10-year cam
paign by the bird and game conser-
yationists.
This authorizes the Secretary of Ag-
riculture to make regulations for the
enforcement of closed seasons in which
wild geese, ducks, snipe, plover, wood
cock, rails and other migratory game
and insectivorous birds may not be
killed or trapped.
These closed seasons are to be fixed
with due regard for the zones of tenn
perature, and the breeding habits and
times, and zones of flight of the migra-
tory birds Violations are to be made
punishable by a fine of not more than
$f00 or imprisonment for not exceed
ing 80 days, or both. Three months
notice must be given of the new regu-
lations before they become effective.
As the first step toward the estab-
lishment of a bureau of markets, Con-
gresS adopted the amendment OF Soil
ator Holxe Smith, appropriating s50,O0o
"to enable the Secretary of Agricul-
ture to acquire and diffuse among the
people of the United States useful in
formation on subjects connected with
marketing and distribution of farm
products"
Marketing and Distribution
For many years studies have been
carried on bearing directly on the mar
keting and distribution of fruits, ce-
reals, cotton, truck crops and agri-
cultural products. Efforts are now on
foot to organize the southern cotton
grower for the more efficient and
profitable handling of his crop through
cutting out some of the middle men.
1t is proposed to extend this work so
that farmers in all parts of the couf-
try may have information as to the
condition of markets. whether or not
they are overstocked, and the prevail
ing prices The idea Is to give the
fruit grower, the truck raiser and the
dairyman the same information that
cotton and grain farmers now have as
to markets.
Cooperative marketing will be
studied as we'll as the factors that
make for the difference in prices paid
the producer and that paid by the con-
sumner.
For the study of rural credit sys-
TENS in Europe, a commission of seven
persons will be named by President
Wilson, who will cooperate with a pri-
vate commission representing the