Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1913-03-14
FORMER SECRETARY OF AeRl.
CULTURE ADDRESSES IOWA
LEGISLATURE. =.
VAST FIELD OF ACTIVITY
UNDERTAKEN BY DEPARTMENT
Work Extended Under Wilson's Ad-
ministraton to Include Many
Branches Of Farm and Livestock In
dustry-New Crops Developed in
Semi.Arid Regions.
Republican.

Des Moines, March 14.--An increase
in the value Of the annual farm pro-
duction of the United States from four
thousand million dollars to over nine
and a half thousand million dollars, is
the report James Wilson brought back
to his Iowa home from his sixteen
year service at the head of the depart
ment Of agriculture.
He came before the Iowa legislature
today by invitation to report to the
home folks on what he has been doing
while away on temporary leave of ap-
sence, and was given the due ovation
that is due one with such credltable
record
The department Of agriculture now
has it's fifth cabinet officer and during
sixteen Of it's twenty-five years OF eA-
istence it has been held by Mr.. Wilson.
The department has never had any
other than an Iowa man or one from
a state which adjoins 1owa-Wilson
of Iowa, Morton of Nebraska, Rusk OF
Wisconsin, Coleman Of Missouri, and
now Houston of Missouri.
An Interesting Summary.
Secretary Wilson gave the following
as a brief summary Of the work IN
which he has been engaged, or rather
a statement of the headings Of the vast
field Of activity which he has de-
veloped in the department, and upon
this he elaborated in interesting de-
tails:
THE crops of our farms last year
had value which amounted to nine
and a half billion dollars. and this val
ue is sure to increase as increasing
population requires. There has been
steady advancement in this value and
more in recent years than ever before
in the history of the United States.
The results of the researches made
into all that pertains to agriculture
appear in the publications of the de-
partment, of which 34,000,0O0 pieces
were distributed last year
The work has been along these lines:
ITO organize bureaus to study spe-
cialties relating to agriculture. to train
scientists regarding production from
the farm where the present day educa-
ton stops short.
ITO demonstrate in the fields Of the
inefficient, the methods Of the pros
porous.
ITO instruct the boys of the farm in
the ways and means unknown to their
fathers.
ITO help the girls Of rural homes to-
ward better sanitation, home attrac-
tons and economic foresight with re-
gard to preparing for winter the sur
plus fruits and vegetables that abounc
in summer.
ITO fit crops of all kinds to condi-
tions of soil and climate thruout the
land by hybridization, selection and
! importation from all lands from the
| equator to the frigid zone.
| ITO make research into production
in our semi-ard states, to the end that
they may contribute more toward the
feeding of the people.
ITO inquire into diseases Of domes-
tic animals that they may be eradi-
Gated.
ITO study the life histories Of insect
pests that they may be exterminated
or kept in check by encouraging theil
| enemies.
ITO study as to road material and &c
promulgate the principles Of roac
making.
ITO study milk and it's sources.
| PoNA<N.
and their products, their preparation
for market and sanitary Storage.
THE inspection of meats intended
for interstate and foreign commerce.
The execution of the pure food law
THE care Of our forests, reforesta
ton, sales Of ripe timber, grazing ane
fire prevention.
THE study of our soils, their map
ping and analysis.
Inquiry into drainage, irrigation anc
economic uses of water.
"Observations of river floTage
weather as it affects crop growth ant
ocean commerce.
THE development Of the making O.
sugar from beets in the northern state:
and the growing of rice in the southern
states.
THE introduction Of figs from
SMYRNA and dates from the Libyar
desert. grasses from Abysinnia, alfal'
fas from Siberia and Turkestan, grain:
from Asia Minor and northern Africa
for our dry lands.
"The Egyptian cotton is successfu
in the Imperial valley in California
and will meet demand now being sup
piled from the valley of the Nile