The Washington herald., 1913-12-08
COUNTRY CROPS
ARE DECREASING
Secretary Houston, IN Annual
Report, Sounds Food
Supply Warning.
SHOWS WOMEN NEED AID
Plans to Make Prosecutions Under
the Pure Food and Drugs Act
More Effective.
SHOWS WOMEN NEED AID

In his first report as head ot the De-
partment of Agriculture. Secretary David
F. Houston sounds warning on our
food supply that directs attention 50 pres
ent prices in a striking manner. Secre-
tary Houston assumes the position that
We have the resources but that they have
not been properly developed.
1--WE have unmistakably reached the
period where we must think and plan, "
says Secretary Houston. I'VE are suf-
fering the penalty of too great ease of
living and Of making a living. 1t is not
singular that we should flnd ourselves in
our present plight. Recklessness and
waste have been incident to our breath
less Conquest of a nation, and We have
had our minds too exclusively directed
to the establishment OF Industrial su-
premacy in the keen race for competition
with foreign nations We have been so
bent on building up great industrial CEN
| ters by every natural and artificial de-
vice that we have had little thought for
the very foundations Of our Industrial
| existence"
Women Desire Assistance.
! that the Congressional seed distribution
as now conducted be discontinued. and
that constructive work in securing and
distributing new and valuable seeds and
plants be substituted.
ITO gain information that would en-
able the department better to serve rural
women" says the report ''the Secre-
tary addressed letters Of inquiry to the
women on $500 selected farms covering
were also conducted. Analysis of the
small part Of the letters as yet digested
shows that farm women desire assist
ance IN all phases of home management,
especially as to ways of securing run
ming water, introducing household pow
er machinery and labor-saving arrange
ments. and providing better hygienic and
sanitary conditions. Many ask the depart
ment to prove to the man that their work
is worth something in dollars and cents.
The overwork OF women and children
and difficulty of securing domestic help
are mentioned by a number of the
writer's. These letters have furnished
valuable suggestions for constructive
work in this field. The department be-
lieves that intelligent help to women in
matters of home management will con-
tribute directly to the agricultural sue
cess of the farm. 1t proposes, therefore.
to ask Congress fof means and authority
to make more complete studies Of domes-
tic conditions on the farm. to experiment
with labor-saving devices and methods.
and to study completely the question of
practical sanitation and hygienic pro-
lection for the farm family"
In connection with the preservation and
utilization of natural resources, seventy
six water power projects have been de-
veloped and thirty more are under con-
sideration. The report suggests that the
law permitting only q revocable fran
chise should be changed to allow a fifty
year permit for power purposes, under
provisions protecting both the investor
and the public.
Pure Food Prosecutions.
The regulation OF pure food and drugs
comes under the supervision Of the De-
partment OF Agriculture, and the report
states that the prosecutions under the
food and drugs act and other regulatory |
measures will be made still more effective |
through cooperation with the Depart |
ment Of Justice, whereby the solicitor |
will prepare cases in the form Of criminal
and place at the service OF |
the United States district attorneys in |
the trial of cases the departments attor-
neys who are thoroughly familiar with |
the highly technical aspects Of many OF
these causes.
Throughout the report strong emphasis
is placed upon cooperation between the |
Department of Agriculture and other
Federal departments and the State agri-
cultural agencies to promote co-ordina-
ton and eliminate duplication of effort.
The keynote Is getting the departments
in all fields more directly
and in more valuable form to the people.
Asks Increased Appropriations.
Increases in the appropriations for the
next fiscal year are recommended. as fol-
lows:
S250,S6O for extending the work Of erad-
icating animal diseases, feeding and
live stock, and for dairying and
the enforcement Of the meat-inspection
law.
$4,000 for the introduction and breeding Il
Of new plants, the control Of plant dis
eases, and for improving the methods OF
crop production, especially cereals.
s14s,5T for the classification OF agricul-
tural lands and the survey Of homesteads
in the national forests.
$6O,4n for extending Investigations of
the handling, shipping and storing OF
poultry, eggs, and fish.
s24, 80 for investigating fertilizer re-
sources, soil fertility. and the chemical
and physical properties Of soils.
$1,000 for extending investigations Of
insects attacking deciduous fruits, cereal,
and forage crops, and forest trees.
$4,000 to enforce the migratory bird
aw.
$1,000 for gathering crop forecasts and
estimates.
s11s.5OO for road management and road
building and maintenance.
$4,000 for investigations Of the market
ng and distribution of farm products
10000 for live stock and other demon
tration work in the sugar cane and cot
.on areas in Louisiana.
A decrease of $S7,34o is made in the
'unds of the Weather Bureau. made pos
sibie by the increased efficiency shown
n handling its work.