Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1914-12-18
Secretary Houston's Annual Re-
port On Agriculture

David +. Houston. secretary OF egri-
culture. in his report for the fiscal
year ending June 80. 1914. has con
fined his discussion almost exclusively
10 tho pressing problems OF increasing
the food supply Of ithe nation and oil
lettering rural life.
The total production o. six leading
cereals Is reported to have been near
" 5000, 900. 600 bushels. or about 42S..
100000 bushels in excess OF the crop
OF 1913. For the country as a whole
the crop yields per acre were % per
cent better than the average for the
past 10 years. The average yield per
acre of ali the staple crops was "a per
cent greater than 1913. and. except
for corn, oats and fax seed. greater
than the 10-year average.
In cattle. sheep and hogs there has
been an absolute decline cattle,
from the census year OF 1893 TO that
OF 1909. of from 50.0OO.0O0 head ia
S1,SOO.OO0; in sheep. OF from 81 .OOO.-
600 to 52.0O0.0O0: in hogs. OF from 63,-
100000 20 $4,000. 600. Since 1909 the
tendency has been downward. and yet
during the period since 1899 the pop
uiaticn has increased over 10000, 900.
The report continues.
1T is true that the American farmer
does not produce as much per acre as
the farmer in number OF civilized
nations, but production per acre is
not the American standard The
standard is the amount OF produce for
each person engaged in agriculture.
and by this test the American farmer
appears TO be from two 10 six times
as efficient as most OF his competi-
tors
UnquestiOnably the largest hope
for a considerable increase in our
meat supply lies in four directions.
First. in a more satisfactory handling
OF the public grazing lands. second,
in systematic attention to the produc-
ton OF beef animals in the settled
farming areas OF the country. partic-
ularly in the south third. in increased
attention 10 the smaller animals. such
as swine and poultry: and. fourth. in
the control and eradication OF the cat
tie tick. hog cholera. tuberculosis and
other animal diseases and pests.
The federal department OF aEricul-
ture inspects meats passing into in
terstate commerce. OF 57.OOO.OOO ami
mails inspected in the fiscal year 1914
$4,000 were found TO be infested with
tuberculosis This disease is increas-
ing. II is estimated that hog cholera
caused a loss in 1913 OF over 5000. 600
hogs. valued al more than 100000. 900.
and that the cattle tick causes an an
nual loss OF from 100000 to $780,
600. 900 or more. and prevents the prop
a. davafnnwnanF nF ha ~
dustry in the infected area.
The department is now directing
the expenditure o. fund OF 100000
for the eradication OF hog cholera and
many OF the states are likewise spend
ing considerable sums. The two agen-
cies are working in cooperation and
are making experimental and field
demonstrations in the control of this
disease. PROFESSIONALLY the appro-
priation OF a half million dollars for
the eradication OF hog cholera should
be continued.
Since the close of the fiscal year
1914 the sixth outbreak OF foot and
mouth disease in this country has oc-
CURED. This is one OF the most con-
tagious Of animal diseases and is ca
pable OF causing great loss. The pres
ent is the most serious and extensive
Of all.
Each OF these outbreaks was stamp
ed out by methods which have proved
most effective in preventing the dis
ease from gaining a footing. These
methods involved the killing of all in
fected and exposed animals. the bury
ing Of the carcasses. and the thorough
disinfeCtion of all premises with which
the animals may have come in con
tact.
The department has taken every