Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1916-12-08
HOUSTON TRIES TO
REDUCE H. c. OF L.
Secretary Of Agriculture Re.
IL views Work of His Depart
ment on This Line.
PRODUCTION INCREASES

duce the cost OF living through in.
creased production and better distri
button OF the country's foods are de-
tailed in the annual report OF Secre.
Stary Houston OF the Department OF
agriculture, made public today. The
report also dcvotes considerable at
Etention to the pure food law and
urges on congress the need OF
Strengthening it to permit Standard
zation of foods and drugs and inspec-
stion OF foods and drugs factories.
Records of the department, the re-
port sets forth, show that except for
aneat and dairy products the per cap
ita production of the leading food
Commodities in the United States has
ren1ained about the same despite the
rapid growth Of population. Stats
tics presented cover period OF six
teen years. The population has in
creased in that time 50 per cent There
is ground for optimism, the report
Says, as to the ability Of the nation
mot only to supply itself with food.
hut increasingly to meet the needs Of
the world.
9s One of the principle aims OF the
department has been to increase meat
production The report shows a
steady growth since 1918 in the out
put Of beef and an advance in the
Number OF swine every year since
1899. More extensive sheep raising is
recommended as a source OF food. II
lis pointed out that only one farm in
seven in the United States now sup
ports sheep. Fifty million sheep, it
is said. could be added to the coun-
stry's Aocks.
Stabilizing Of Production.
Stabilizing of production is recon-
nended as one of the greatest agri.
aeultural needs in producing food
crops sufficient to meet demands.
This can be accomplished best, the
errport points out. through better
adapted or improved crop varieties,
more systematic and rational crop ro-
Nation and improved agricultural
Rractice generally. In many parts OF
the country more attention to live
Stock production is essential to endur-
ing and economical agriculture, the
report declares.
II is highly desirable, it is pointed
A0ut, that areas for production OF sta
ole crops be broadened as far as ex-
perience and sound economies may
Warrant. In this respect the report
sdwel1s on the importance Of control
ling plant diseases and insect pests.
Marketing of farm products, rural
inances and rural organization, the
dreport says, have received close atten.
zion from the department in the last
nthree years. A four-year program,
developed in 1918, has been in a large
measure carried out.
Improved Marketing Of Stock.
Improved marketing Of live stock
and meats has been sought by the de-
partment as means of cheapening
these products. Already, the report
Says, arrangements have been made
with ffty-eight stock yard companies
10 secure monthly reports of live stock
receipts and shipments. A uniform
system Of marketing records has been
established at the instance Of the de-
partment by number Of yards. Meth
DDS and costs Of marketing live
Stock and meats were investigated.
preliminary investigation Of the
Sources, accuracy and use OF market
reports on live stock and meats has
been made. The results OF this study
have been utilized in development OF
plans for the organization OF DEM
Illustration market news service for
live stock similar to that now con-
iucted for perishable crops
m Other efforts at better distribution
dnethods are described, as follows:
Surveys have been made OF the
marketing facilities for agricultural
products in nine cities and advice has
been given regarding the location, cs-
Establishment and management of mu-
gnicipal retail and wholesale public
markets. Detailed studies also have
been made Of conditions in other cit
YES. Investigation concerning meth
%pds OF handling and grading perish
Sable products and the practicability
gef Standardization Of the products
eand their containers have progressed
rapidly.
II The issuance OF monthly cold
( storage reports on apples has been