Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1917-04-17
THE DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE 1.-The Job and the Machine
By Frederic j. Haskin

The department has not only increased the Yield of
every staple but 1t has sent out exploring
parties and introduced from foreign lands crops htta
American cultivation. 1t has worked out methods
for filling marketing such crops On the list are
such wel-known names Durum wheat, navel
oranges. Sudan grass kafr corn, and dozen others
The total of these plants introduced from
foreign lands is estimated at s265.00O-Ooo
getting results of it's work before the people
the department continually colossal task 1t Is
adviser with audience of 1oOo0oooO In single
year it has distributed 100000 pubica-
lions. Under the recently enacted smith-Lever act
which provides for actual demonstration work on tss
farm by government agents, the department
became at stroke the largest single educational estab
lshment world This extension education
this nationwide school whose students
women and children going about their work, is unique
There is nothing else like 1t anywhere Already 1900
counties of the 1850 counties in the United States
getting the benefit of 1t.
One Of the biggest problems which faces American
agriculture is the loss through diseases both
plant and animal This annual loss is big enough to
challenge efforts of the biggest agricultural
department in the world. According to latest est-
the losses in and animals due different
diseases amounts to $780, 100000 year That is enough
to feed even modern army quite while.
THIS department is already winning its fight with
Of Texas fever among southern cattle-a disease
which closes to cattle raising great in the south
states. which we'll fit the business
strikes the nations food production the very
root. annual loss through fever
which carry 1t to S40,0O0.00o year
ticks and the fever have been eradcated from
Germany and that much land has been given back
production. There still remains twice
of Germany to be cleaned and the department
looks forward doing it in the years. This
gives some idea of the the problems that come
up in & country big as this and the way they
handled.
The work Of the department has widened include
a dozen other important branches The federal aid
puts the nations building largely
It's supervision with $3.50. 100000 spent besides
the immense amounts spent annually by the states.
! study the problems of marketing grown n
Importance with the study production.
Altogether, department, which in 1865 spent s152
left over. which apparently
know what do with--which spent 100000 ten
years ago-has just granted appropriations
ing $4,000, 900, without including the
funds. When these latter get into full swing
years, the department will have authority
the spending of about $50, 900 900 a year.
There still Americans to be found, especially
among city dwellers who have the idea depart
ent agriculture is sort Of
agency AS matter of fact 1t is the largest scientific
and educational establishment in the world
administration thirty of the important ma
laws IN its hands, and working with rs
co-operators. 1t is three times effective solving
the problems of agriculture the corresponding
partrnent any other country.
The department is facing what may we'll prove
supreme its history. The food problem in
its hands, whatever the future may bDng forth will
have say to the nation, city we'll. to
farm in hard months ahead. And its sayings
should We three cabinet officers whose
departments war departments today. They
SECRETARIES of war. navy-and agriculture.