New Britain herald., 1920-08-26
Head of Department of Agricul- ture-Held Record for Service
WAS FARMING AUTHORITY
pcccascd Introduced New Crops in the United states and Served Under Thrco PrcsidcntS-was Over so Years old.

Traer, Ia. Aug. 2e.--James Wilson. former secretary of agriculture. died at his home here today.
 James Wilson was head of the De- parfmcnt Of Agriculture for fifteen years. during which he contributed largely to tho phenomenal aEricul- tural development Of the United states. His long service in the cab met constituted record. Albert Gal latin.G once secretary of the treasury, mad previously held the record with service of nearly thirteen years
 NIT. Wilson's service, however. WAS notable for tho constructive work which H included. rather than for Inc remarkably long time which he held the portfolio. with complete ac- ceptabiitty under three presidents of dNerse temporamcnts - Mckinley. Roosevelt and Taft.
 scotch Percentage.
 NIT. Wilson was an Iowa farmer. Horn August i6, 1885. Inc was the son Of Scotchman, who left Ayr shire. Scotland In 1852 to settle his tamily in the United States Near the present town of Traer, In, the family founded the new home, and In That neighborhood the son James be- gan farming on his own account ns cnriy as 1861. and at the same time began his political career with cleo lion to the Iowa state legislature. In Congress.
 In 1872 he was sent to congress and served in all three terms. He was regent of the Iowa State university from 1870 to 1874. and for six years prior to becoming secretary of agri- culture. he was director of the State Experiment station and professor of agriculture at the Iowa State Agri- cultural college. Hts application of hcience to Agricultural practice brought him to such national prom thence that President Mckinley mudo his secretary of agriculture March (. 1897. f..a
 When Mir. Wilson took oracc the agricultural development of the coun- try was already remarkable. but in tho years during which he was al tho helm of it's interests 70 far as tho fed- erai government was concerned this development was increased far ho- youd the boundaries of natural prom lse which mere land ond work nf- forded.
 Introduced New Crops.
 Secretary N iison introduced into the United States great number of valuable crops witch hitherto had been successful only in foreign coun- tries. Among these was Durum wheat. which came to yield nearly $50. O.00o,- 900 year to the farmers of the Northwest. He thus extended tho possibilities of wheat growing far beyond the former climatic limits Under hts administration the beet sugnr industry was also fostered, a serum for hi.- cholera was discovered, the whole country was aroused on the subject of tuberculosis in cattle, and the care and handling of milk was systematized and improved. Sample sections of good roads were built In almost every state, and communities were instructed how to build good roads with their local material.
 Our Octogcnarian.
 AS an octogenarian Mir. Wilson was still erect ald vigorous. man six feet tall, ail<Cone and muscle. Tn Iowa his old Nricuds and uxsociates know him afrcctionateiy as "Tamn Jim" Of tho Presbyterian faith, he was, as n hoy, made familiar with the old m"trical version of tho Psalms from which he freqently quoted in q quaint way with remarkable effect. sNo tormnnties ever hcdged about him; the plainest farmer who visited his office In Washington received tho same grasp of the hand and courte- ous attention that was given to lcad-