Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-07-07

which TO give ala 10 Tie 1drm pOpuld~
ton Of the Country. But the Govern
this on the farmer 1t Is doubtful,
indeed, If any other group receives
more assistance from the Federal Gov
eminent. That help comes to the
farmer in many ways, from radio talks
on how to solve his problems, to re-
search In Government laboratories, with
q view to finding out how farming
can be carried on more efflciently and
prohtably.
In the fiscal year that began July
/ the Department of Agriculture has
S157, ASS 030 to spend. Not all Of this
of course, will go directly to assist the
27,S00000 men, women and children
that make up the farm population of
the Country, for some of 1t goes for
administrative expenses.
Yet most Of this money will be spent
during the next IL months in a way
experts believe will give the maxi
mum help to the American farmer.
Now. as In the past. Congress has dis
played notable spirit Of generosity
toward the agricultural elements in our
population. In the aggregate the ex-
benefits will extend to the ren1otest
parts of the Country.
Big Increase for Research.
The coming year shows big increase
IN the appropriations for research. In
the present appropriation act Congress
has continued the policy of expanding
and strengthening the work of scien-
ttf1c research so that the department
viii be able to render even greater
service through Its research agencies
10 farmers In every part OF the land.
Research Is assigned about s13,000,000,
equal to the annual income of the
largest American universities, in addi-
ton the Government viii pay to the
States for research about $3.840, 900.
Among the larger increases for re-
search there is $3.50, 900 for investiga-
ttons of the causes and means of pre-
vention Of the destructive soil erosion
terracing, and other means: 100000
for intensive chronological and plant
> breeding work to meet the situation
arising from the prevalence of leaf
hoppers and resultant curly-top dis
ease Of sugar beets and other important
truck crops: $4,000 for forestry re-
search projects.
Also 100000 goes for investigational
work in the Bureau of Animal Industry;
$4,000 for research projects in the
Bureau Of Dairy Industry; 900 for
research In the Bureau Of Plant Indus
try, with $S5,00o additional for eradi-
cation work by that bureau Of the dis
ease of the peace in the South; $780,
900 for projects of the Bureau of Chem
1stry and Soils; $4,000 for insect re-
search by the Bureau of Entomology;
S45,000 for investigations of the Bureau
of Agricultural Economics; for agricul-
tural engineering research projects
under the Bureau of Roads. $4,000 Is
provided; $4,000 for Investigations by
the Bureau of Home Economics; and
finally an increase of $4,000 for the
special research program which the
department is conducting to find ways
and means to meet the situation caused
by the inroads Of the European corn
borer. This makes total fund of
$4,000 available this year for the
special corn borer program.
Dividends Often Result.
Research has often yielded dollars and
cents dividends. An example was the
service rendered to about 100000 farm
erS who produce cane and sorghum
sirups. These commodities are pro-
duced annually to the amount Of about
100000 gallons. Farmers have found
it difncult to get a market for these
products, owing to their lack of uni
formity, and to the poor keeping quail
ity of some siups put UP in retail
packages.
The Bureau of Chemistry and Soils
began an investigation of the problem,
and found a method of blending,
standardizing and treating strip. This
will probably make possible the estab-
lishnent Of cooperative blending and
canning plants.
Another recent achievement of the
bureau, along the same lines, was a
method of making a creamed sugar
residue which has been named cane
cream" and put on the market by one
large producer in Louisiana. Soil sur
veys similarly have been extended. with
the result that We know more about
our soil resources than does any other
country in the world. Throughout,
research has a practical aim, and the
projects under way all look to increas-
ing the efficiency of the American
farmer.
Jartiine Pointed to Need.
Federal expenditure for research in
agriculture is not large considering
the magnitude of the problems awaiting
solution" declared former Secretary
Jardine shortly before he turned over
the administration of the department
to Secretary Hyde. Much less money
is expended in the United States for
agricultural than for industrial research.
The departments research program
should be expanded. I need not en-
phasize the fact that expenditure for
wisely directed scientific research has
been returned many thousandfold in
savings to the farmer and the Nation.
Yet many problems of the greatest i'm
portance lie practically untouched, and
the departments research units are In
adequately financed"
For 1920 the department has avail
able about 100000 for extension work.
This Is an increase OF 100000 over last
years appropriation. The Capper-
ketcham act authorized this increase.
This sum Is to be divided among the
States and Hawaii in the ratio that the
rural population of each bears to the
total population of the United States.
on condition that an equal amount of
funds from within the state be ex-
pended for extension work
The primary purpose of the Capper-
Ketcham act is to provide funds for
the employment of additional county
extension agents, more especially for
the further development of home DEM
onstration and boys and girls club
work. The Federal Government spends
money on the extension service on the
basis Of so per cent contribution from
the States. This is regarded as fair
for the reason that the work In each
state is carried on for the benefit Of
the farmers OF that State.
Value Of Extension Work.
Farmers seem to show high appre-
citation of extension work of an eco
rlomic character. They have taken
much interest in the departments out
look work and in that of the co-opera-
tive state agencies. In some areas farm
efs have taken the lead In calling con-
ferences to discuss economic ques-
tions. Nor is the interest which they
have confined to prices ana markel