Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-07-07
HOW u. S. is HELPING FARMER
Doubtful That Any Other Group Gets as Much Direct Help
From Government-Bene fts Extend to Remotest
Section of the Nation.

tested. Bovine tuberculosis in the
United States Is now estimated at z
per cent, as compared with per cent
decade or so ago.
= Fight Livestock tuberculosis.
Testing of individual herds will be
supplemented by efforts to eliminate
counties and States. At least LOO
counties are engaged in the work. A
survey of milk ordinances has revealed
that fully 1900 municipalities require
either the tuberculin testing of cattle
or the pasteuriZation of milk. Officials
Of the department believe that. consid-
ering the magnitude Of the problem, the
present status of the campaign Is most
gratifying.
Secretary Hyde will have an extra
$4,000 to spend during the next IL
months for plant quarantine. to stiffen,
among others, the protection against
the Mexican fruit worm and the Eu-
ropean corn borer. From the point of
view of agriculture this is regarded as
one of the most important functions
of the Government.
In preventing the spread Of plant
pests the Government has acted in the
past through three bureaus, the Fed
eral Horticultural Board, the Bureau
Industry. Last July q new unit was
established, the Plant Quarantine and
Control Administration. This agency
centralizes and co-ordinates all plant
quarantine activity and all work in the
control and prevention of plant pests.
Under the new arrangement the Esd
eral Horticultural Board has been
abolished and its work turned over to
the new administration.
- ktNA AArN aRNNA RNAf
additional authority to enforce quar-
antines. It has done this by author
izing agents of the department, If they
have reason TO believe that articles are
moving in violation of any of the Fed
eral plant guarantees, to stop and
search vehicles carrying them.
Restriction of Diseased Plants.
The authority has been greatly need
ed, and the addition to the powers
which port inspectors and road station
officers already enjoy will enable them
much more effectively to prevent the
importation and dissemination of plants
or plant products which are infected
with disease. During the fiscal year
just ended, the department has done
much to eradicate the Mexican fruit
worm from the lower Rio Grande VAL
ley of Texas, and has accomplished
much in its fight against the cotton
pink bol1worm.
The department has at its disposal
during the coming year an additional
$685. 900 to enable the Weather Bureau
to increase its meteorological service on
commercial airways. With this in
crease the total appropriation of the
Weather Bureau will be 100000. The
farmer is now one of the principal In
for1nants of the Weather Bureau.
The Government supplies few SIM
pie instruments and instructions. and
year In and year out, about 5000 farm
ers, without compensation. make and
record these simple observations. tx
tending as they do over the whole con-
tinental area Of the United States, these
observations are of great value in stab
ilizing the climatic characteristics of
the different sections of the United
States. whether for agricultural. indus
trial, hygieric or resort purposes.
Shipmasters render a somewhat SINH
lar service. During the last year or so
concerted international action has been
taken to organize simultaneous obser-
! vations over the oceans of the world.
The Weather Bureau now has the funds
| to extend its service to aviation and
transocearic flights during the coming
! year. 1t is planning to render the air.
men Of the country the fullest possible
degree Of cooperation.
Conservation Of Birds.
This year the department will have
an initial appropriation of $4,000 to
carry out the If1igratory-bird sanctuary
act. This money will be used by the
Migratory Bird Conservation Commits
sion and the Biological Survey for a
preliminary survey of areas to be con-
sidered for acquisition as sanctuaries
in future years. There Is an increase
also Of S17R 600 To Cover the extension