Rensselaer Semi-Weekly Republican, Volume 19, Number 20, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 12 November 1897 — SECRETARY WILSON’S WORK. [ARTICLE]

SECRETARY WILSON’S WORK.

A Year’s Operations of the Agricultural Department. Secretary Wilson lias presented his report to the President reviewing the operations of the Department of Agriculture for the past year. The most important recommendation made by him is one that agents for the department should be stationed at each, of ear more important American embassies for the collection- off information of interest to American farmers. Referring to this subject, he says-: “We are endeavoring to get information from foreign countries with which we compete in the markets of the world, regarding crops and prices. We are also faking steps to ascertain what crops aro grown on different thermal lines so that seeds and plants may intelligently be brought to this country to assist in> the diversification of omr crops and add to their variety. ; There is necessity for American agents in every foreign country to which we send representatives, who have had education in the sciences relating to agriculture. The agricultural colleges endowed by Congress are edimeating along these lines.” The Secretary refers to the efforts of the department to extend the foreign markets for our dairy and live stock products, which he thinks can be done by making the foreigners familiar with them. Instead of sending abroad for seeds he says the policy in the future will be “to encourage the introductioin of such seeds as will enable our people to diversify their crops and keep money at home that is now sent abroad to buy what the United States should produce.” Mr. Wilson says the department will continue its pioneer work in the encouragement of the sugar beet and expressea the opinion that the country will within a few years raise all the sugar it requires. He expresses the opinion that nearly all of the $382,000,000 sent abroad last year for sugar, hides, fruits, wines, animals, rice, flax, hemp, cheese, wheat, barley, beans, eggsand silk might have been kept at home. He also thinks the United States should grow their owp chicory, castor beans, lavender, licorice, mustard, opium, etc. With reference to horses the Secretary says: “The American farmer can grow horses as cheaply as he can grow cattle. We have a heavy and profitable export trade in cattle and may have an export trade equally heavy and profitable in horses. The department is gathering facts regarding our horse industry at home and the requirements of purchasers abroad, so that our farmers can learn what foreign buyers demand.” <• The most important work in which the animal industry bureau has been engaged is, he says, that looking to the destruction of the cattle tick, for winch, it is believed, that an agent has been found in a urn product known as paraffin oil, in which infected cattle are dipped. The extension of the meat inspection to abottoirs engaged in interstate business is recommended, as is the continuance of the inspection of export animals in order to maintain the market which has been secured for them in othee countries. The Secretary criticises the present system of crop reporting. He says it is extremely cumbersome. He recommends the employment of a principal statistical agent in each State.