experiment stations in Hawaii , the
Philippine Islands and Porto Rico.
The secretary discusses the subject of
irrigation at considerable length , giving
strong reasons for a general study of the
whole subject. He points out the wide
difference in laws and methods prevail
ing 'Lin the different states dependent
upon irrigation , and states that most
important rivers have streams supplying
irrigation to half a dozen states. In
evitably , under these circumstances ,
differences will arise calling for legis
lation by congress , which should , there
fore , be put in possession of all the facts
affecting this important subject as early
as possible. It is not possible , he de
clares , at the present time for the owner
of an irrigated farm to know just what
his rights are , and he propounds , as a
problem calling for early solution ,
whether the control of this element of
production is to be left to the states or
whether it will have to be assumed by
the general government. Reviewing at
length the work that will have to be
done in acquiring information on this
subject , the secretary lays stress upon
the difficulties "encountered in finding
properly qualified persons to assist in
the work. He also points out that the
usefulness of this investigation is by no
means limited to the arid region , but
that irrigation could bo profitably em
ployed in large areas in the Eastern
and Southern states.
For the fiscal year ending June 80 ,
1899 , congress appropriated for the
department of agriculture $2,829,702.
By the same act $720,000 was provided
for the 48 agricultural experiment
stations. The total expenditures for the
year ended June 80 , 1899 , amounted to
$2,797,178.49. The unexpended balances
were covered into the treasury.
From a study of the imports of Den
mark , especially of American grains and
oil cake , he concludes strongly against a
policy which sterilizes our lands at the
same time that it supplies other countries
with the means of producing meats and
dairy products for foreign markets
which we could ourselves supply. He
points out that the Danish farmer , with
the help thus received from this country ,
supplies British markets with 88 million
dollars' worth of these products yearly.
The secretary earnestly denounces the
methods by which our former flourish
ing cheese export trade was destroyed
and his own efforts at extending the
demand for American butter ill foreign
markets are being interfered with. He
attributes such methods to the lack of a
system of export inspection to guard
our reputation from practices of un
scrupulous dealers. He indorses such
inspection of dairy products for export
under authorization of congress , and
points out that this policy has been in
dorsed by national and state dairy
organizations , commercial bodies , and
I
individual exporters throughout the
country.
Mr. Wilson reviews at some length the
subject of seed distribution. He warmly
defends such distribution in so far as it
adheres to the original intention of
congress , which was to search for and
gather in various localities of the Old
World useful seeds and plants to be
distributed in the United States to the
several regions where they would be
most likely to succeed. The department
is at present endeavoring to bring back
; he practice as much as possible to this
original intention , a large per cent of
the 180,000 appropriated being now
spent in securing , importing and dis
tributing rare and useful seeds and
plants. He candidly admits the exis-
bence of a strong feeling against the
seed distribution , and declares his own
conviction that in so far as the distribu
tion by the department competes with
the sales of seedsmen , distributing the
same kinds of seeds with no experi
mental feature or intelligent direction
beyond what is provided by dealers , it
is questionable. But the importation
and distribution of the best quality of
sugar beet seed , of drought and rust re
sisting grains , of improved grasses ,
specially adapted to certain soils and
conditions , all such and many other
measures of like character , he declares
to be justifiable and wise "the intro
duction of these and many other seeds
and plants being beyond the ability of
private individuals to compass. "
The tea growing experiments in South
Carolina are commended and their in
telligent prosecution advocated. The
interesting fact is noted that the tea
gardens at Summerville produced 8,600
pounds of tea the past season. Irriga
tion experiments , improvement of
varieties by importation and by hybrid
ization , are indicated as important steps
to be studied.
In regard to public lands , the secre
tary deplores the ill results of in judicious
grazing due to the indifference of the
occupiers under the present system. He
advocates leasing in large areas and for
a sufficient time to invite improvement ,
and suggests that the revenue from such
leases might be turned over to the states
for educational purposes or irrigation.
The secretary concludes his report
with important recommendations on a
variety of subjects.
Of the abandoned farms of Now
England he says that they are nol
abandoned on account of sterility ; that
they will be studied by the soil physicist ,
agrostologist , and the forester , and the
valuable suggestions resulting from
their studies will be distributed through
out New England.
He urges that means be adopted to
produce in Porto Rico , Hawaii , and the
Philippines many of the tropical plants
which this country now imports to the
extent of $200,000 annually more than
'our times as much as the total exports
of the islands in question.
Our imports of oranges , lemons , cocoanuts -
nuts , bananas , and especially coffee , of
which in 1898 we imported over $65,000-
000 worth , could , in large part , be pro
duced in Porto Rico. The secretary
especially recommends experiments in
the production of India rubber , for
which we are now largely dependent
upon Brazil. The import of India rub-
jer and gutta-percha in 1898 exceeded
in value $26,000,000 , of which three-
fifths came from Brazil. After discuss
ing at some length the methods of col-
ection and treatment and the character
of the Brazilian product he indicates one
tree in particular , known as the Oeara ,
as likely to be the first to produce an
mportant addition to the natural supply
of India rubber. He adds : "The
feasibility of cultivating this plant in
the Philippines should be very carefully
investigated. "
The Turkestan alfalfa introduced by
; he department is warmly commended
as successfully withstanding drought
and cold. It is proposed to distribute it
widely over the arid West , to bo
thoroughly tested , and its introduction
spoken of as likely to add millions of
dollars to the annual hay product of the
country.
A valuable rice has also boon intro
duced from Japan. It possesses a high
milling quality and is highly superior to
the domestic product , and should it suc
ceed in Louisiana hundreds and thous
ands of dollars will bo added yearly to
the rice-growing industry.
In connection with the subject of
native drug plants , cooperative work is
proposed by the department and the
Pan-American congress in a technical
and scientific investigation of thcso
plants ; $10,000 is asked for to enable the
department to undertake this work.
The great increase of cotton imports
from Egypt , averaging in value for the
past three years nearly 8 % million dollars
lars Blonds importance to the experiments
so far made with the Egyptian cotton
seed imported by the department in
1894. While a further trial is needed ,
hope is expressed that with proper
management it will become well estab
lished in the United States.
Mr. Wilson makes a most urgent plea
for the erection on the department
grounds of now laboratory buildings as
a substitute for the numerous and in
convenient buildings , mostly dwelling
houses , now occupied for laboratory
purposes at a cost of $10,000 a year. Ho
has caused plans to bo prepared of fire
proof structures providing an increase
of floor apace over the present accommo
dations and in every way more suitable
and economical , to cost , approximately
$200,000.
The concluding portion of the report
is devoted to a discussion of agricultural
education. 'The secretary holds that in