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Show SECRETARY RUSK'S REPORT. i The Increase in the Value of Agricultural Products Not Less Than $700,000,000. Washington, Nov. 9. Secretary Rusk, in his third annual report, estimates that the increase in the value of the agricultural product pro-duct ver last year will not be less than $700,000,000. He states that during the last three months of the present fiscal year the exports in cereals aggregated $76,000,000, adding that the indications now are that the export this year will largely exceed those ofj any previous year. He notes an increase b some $28,000,000 in the imports of agricultural agri-cultural products during the first ten months uldet the present law, but emphasizes the fi.-t that the increase was confined largely to aliicles not competing with home products. sicn as sugar, tea, cottee, etc. At tne same time, changes in rates have checked the importation im-portation of products which may be produced pro-duced at home. Speaking of the inspection of meat for exportation, the secretary says: "Our people peo-ple demand something more than protection frptn communicable diseases. In most, if nt ail, the European countries inspectors, according to their reports, freely pass for cc nsiuuption the meat of animals affected w th foot and mouth diseases, pleuro-pueu-roonia and similar diseases, w hich according t-o the views and customs of this country, must be condemned. But meat for the foreign for-eign market is inspected the same as that designed for home consumption. In this report, as in others, we have met objections raised to the American products, and not pnly removed the cause, but gone beyond what was asked by our critics. Up to the first of October there were a total of 1,016,-61 1,016,-61 1 -animals inspected; 63,673 carcasses of hogs were examined microscopically, and tle total number condemned was but 1976." The secretary earnestly -recommends , that tfzPZ"': be ckf d to make an . appropriation L 'snJaTMatly large to extend the i inspection. He- j.umates the losses, to pork xaieera,' during dur-ing the past ten years, owing to the prnibi-.tion prnibi-.tion by foreign countries at en aggregate of over $260,000 ,000. The inspection of imported im-ported animals has been rigidly maintained. The result has been to materially reduce the losses resulting from a lack of ventilation, overcrowding and weak fittings on vessels. The secretary points out that for over a year, there has been no well authenticated case of pleuro-pneumonia in American cattle, exported to foreign countries. He regards it as highly desirable that people peo-ple of foreign countries should be informed of our resources and facilities for supplying their wants. The secretary deems it the duty of his department to keep the farmer fully informed of the markets for goods and just what their value is. He congratulates tbe country upon the success of the experiments in the extraction of sugar from sorghum; notes with satisfaction satisfac-tion the general and growing interest shown by all classes in the cause of agriculture; expresses a desire for closer co-operation between the various educational forces in the Country for the advancement of practical agriculture, and urges that the slender thread connecting the department with the agricultural colleges and stations be strengthened. In reviewing the work of the division of chemistry, with reference to the adulteration adultera-tion of foods, the secretary emphasizes especially espe-cially the adulterations of coffee, which are fouud to extend to a large percentage, not only the ground coffsc, but of coffee beans, wholly artificial beans having been introduced into the market. In large measure the artificial beans are imported, and the secretary urges that their use in this country be absolutely proLibited. Touching the experiments iu producing rain, be states briefly that they have been made, but he has no data yet at hand which would justify him in making any conclusion on the subject. |