REPORT OF THE SECRETARY OF AGRICULTURE. LXXVII 



DIFFICULTY OF RETAINING EXPERT ASSISTANTS. 



One of the problems which the head of this Department is compelled 

 to deal with in every year of his administration is that occasioned by 

 the difficulty of retaining in the Department service some of the most 

 capable and efficient of its workers. It is true that the facilities for 

 scientific investigation on an extensive scale are a great attraction to 

 scientific men, and not a few of them in consequence continue in our 

 service in spite of tempting offers from other sources. Nevertheless, 

 in man}' cases it has proved impossible to retain some of our most 

 useful men, and almost ever}' year 1 am called upon to record the loss 

 of one or more of our scientific staff', owing to my inability to give him 

 a salary at all equal to that which is offered him elsewhere. It some- 

 times becomes necessary to engage assistance in the conduct of some 

 of our important investigations at a rate of remuneration in excess of 

 that paid to those under whose supervision they are to work and to 

 whose initiative the investigation is due. 



This year already three valuable workers have been lost to the 

 Department, one having gone into the service of a foreign government 

 and two others attracted by educational institutions. The difficulties 

 attending the successful prosecution of our tobacco work for similar 

 reasons have already been spoken of. The only remedy is for Con- 

 gress to put it in my power to exercise a wider discretion in the matter 

 of salaries to those intrusted with responsible positions in this Depart- 

 ment — positions calling not only for scientific attainments, but for 

 administrative ability, energy, good sense, and a wide knowledge of 

 the eco"nomics of agriculture. 



EXPERIMENTAL FARM AT ARLINGTON. 



Congress at its last session authorized this Department to take charge 

 of part of the Arlington grounds lying east of the Georgetown and 

 Alexandria road. These grounds are susceptible of being made pro- 

 ductive and very attractive, but at the present time require grubbing, 

 draining, surfacing, and fertilizing. This work is being vigorously 

 pushed; drain tile will be laid during the coming year; $10,000 should 

 be appropriated to carry on the work. 



SILK CULTURE. 



The United States paid ^32.479,620 in 1899 for raw silk, and 

 $45,329,760 in 1900. This article is the product of the cheapest labor 

 of foreign countries. We are demonstrating that tea can be grown 

 probably in the Southern States, and that it can be gathered by colored 

 children, whose parents are pleased with the additions these earnings 



