BEPORT OF THE SECEETAEY OF AGRICULTURE. 31 



be kept at the lowest possible figure. The force engap;ed in the work 

 has never been sufficiently large to cope adequately with the disease 

 and the reduction of funds has aggravated the situation. 



The eradication of the cattle tick in the South continues to pro- 

 gress, the results in the different sections depending largely upon 

 State, county, and local support. Fifty thousand five hundred and 

 fifty-five square miles have been released this year from P'ederal 

 quarantine, making a total of 509,080 square miles since the work was 

 begun in ,1906. 



FOOT-AND-MOUTH DISEASE. 



In addition to the task of suppressing animal diseases in this 

 country, the department is responsible for the protection of the live- 

 stock industry against the introduction of nearly a score of serious 

 foreign live-stock diseases. One of the most infectious and danger- 

 ous of these is foot-and-mouth disease, which exists nowhere in the 

 United States at the present time, but is a constant menace because 

 of the facility with which it may be carried by animals, hides, and 

 various live-stock products. The importance of prompt action in 

 eliminating any centers of infection whenever they develop empha- 

 sizes the necessity of providing an adequate " insurance " fund, avail- 

 able for immediate use. Such a fund, to be used only in case of 

 actual outbreaks, has been carried in the Agricultural appropriation 

 act for several years. The appropriation was reduced by $950,000 at 

 the last session of Congress, leaving an amount which is entirely in- 

 adequate to cope with serious outbreaks. While, through good for- 

 tune, no outbreak has thus far occurred during the current fiscal 

 year, it would certainly be the part of wisdom to make liberal 

 provision for dealing with this dangerous disease whenever it ap- 

 pears, and the department, therefore, has recommended in its esti- 

 mates for the fiscal year 1922 that the appropriation be restored to 

 its former figure. 



IMPROVEMENT OF CROP AND LIVE-STOCK PRODUCTION. 



The elimination or control of insects and diseases affecting both 

 plants and animals, as well as of other limiting factors, is highly 

 essential if we are to maintain our present agricultural production. 

 But to increase the efficiency of our farms still further requires, 

 among other things, the development of superior plants, the improve- 

 ment of cultural methods and practices, and the breeding of better 

 animals. 



The development of improved crop plants, through breeding, selec- 

 tion, and in other ways, has almost limitless possibilities and has 

 received a great deal of attention both from the Department of Agri- 

 culture and the State experiment stations. It is exceedingly difficult 

 to state accurately, in terms of dollars and cents, the value of funda- 



