162 AGRICULTURAL APPROPRIATION BILL, 1924. 



A little bit more than approximately one-half of the areas of tliese 

 States, more than a half of the areas of Michif^an, Wisconsin. Illinois. 

 Indiana, Ohio, and Nebraska, remain to be critically inspected. 



In addition, we find that the sprouting of the barberries is a very 

 troublesome factor. Even after a farm-to-farm survey has been 

 completed, we will probably have to make a reinspection a year or 

 two later to find the sprouts which farmers are likely to overlook. 



The belief in the success of the barberry eradication in preventing 

 epidemics and destructive epidemics of st<?m rust, I think is now 

 practically universal. 



Mr. Anderson. Well, mv observation does not agree \^^th that at 

 all. Of course, my section of the country does not raise much wiieat, 

 but I do not think' that you will find one farmer in ten out there that 

 takes any stock at all in your barberry business. 



Doctor Kellerman. Well, I am very much surprised to hear that 

 because so far as I am in touch with this, which is, of coui-se, largely 

 second hand — I have met a few persons from where the work has 

 been conducted, and those as a general rule. I think, are the larger 

 farmers, and therefore they may not represent the sentiment of the 

 farm group as a whole. But taking the Farm Bureau, which is a 

 fairly direct representation of the sentiment of the farmers, taking 

 our correspondents, the reports of the barberry scouts who are in 

 most intimate contact with the farmers, I think that there is no 

 question but that the men that we are in contact with are most 

 sympathetic to this work, and the overwhelming majority of them 

 believe in it. 



Mr. Buchanan. Now, let me ask you a question there. How long 

 have you been fighting this black stem rust ? 



Doctor Kellerman. Well, through barberry eradication, you 

 might say, since 1918. 



Mr. Buchanan. How long have you been fighting it altogether — 

 8, 10, or 15 years? 



Doctor Kellerman. Oh, 50 years. 



Mr. Buchanan. All right, then, from your 50 years of experience, 

 has the department arrived at a conclusion that barberry eradication 

 will eradicate the stem I'ust ? 



Doctor Kellerman. Not that it will eradicate stem rust as u 

 disease, but that it will prevent the destructive epidemics that have 

 caused such heavy crop losses as occurred in 1916, for exampk\ 



ERADICATION OF BARBEHRY OK GREAT ECONOMIC VAI-UE. 



Mr. Buchanan. Then, has the departnicnt arrived at a conclusion 

 that the eradication of the barberry bush will be itself justified, from 

 an economic standpoint? 



Doctor Kellermw. From our study and investigation, tluit is 

 what we generally expect. 



Mr. Bu(-iianan. So that whether the farmers believe in it or not, 

 would not amount to anything except that you would liave tluMr 

 cooperation in it if they did. and if they did not believe in it yt)U 

 would not have their cooperation, but it is up to the (JoviMnnient to 

 go (m with the work and prove it to them. 



Doctxn- Kkllkh.man. It would not cliange our belief. We b(»lieve 

 «o. Wc arc thoroughly convinced of this as a national necessity. 



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