ADMINISTRATION OF SECKETARY MORTON. 25 



Exiieriments in sugar production were continued by the distribution 

 of 15,000 packages of sugar-beet seed to 8,000 farmers and by tbe exami- 

 nation of varieties of sorgbuni with a view to securing that which would 

 yield the largest amount of sugar. The experiments with beets were 

 not successful chiefly because of a lack of care by farmers in cultiva- 

 tion and in taking samples for analysis. 



The importation of parasite enemies of scale insects was begun, and 

 the citrus-fruit groves of California were saved from threatened destruc- 

 tion by the scale pests through the successful introduction of the lady- 

 bird ( ^^edalia cardinalis). An effort was also made to introduce para- 

 sites for the destruction of the Hessian fly. 



Experiments in rain making by use of explosives in the arid regions 

 were made under a special appropriation by Congress, but were unsuc- 

 cessful. 



The investigation of silk reeling was continued for a time, but in 1801 

 the experiments were discontinued. The industry was found hopeless 

 except with constant aid. The destruction of live-forever as a trouble- 

 some weed in some of the Eastern States was accom])lished by means 

 of a parasitic fungus. Valuable botanical investigations were made, 

 and 12.000 specimens were added to the herbarium. 



SECRETARY MORTON'S ADMINISTRATION. 



Hon. J. sterling Morton became Secretary of Agriculture on March 

 7, 1803. The Congressional Directory issued soon after says : 



"Julius Sterling Morton, of Nebraska City, Xebr,, Secretary of Agri- 

 culture, was born April 27, 1832, in Jefferson County, N. Y. ; is of 

 Scotch-English origin, his ancestors coming to this country in the first 

 vessel after the Mayjioicer, one of them, Nathaniel, being secretary of 

 the colony; removed with his parents when 2 years of age to Mich- 

 igan; was educated in the jjublic schools of Albion, the State Uni- 

 versity at Ann Arbor, and Union College, from which latter institution 

 he was graduated; was connected editorially with the Detroit Free 

 Press and Chicago Times; located in ]S^ebraska November 10, 1851, at 

 Bellevue, and April 12 of the following year issued the first number 

 of the Nebraska City News; was elected to the Territorial legislature 

 and reelected in 1857; was appointed secretary to fill the vacancy 

 caused by the death of Governor Thomas B. Cuming in 1858 and 

 served till May, 1861 ; in 1860 was nominated for Congress and was 

 given the certificate of election, but was unseated by contest; in 1866 

 was nominated for governor and was defeated by 145 votes, and has 

 been the nominee of his party for that oflice three times since; has 

 been the favorite candidate of his party several times for United States 

 Senator; is a practical agriculturist and horticulturist, and has con- 

 tributed largely to the best literature on those subjects: is the author 

 of the Arbor Day legislation, which provides that one day in each 

 year be made a public holiday and be devoted to tree planting, and 



