1911-12] HORTICULTURAL OPPORTUNITIES OF TO-DAY 37 



jection. The United States Government has done much in 

 importing various parasites for these insects in an endeavor 

 to destroy them. 



They have also done a great thing that is worthy of commen- 

 dation, having cleaned the roadsides for a distance of one 

 hundred feet on either side, covering a distance of three hundred 

 miles (300) in length in sections that are badly infested and 

 have made progress in cleaning the trees in that distance 

 of these pests, and when we realize that they are scattered 

 more by teams along the lines of travel than by any other 

 method, we can at once see the wisdom of this undertaking. 

 It is interesting to note, that while we have been the recipients 

 of the different parasites from other countries there has also 

 been a general reciprocity, and they have been in turn recipi- 

 ents. We have sent the beetle to Spain in return for parasites 

 of scale insects, we have also exchanged exotic parasites with 

 the Philippine Islands. 



The forests receive great attention from the national govern- 

 ment not only are they endeavoring to increase them, but also 

 to preserve that which we have. To my mind the greatest work 

 they are doing is along the line of fire protection, for fires in 

 our national forests have been reduced to a minimum through 

 the efforts of rangers to check them before they gain a headway. 



Secretary Wilson of the National Department of Agriculture 

 says he has found seven hundred (700) types, of soil in our 

 country, each having its own peculiarity, and the department 

 is doing a great deal to determine the crops suitable for these 

 different kinds of soil. 



The value of our agricultural products for the past years 

 amounted to eight billion nine hundred and twenty-six millions 

 of dollars. This goes to show that agriculture is the backbone 

 of our nation's prosperity, for no other source of income has 

 any more influence, than that which comes from the soil; this 

 we cannot be robbed of. 



The press has given a great deal of attention to the work of 

 horticulture, through its editorials. Literature is creating 

 an interest in this work, for a greater knowledge to start with 



