MEN INFLUENTIAL IN IMPROVING AGRICULTURE. 33 



ISAAC NEWTON (1800-1867). 



As the first United States Commissioner of Agriculture, Mr. New- 

 ton laid the foundations for the great Agricultural Department as it 

 exists to-day. Upon its creation in 1862 the Government's agTicul- 

 tural bureau was merely a subdivision of the Patent Office; but, ad- 

 ministered on the policy formulated by Mr. Newton, it rapidly in- 

 creased in power and importance. At last, in the Presidency of Ben- 

 jamin Harrison, it was raised to the rank of an executive branch of 

 the Government and its Secretary assumed a seat in the Cabinet. 



JAMES WILSON (1835- ). 



It was under the administration of Mr. Wilson that the United 

 States Department of Agriculture experienced its greatest growth. 

 To-day it comprises the greatest academy of scientists ever assembled. 

 Mr. Wilson Vv^as Secretary of Agriculture from 1897 to 1913, thus 

 establishing the record of holding a Cabinet portfolio longer than any 

 other department head. Before his appointment as Secretary. Mr. 

 Wilson was director of the Iowa Agi-icultural Experiment Station 

 and professor of agriculture at Iowa State Agricultural College. 



SIGNIFICANT THINGS EVERY SCHOOL BOY SHOULD KNOW. 



When the cattle-fever tick is destroyed in the Southern States the country 

 will get much more meat from that section and the producing of it will build up 

 the farms there. 



Every country in the world that has diseased plants that can not be sold at 

 home can ship them to us. This results in great loss. The chestnut disease 

 here is an illustration. 



We are sending explorers to the ends of the earth for new plants — and getting 

 them. 



When a foreign insect invades, our scientists seek its enemy where it came 

 from. The natural enemy of the boll weevil was an ant that could not endure 

 our winters, but the native ant is getting bu.sy. 



The object lesson in agriculture is the best teacher ; we had G0..000 of them at 

 work last year. 



The consumer pays $1 for food ; the farmer gets less than 50 cents for it. 

 Who gets the rest? 



The Department of Agriculture has had success iu the Southern States 

 through object lessons in the fields, where the best southern farmers in their 

 counties were the instructors. This method should be organized in all the 

 States along lines of greatest necessity. 



The southern farm boy is showing the way to grow more of all crops on an 

 acre. 



Educate the farmer's boy toward a more valuable life on the farm. 



Uplift the farm home through the education of the farmer's daughter toward 

 greater usefulness and attractiveness in the farm home. 



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