XXXIV REPOET OF THE SECRETARY OF AGRICULTURE. 



ities of the work in other parts of the South. The labor problem is 

 an important one, but Dr. Shepard has shown his ability to handle it, 

 and with his aid the Department is now training a few young men in 

 the technique of the work. The extension of the industry in the 

 South and studies for the purpose of improving the quality of tea will 

 be pushed as rapidly as the moneys at hand will permit. There are 

 thousands of acres of land and thousands of idle hands that might be 

 made available for this work, and our possibilities in this field should 

 not be neglected. The United States imports from $10,000,000 to 

 $12,000,000 worth of tea eveiy year, and, although it may be a long 

 time before anything like that amount can be produced in this country, 

 the industry should be encouraged in every possible way. 



INTRODUCTION OF SEEDS AND PLANTS FROM FOREIGN COUNTRIES. 



The act of Congress establishing the Department of Agriculture 

 specifically provides for the introduction and dissemination of rare 

 and valuable seeds. More or less of this work has been carried on for 

 forty years, but recognizing the needs for enlarged and systematic 

 efforts along this line, steps were taken three years ago which led to a 

 great increase in the Department's opportunities in this direction. 

 Briefly stated, the object of this work is to encourage the building up 

 of home industries and thus save the American people large amounts 

 annually sent abroad. With our vast resources and variety of climate 

 and soil, and a people who are never daunted by the difficulty of an 

 undertaking, the possibilities of developing new fields seem unlimited. 

 In probably no branch of the Department's work can the practical 

 value of its efforts be more quickly shown than in this line. Some of 

 the results achieved the past year are set forth below, and a study of 

 these will show in what manner new industries may be developed. 



DEVELOPMENT OP THE RICE INDUSTRY. 



In my last report attention was called to the fact that the introduc- 

 tion of Japanese rice resulted in an increased production, amounting 

 to at least $1,000,000, of this commodity in Louisiana, and further- 

 more, that the impetus given to the work in Louisiana and Texas led 

 to the investment of not less than $20,000,000 in the industry. In 1900 

 about 8,000,000 pounds more rice were produced than in 1899, and 

 this year 65,000,000 pounds more were produced than in 1900. With 

 the rapid increase in our own production the importation of rice from 

 foreign countries is falling off, as shown by the fact that in three years 

 the imports have decreased from 154,000,000 pounds to 73,000,000 

 pounds. All the increase in home production can not, of course, be 

 ascribed to the Department's introduction and distribution of Japan- 

 ese rice, but the great impetus to its production in this country was 



