REPORT OF THE SECRETARY OF AGRICULTURE. LILT 



scale commensurate with the extension of at least two or three crop 

 interests. It is certain that the immediate benefit to the farmers will 

 amply repay the expenditure. 



SOIL TECHNOLOGY. 



The field parties see many opportunities of improvement in the crops 

 or methods of cultivation in the districts in which they are located 

 which they have not time, in the rapid progress of their work, to 

 demonstrate, and for which they must rely upon recommendations in 

 their rather brief reports. Such recommendations seldom accom- 

 plish the object sought, on account of the well-known conservatism of 

 growers. It may be that the evidence indicates the need of drainage or 

 the correcting of acidity in the soil, or may suggest the introduction 

 of new and profitable crops. Such suggestions are rarely acted upon 

 in that thorough manner necessary for a practical demonstration, and 

 it therefore seems advisable, if the full value of the soil survey is 

 to be realized, to organize a division of soil technology to work out 

 the suggestions and demonstrate the efficiency of new methods or the 

 feasibility of introducing new crops, as has been done so successfully 

 in the case of the tobacco work. 



It is difficult to find trained men for this work in this country, and 

 the success of such an organization would depend largely upon the 

 personnel of the force. Our agricultural colleges should turn out such 

 men, but they seem not to have done so. There are practical men who 

 could carry on such work under the direction of our scientists, but they 

 are usually so successful as managers of estates that they can not be 

 induced to accept a place for the salaries allowed by Congress in this 

 Department. It is necessary, in this as in other lines, to train the men 

 ourselves, unless higher salaries are paid. 



TOBACCO INVESTIGATIONS. 



In my last report attention was called to the success of the exhibit 

 of American-grown leaf tobacco at the Paris Exposition and the num- 

 ber of awards given. After the installation of the exhibit and the 

 work of the jury of awards had been completed the tobacco expert 

 of the Division spent some time, under orders from the Secretary, vis- 

 iting the foreign markets, particularly in Paris, Bremen, Amsterdam, 

 and London, where large quantities of our domestic tobaccos are sold 

 or where we ourselves purchase leaf for our own use. The informa- 

 tion gathered in this way of the character of the tobacco from all over 

 the world with which we have to compete in our foreign trade, of the 

 requirements of these markets, and of the methods of selling under 

 the regie system prevailing in certain of the European countries, 



