Dallas herald. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1849-1873, 1872-04-06
DALLAS DALLAS COUNTY, TEXAS, APRIL 6, 1879.
with the agricultural operations
of his native State.

with the agricu ltural operation
of his native State
EXCHANGE OF SEEDS.
In Il consideration of the scope o
the workings of the Department o
Agriculture, the Investigator is me
with vast and intricate system
which has for its aim tho practica
fulfiImcnt of the act of Congress
which created the Department
Every State of the Union and eve
ry Territory shares in the benefits
of the workings Of tho Department
Perhaps, first in Importance in thcs,
workings is the great system by
which valuable seeds, native and
foreign, and of every description
from the tree seed through tn,
worlds of vegetable, fruits, and
flowers to that of plants yielding
the texible fabrics used in com
merce, are received at the Depart
ment, and thence distributed, upon
application, and through agents, tc
every quarter of the country, BY
the plan Of international eXchang.
es of seed and plants-which was
inauguratcd by Commissioner Ca
prom the Department is in con-
stant receipt Of many valuable spe,
cies of rare, useful and ornamental
plants, etc, that could not be rcadi-
ly procured through the ordinary
channels of trade, except at very
heavy outlay. NearIyal the grcatbo-
tanic gardners and agricultural and
horticultural socities of Europe have
contributed, and are still contribu-
ting, to the collection thus secured,
and have been in turn benefited by
the introduction in their respective
countries of American seeds sent to
them by the Department. Contri-
buttons are received from South
America, Europe, Asia, Mexico, the
West Indies, the Hawaiian Islands,
and, indeed, from every quarter in
which is to be found an American
Minister or Consul.
DURING THE YEAR 1871
two collections Of tree seeds, one
containing ninety-fve species and
the other one hundred and sixteen,
were sent to European societies and
gardens of tho kind mentioned
above. Seeds and plants from for
eign climes received at the Depart
mcnt are tested, and, when found
capable Of propagation in this conn-
try, are distributed in those parts
of the Union where they may be
successfully grown. One invoice Of
fifty varieties of tree seeds were re
ccived few months ago from the
British Government garden at Aus
tralia. They arc to be planted in
the Department grounds, and the
plants will be sent to those sections
where the climate will be found
most congenial to their growth.
The South, it is thought, will de-
rive great profit from some Of the
varieties contained in this invoice.
Other seeds from foreign countries
are now on trial in hundreds of
farms in various parts Of the coun-
try. Tho seeds issued from the
seed division of the Department are
distributed through and to Sena-
tors and Representatives in Con
gress, in every Congressional dis
trict of tho country, agricultural So
cieties, &c, at home and abroad, cor
respondents. meteorological obscr-
vcrs, &c. From November, 1870,
to October 81, 1871, inclusive,
THE NUMBER OF PACKAGES
of cereals, soods. and textiles dis
tributed through the agencies above
named was G46,32l. OF these 24O,-
427 were sent through Senators
and congressman; 9S, l63 through
home agricultural societies; l3S.-
529 to mail correspondents; 1920
to "misce llaneous," (causal de-
mands during the year y B 45O to
foreign countries. These figures
convey with great clearness the
Importance of this principal feature
of the operations of the Depart
ment. Among these seeds thus
distributed were lib varieties OF
vegetables 81 varieties of flowers
G varieties of wheat 2 varieties OF
rye t of oats, 4 Of barley, OF to-
bacco, 3 of sorgum, 3 of sugarbcet,
&c. OF the textiles, 9 varieties of
hemp, 3 of cotton, Of ramie, 2 of
iute. OF peanuts, only s packages
were sent off during the year, and
these were consigned 10 foreign
countries. OF tree seeds, no less
than 1l6 varieties of forest and
shade trees were distributed. Since
last January 800 bushels Of su-
perior kind Of oats have been I'M
ported from Germany, weighing 46
pounds to the bushel. 1t is prin-
cipal of the Department thus toim-
port the best and most
VALUABLE PRoDUCTs
of Fo.eign soils, and to distribute
them to our farmars by this means
our agriculture is vastly benefited.
The standard weight of the Ameri-
can oats is 36 pounds to u bushcl.
In few years-say four or five
the German oats above mention
ed, By planting and rep!anting
planting in our soil, will have de-
creased in weight per bushel to
that of the American but in the
meantime the Department, by its
constant importations Of superior
seeds, will be enabled to supply
regularly such seeds TO our worn
out lands, and so maintain fair
standard of excellence in crops.
New and valuable seeds, such
as wheat, barley, &c, are sent
by the Department to farmers in
Territories and new settlements
who may not possess them in sufii-
cient quantities to commence plant
ino in the second wear the reciDi-