Connecticut western news., 1891-11-26
GATHERING SEEDS FOR THE PEOPLE.
How the Departm ent of Agriculture Ob-
 <afns Seeds for Distribution.

How the Department of Agriculture ob-
 tafns Seeds for Distribution.
 Congress appropriates $10O,000 for the purpose of buying seeds annually. It costs $6O, 900 to put up the product and ship it from Washington, so that only $40, GOO is actually devoted to pay ing for the material distributed. In June and July special agents travel about inspecting the crops which the seedsmen are raising. They select what they want by sample, and in Novem- Der they journey around again and make their contracts.
 The seedsmen do not usually pro- duce their stock in trade on their own land. They hire the use of extensive tracts from farmers-sometimes such a plantation will include a thousand acres-paying so much an acre and supplying the seeds to be planted. On their part the farmers contract to de- liver the crops obtained, husked or thrashed, cleaned and in good condi- tion. It is agreed that they shall do all the labor and that the parties of the other part shall be permitted to examine the fields at any time and weed out all 'rogues," which are plants of inferior varieties such as will creep in.
 In summer time, when the crops are growing, special agents come along. To them each scotsman shows not his green fields, but his ''trial garden, 1" wherein he cultivates few specimens of each choice vegetable that he is en- gagged in propagating. The govern ment buyers look the stock over, de- eide in 8 general way as to what they want to purchase and go away, to re- turn in the late autumn and give their orders after inspecting the seeds in the bins.
 These seed farms are scattered all over the United States. Cabbage seeds are nearly all grown on Long Island, elsewhere in New York state and in Connecticut. Farmers believe that they need salt air Of caulifower seeds the same remarks may be repeated. Peas for seed all come from the neigh borhood of Traverse, Mich., and Mani towoc, Wis. Those got from elsewhere are always apt to have little worms in them, but the flies of which these worms are the larvse do not live in the region mentioned. Beet seeds are nearly all imported. Carrot seeds come from the far west, especially from California, in which state are also pro- | duced most of the lettuce seeds and the best. Corn and onions for seed are raised all over the country, and the same is true of the seeds of melons. l Cucumber seeds come from Nebraska, Wisconsin and Missouri.
 Onion seeds are gathered by going through the fields and cutting off the pods at the tops of the stalk, tying them in bundles and thrashing them out on canvas. Beans are allowed to stand in the field until they are yellow, after which they are stacked up until they are perfectly dry and thrashed out. Peas are permitted to get dry taken to the barn for thrashing. Tc get cabbage seeds the stalks which have grown one year must be planted the next, when they run to seed. The same is true of carrots; the roots which have developed ill one season are put in the ground the next and go to seed.
 The flower seeds which the depart ment distributes are nearly all imported from abroad, where vast farms are de voted to raising them. They have to be purchased from the big seed houses As is the case with the vegetable seeds they are all tested before being sent out. For this purpose curious little window garden is maintained at tho seed barn, which consists of two gooc sized pans about four inches deep Across the pans wires are laid in pairs with folds of cheesecloth hanging be tween each pair into the water, O. which the pans are half full. Tn. seeds are sprinkled along in the fold of cheesecloth and quickly germinate their roots making their way through the fabric in dense network. Some times vegetables thus grown in thu pans have actually produced peas beans and other things big enough t> eat. Any one who cares to get up sucl a window garden as this at home vii be well repaid for the slight labor in volved. Star.