The Sauk Centre herald. (Sauk Centre, Stearns County, Minn.) 1886-current, 1895-02-21
SEED DISTRIBUTION.
he Proposed Change In the. Method BY
tho Department OF Agriculture.

3Ae Proposed Change In the Method BY
tho Department Of Agriculture.
It has been proposed that all seeds,
bulbs, shrubs, vines, cuttings and plants
purchased and propagated by the secre-
tary Of agriculture, as required by law,
shall be distributed to the agricultural
experiment stations in the several states
and territories, to be by them redistrib-
uted to such persons as shall engage to
make full tests of the same under the
direction Of the stations and to furnish
the stations with written reports of
these tests on blanks to be provided by
the secretary Of agriculture, and he
shall allot to suck agricultural expert
ment stations as make application to
him such amounts from any funds ap-
propriated under the provisions of this
act as may seem to him advisable to
enable the stations to purchase seeds.
bulbs, trees, shrubs, vines, cuttings and
plants for distribution, in the manner
aforesaid and to pay the expenses of
such distribution, with due regard to
the varying conditions and needs of the
respective states and territories.
For the present wasteful and extrava-
CANT distribution of seeds it is proposed
to substitute limited distribution of
new and rare varieties through the sta
tons These stations are in charge of
trained experts who are familiar with
the needs of their respective localities.
In CO. operation with the United States
department. of agriculture the stations
can easily ascertain what new and rare
varieties are available and can select
such kinds of seed as will be most like
~ to give good results in their respective
localities. They will be able to engage
the services Of competent farmers, who
will make full tests Of the seed under
directions given by the stations. The re-
suits Of these tests will be distributed
in the bulletins Of the stations, which
are regularly issued to more than $780,
900 persons directly connected with the
agricultural industry, and which are
largely quoted by thousands Of agricul
tural and other papers. In this way, at
comparatively small expense, it will
be practicable to secure whatever useful
results are possible through the distri-
button of seeds
The proposed bill to regulate the dis
tribution Of seeds through the expert
ment stations takes into account the fact
that the needs of different communities
in this direction vary greatly. In many
states, particularly in the north and
east, it is comparatively easy for the
farmers to obtain seeds even Of varieties
which are new and rare. In certain re-
gions of the south and west, on the 9th
er hand, there is great need for the in
PRODUCTION of better varieties than are
now used or for experimental tests to
determine what kinds Of plants will
grow best in those regions. It is there
fore left with the secretary of agricul-
ture to determine, after consultation with
the officers Of the experiment stations,
to what extent seeds shall be distributed
in any particular locality.
While under the present plan almost
no reports Of any value are received, the
stations will be able to get many definite
reports, and through the publication of
results in their bulletins will not only
carry direct information regarding the
seeds distributed to the farmers, but
will also call their attention to the de-
STABILITY Of the diversiflcation Of crops
in many regions, and thus aid in the
development of our agriculture Along
with the results of the test the stations
will undoubtedly publish Information
regarding the proper culture and man
agement Of such plants as tests have
shown to be useful in their respective
localities. r..'..s' !. .