The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1895-08-18
INsTRUCTING THE FARMERS.
Government Agents Teaching Them
How to Raise and Market Pure Seeds.


Mr.. Gilbert H. Hicks. Of the Department
of AgrIculture is in the city and is stopping
at the Coates House. He Is connected with
over the West and Northwest inspecting
the growing OF clover for seed.
Several years ago there was instituted in
tion." which has for It's object the investi-
cation of the growing of seeds for market
The department. felt that there was not
known among the qseed-growers the impor-
lance of having pure seeds for market and
since it was started there have been men
from the department travelling in various
parts of the country investigating the
methods of the farmers In harvesting
seed, of the seedsmen in getting it to mar
ket and the dealers in their work Of keep
Bulletins are issued giving the results of
the labor done and gratifying progress has
Mr.. Hicks was detailed last season TO in
yestigate the. growing of clover seed in
Ohio and Indiana aud spent several weeks
farmers and others who are interested in
seed raising. This year he was sent to Wis
for. several weeEscarrying on an inyestse
cation. He Is to remain here until Monday
evening. whep he goes to the university ex-
pertinent station at Columbia. and then to
st. Louis for a short visit with the seeds
men there.
He was seen last evening in his room at
the Journal and talked of his work and
what he had seen in his travels. Among
others things concerning the work. he said:
I'VE are doing all We can to impress on
the minds of the farmers the necessity of
onering only pure seeds for sale, and we
are trying TO ascertain why it is that so
much foul seed is sent to market. The only
way We can get the information desired is
to get out among the farmers and see how
they do their work and how they make
their harvestS. i have been in many parts
of the North watching the work done there
and am well pleased at the interest that
Was MANIFESTED IN the work We are doing.
a GRO int
the farmers there and secure better results
in the future.
MY work this year is confined to clover.
That is crop that can be grown with ease
and harvested with great profit every year
but 1t Is one that is neglected in many por-
wbese 81 f hss s Seon rv Up In
L saw one farmer who raised a crop of
clover seed from twenty-seven acres that
Melted him 81, 400. | saw the field, the farm
er and the seed. That is a profit that ought
to be satisfactory.
There is considerable export demand
for clover seed, and it is always sold at a
high price. There has been great Complaint
from the German purchasers as to the i'm
pure seed sent there, aud that was the foun-
dation Of our pure seed work. We wanted
to know why there should not be produced
seed that was clean and pure, and that
would command a high price. We hope to
convince the farmers that IL is cheaper to
produce pure seed than it is to grow impure
seed and then try TO clean it with ma
chinery. We are getting right out among
the farmers and seeing where the seed is
grown, then following the seed to the buyer
and dealer, as to discover where the real
wrong is being done. for there is in all cities
plenty of impure seed being offered for sale
We are. doing it for the good of the farm
ers, and we believe the work is being appre-
ciated and is certain TO prove valuable to all
parties interested. In Germany there are
seed testing stations. where seed is inspect
its purity and terminating power. The re-
suits are the best.
I'VE are making an exhibit from the de-
partment at the Atlanta, exposition and ex-
pect it to awaken much enthusiasm among
the farmers of that portion OF the land"