The Sauk Centre herald. (Sauk Centre, Stearns County, Minn.) 1886-current, 1895-05-09
SEED DISTRIBUTION.
1Ae Proposed Change In the Method ~
the Department Of Agriculture.

mo Proposed Change In the Meth00 y
the Department. Of Agriculture.
Il 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 tho
direction Of the stations and to furnish
thu stations with written reports OF
these tests on blanks to be provided by
the secretary Of agriculture. and he
shall allot to such agricultural expert
ment stations rs make application to
him such amounts from any funds APP
Ipropriated up.ier the provisions Of this
act as may seem to him advisable to
enable the stations to purchase seeds
bulbs, trees, shrubs, vines, cuttings aDl
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 terYitories. 81
For the present wasteful and extrava-
CANT distribution OF seeds It il 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 cooperation with the United States
department. Of agriculture the stations
can easily ascertain what new and rare
varieties are available and oan select
such kinds of seed az 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 fnll tests Of fhe seed under
directions given by the stations. Tho re-
mlts Of these. tests will b distributed
in The bulletins Of the. stations. which
arc regularly Issued 70 mose than y0o.-
600 persons directly connected with the
agricultural industry, and which are
largely quoted by thousands Of agzicpl-
tural and other paperA u this way.3 ct
. comparatively small expense. twill
be practicable TO secure whatsoever useful
results are possible Through the distri-
button Of seeds - @Ea ~
The proposed bill to regulate the dis
tribution of seeds through tho expert
ment stations takes into account thef9ct
that the needs Of different communittes
in this direction vary greatly. In nspy
states, particularly in the north and
east it is comparatively easy fog the
farmers to obtain seeds even Of varieties
which are new and rares In certain re-
gions Of the south and west. ON the 9th
&c hand. there Is, great need for the in
PRODUCTION Of better varieties than are
now used OR for experimental tests 60
determine what kinds Of plants will
grow best Ia those regions Il il there
fore left with the secretary Of agrieul..
ture to determine. after consultation with
the officers Of the experiment. statiops
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 beIsble TO get many definite
reports, and through the publication Of
results in their bulletins will not ouly
carry direct Information regarding the
seeds distributed to the farmers, but
will also call their attention to the de-
STABILITY Of the diversification Of crops
in MANY regions, and thus aid in the
Developments 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