Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1899-12-29

Farmers Giving More Attention to
Its Culture In ArtifciaIIy Flooded
swamps-Extent of seed Distribu-
ton.
The Hon. James Wilson, secretary
OF the department of agriculture at
Washington, is now preparing that
part of his report which treats or the
free seed distribution. Few govern
meut expenditures so small as this is
in the aggregate-aDout 100000 an
nually-lave occasioned so much ad-
verse comment Secretary Morton,
who made u determined effort TO shut
of the free seed distribution, found
that, in spite of all his eudeavors. the
appropriate had been Increased and
distribution made mandatory
Secretary Wilson does not intend to
autagonize congress by a campaign
against the free seed distribution. He
would also like to avoid the hostility
of the seedmen which the practice in
yites and so has worked out plan
which he believes will accomplish both
of these objects, says the Chicago In
ter Ocean. He will go back 10 the
new and unusual varieties" which
were originally contemplated in the
appropriation and distribute the va
rieties of seed which the commercial
seedmen for one reason or another are
not handling-the experimental seeds
which have not gained foothold.
The departments agents who are en-
gagged in Il tireless search for new and
improved varieties in all parts of the
world bring in many interesting speci-
mems. When one of their new varie-
ties has been tested by the department
scientists and found promising. it will
be distributed in the appropriate sec
tons of the country and its value prac-
tically demonstrated. After species
has gained n foothold the seedmen
may be trusted to take care of the cur
rent demand. and with il the depart
ment will not further compete.
In this field Secretary Wilson be-
lieves there is ample work for the de-
partment without distributing ordinary,
time tried cabbage and turnip seed.
There is enough room III improved
grasses alone TO absorb to advantage
the entire appropriation that the gov
eminent allows for seed. In rice, of
interest in the south, the introduction
of one new variety which is now grow
ing successfully is said to have a COM
mercial value of $1,000 900 year to
the American producers.
1t seems that broken rice sells for =
cents Il pound less than the head rice,
and in old varieties there is a breakage
of at least 20 per cent. The depart
ment recently Introduced some Japa-
nese rice called Kin Shu. in which the
average of breakage from this years
experiments has been only Il per cent.
1t is n better quality, besides, and is
decidedly more productive to the acre.
This saving of cents a pound on %
per cent of the crop will amount to |
$500. 600 a year. 1t is estimated that |
the introduction Of this variety has
cost the government $1,000.
Secretary Wilson is greatly interest |
ed in the new American method of |
cultivating rice in an artificial swamp,
which can be drained off when har- |
vesting time arrives, so as TO permit |
the use of labor saving machinery. |
This was the idea of some northern |
farmers who went to Louisiana n few |
years ago. They wanted TO raise rice. /
but were not content with the hand /
Ia Dor by which it had always been nee
essary to harvest it. and so they Great /
ed swamp which would be under /
their control.
Mr.. Wilson on his recent trip saw one |
piece of prairie into which 400, 900 gal |
Ions of water were pouring per minute, /
an amount % per cent greater than /
that which is to go out of Lake Michi- |
gan into the Chicago drainage canal |
In southern Louisiana, where the coun-
try is widely cut up by rivers and 1
bayOus. this sort of irrigation is very /
easily accomplished, either by gravity |
flow or by the use of windmillS. In this |
way the rice can grow in its natural |
and when it is mature the |
water can he turned off. the ground al
lowed to dry and machine reapers and /
binders put to work.
The magnitude OF the congressional |
seed distribution is clearly seen by the |
report of the last fiscal year. which
shows it to have aggregated 15,I02.914
paper and cloth bags. as follows: Vege-
table. papers. 1928. 52I: flower. pa
pers. 1.25I.05I: field. papers and bags.
POSSE or the 15.IO2.914 papers and
bags OF seeds distributed, 1889. $50 pa
pers and cloth sacks of vegetable and
other seeds were distributed TO senator's.
and delegates in con-
Gress Cby their allotmentsl, I51.lTO pa
pers OF flower and vegetable seeds TO
of the division of sta
tistics and SS9.4G0 papers and bags of
flower and field seeds to the |
state oranges. The remainder was dis
iributed TO weather bureau observers,
experiment stations, etc
Aside from the above distribution
thousands of packages of foreign seeds
and plants which are introduced by the
department experts abroad are sent
out largely 70 state agricultural expert