The times., 1899-12-11
GOLD SPENT FOR SEEDS
What 1t Costs the Government to
Furnish New Species.
The Assistant Secretary of AEricuI-
ture Issues an Interesting Report
cure Many Valuable ProducfS--
How the Farmers Have Been Aide6.

y
of Agriculture, j. H. Brigham, shows that
of the $4,000 appropriated by Congress
for the purchase and distribution of val
liable seeds, etc. during the year 1899 there
was expended for the purchase of seeds
for distribution through members OF Con-
gress $40. 1886. For rare and valuable
foreign seeds distributed by the section Of
seed and plant introduction under the Di-
vision OF Botany, $2O, ,300.92 was expended
for the purchase of sugar-beet seed dis
tributed 10 experiment stations and indi-
viduals, 81, $685. for see,9s and bulbs dis
tributed to members of Congress through
the Division of Gardens and Grounds 50 400
and for seeds distributed for special in
yestigation by individuals in the several
States IS, 600 There was paid fer salaries
of employees connected with the seed dis
tribution S25,912.9S, and for miscellaneous
supplies in connection with the work,
S221.S5.
The records of this division show the ag-
gTegate Of all seeds distributed by the con
tractor (the New York Market Gardeners
Association to have been IA. .23S, 16S packets,
! which were allotted and distributed as fol-
lows
To Senators, Members. and Delegates in
Congress, 12999sl59 packets of vegetable,
flower. and field seeds; to correspondents
of the Division of Statistics. 72T $50 packets
of vegetable. flower, and field seeds; 10 the
United States Weather Bureau So 6S5 pack
cts of vegetable seeds; to masters of
oranges, 205, ,000 packets OF vegetable ana
flower seeds; to miscellaneous, 23S 339 pack
cts of vegetable, flower, and field seeds.
The cost TO the department of the IA
-og- NE aJp frff fa1 VglG
7097S.36 as per contract awarded.
In addition to the above contract list
there was expended for various kinds OF
seeds. which were distributed miscel-
lansously by the Seed Division during the
fiscal year the sum of S4.35S36. These
seeds were sent TO such localities as were
best adapted for their culture, and at proper
time for planting Among the varieties
distributed were wheat, cats, huckwh6at,
field corn, velvet beans, cotton, grasses
tunip. and vegetable seeds of which a
record has been kept in this division show
ing where. when, and TO whom the same
have beer. sent.
The distribution and testing of seeds
secured in Russia and Central Asia by
Prof n Z. Hansen have been continued,
and the value of some of these introduc-
tions has already become apparent, Twelve
tons of seed of a hardy strain of field
grass has enabled experiments to be made
in numerous localities in the Northwest,
and reports therefrom indicate that this
species is likely 10 become the most yalu-
able and widely cultivated grass in the
subarid region. Requests for seed con-
tinue to be received in large numbers, and
it has been necessary to import addi-
tional quantities from Europe.
The alfalfa seed procured by Prof Han
sen in Turkestan has also given satisfac-
tory results, being distinctly more resist
ant to cold as we'll as to drought than the
variety previously known in the United
States. This will make possible con-
siderable extension of the cultivation of
this valuable crop.
The winter muskmelons from Turkestan
have proved not to be suited TO the cooler
and more humid East but are we'll adapted
for cultivation under irrigation in the arid
Southwest and an additional amount of
seed of one variety is being grown for
the department In Utah In order to Ter-
nit more extensive distribution. A fine
specimen of this stock was received from
Utah late in January. 1898. Such melon
| would undoubtedly prove popular novelty
in the fruit market.
During the fiscal year 1S9S-99 four agri-
cultural explorers have visited foreign
countries for the section of seed and plant
| introduction. Hardy cereals and forage
| plants were secured in European Russia
| by NJ. A Carleton Japan was visited by
| Dr. S A. Knapp of Louisiana, for the
| purpose of obtaining a variety of rice
! which should be superior in milling quail
| ties to those now grown in the South. Ten
! tons of seed of the finest Japanese variety
! from the Island of Kyushu were imported
( and distributed in the Southern States,
! particularly Louisiana.
| Walter T. Swingle Investigated numer-
! Gus agricultural industries in Germany,
| France, Italy, North Africa, Greece, and
| Turkey. Many leguminous and other for
| age plants, including the carob tree, a
| spineless cactus, and new vetch, also ce-
| reals from North Africa and Hungary,
were obtained, besides a series of superior
| French vegetables, including many not
grown in this country, and numerous va
rieties of the European grape, grated or
resistant American stocks. Mr.. Swingle
| also sent home a series of varieties oi
| caprifigs, as well as the fig insect, which
| under the care of the Division of Ento-
mology, is rapidly multiplying in Califor-
MIA thus rendering probable the establish
ment of an extensive Smyrna fig industry
| Arrangements have been made for in
Producing superior varieties of date palms
from Algeria. These are to be propagatet
at the Arizona experiment station. Later
| they may be distributed throughout the
arid, alkaline regions of southern Arizona
and California, where this useful tree has
been found to thrive.
David G. Fairchild, formerly in charg,
OF the section of plant introduction, wa:
detailed in November last to accompan!
Hon Barbour Lathrop, of Chicago. on al
expedition to South America, where b,
found much of interest and probable i'm
portance, particularly for the South anC
Southwest.
In all, over 1900 different species an,
varieties of economic plants have been re
ceived during the year. In most cases
however, the quantities secured were SUI
ficient only for tests to be made by tn
various State experiment stations and b.
a few private specialists. The results are
OF course, not yet known, but some yer,
favorable reports have already been re
ceived. To assist in the distribution Of thi
extensive series of miscellaneous seeds an,
plants, an issue of printed lists or inven
tories has been found necessary. Thes
lists enable the department to place in tn
hands of eXperimenters the special infor
nation obtained by the agricultural eX
plorers regarding the origin, nature, value
and methods of cultivation of the new
crops.
I'D al a DTEAEsG