The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1899-05-10

The distribution Of seeds. Or the ap.
preparation of $50, 900 we are allow
ing S7l 900 for the distribution OF
seeds through congressman, and the
remainder We are expcnding in ouI
own way All seeds are not tested
after distribution and the contractor
was paid accordingly. Now seeds are
tested by our experts and S3 per cent.
must gcrninatc or the seeds are re-
jected. This insurcs the recipients
good seeds. Not only must the seeds
germinatc but they are tested for fer
ti]ity also. The seeds we are sending
out through members Of Congress this
year are the best the department has
ever handled. This distribution is
regarded by the members and the de-
partment as a very excellent thing.
and we are constantly trying to i'm
prove the system.
But we are doing much more than
simply distributing common seeds.
The great country lying in the TEN
peratc zone and stretching from ocean
TO ocean has within it's confines almost
every condition Of climate and soil.
1t is possible. therefore, to grow to
highest perfection somewhere in the
United States almost everything in
the world. We are trying to ascertain
what particular parts of the United
States will grow certain grains, fruits
and vegetables, and to what parts GER
tain grains, ETC., are particularly
adapted We find for instance that
the finest muskmelons sold in the
eastern markets come from the dry
valleys Of Colorado. There is, how
ever, in the valleys of Afghanistan,
perhaps the original home of the
melon, muskmelon greatly superior
even to those raised in the West. So
to Afghanistan we sent our agent, who
returned US quantity of seeds Of the
famous muskmelon, which often grows
to weight of 20 or 80 pounds, and
these seeds We are sending to the
West this year.
Years ago the Gala lily was very
rare and very expensive. It's place in
the popular esteem was taken by the
beautiful Easter lily. Everyone at
Eastcrtime likes to see Easter lilies
about, but they are expensive. The
bulbs come from Bermuda, where the
soil is very rich. But the production
Of the bulbs of these lilies, which
grow so rapidly. cxhausts the soil,
and, as the soil in Bermuda is very
thin, they will scarcely be able to pro-
duce the lilies much longer. They
must have three things-a rich soil,
heat and water. So we have imported
200 bulbs, which wo are distributing
across the Southern States. Arizona
and New Mexico got some for the irri-
gated portions. Texas received some
because Of it's rich soil and abundant
rainfall. Mississippi and Louisiana
also got some. We hope by this
means to find some place where the
Faster lily can be brought to perfec-
ton and then the florists can do the
rest. The money now sent to Ber-
nuda for bulbs will be retained in this
country, and everyone will be able to
have Easter lilies.
The Californians complained that
their fgtrees we're like those in the
Bible which bore no figs. They had
fine trees, fine flowers and very favor
able conditions. Everything was there
except the figs. Our scientists exam
ined the situation carefully and decid-
ed that the trouble was that the pollen
was not reaching the female flower.
This was demonstrated by means of
artificial fertilization. The pollen was
blown into the flowers by blow pipe
and those flowers produced fruit. An
agent was sent to Smyrna to see how
the trees were fcrtilizcd and he found
peculiar bee which lived among the
6gtrcss and carried the pollen from
flower to flower by means Of its hairy
legs. The people of Smyrna did not
want to let any Of these legs 90 out Of
the country, but our agent brought
some away on twigs. Unfortunately
they were dead before they reached us
and some more will have to be obtain.
ed.
"On the shores Of the Mediterran
can, in Algiers, is branch of thi.
department. We find that the dat,
palm fourishes in Arizona, so ou
agent in Algiers has had the dat,
palm grated and planted and whe,
tie young trees are ready to be rcmov
od he will take them up and carr
them to Arizona, and we will produc
OOr nup Iotoc