The Hawaiian star. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu]) 1893-1912, 1901-01-18
GRAND ALMONER OF GARDEN
SEEDS.
Constituents who Want New Kinds of
Garden Sass" Can Write to Him for
the Seed.

Now that Hawaii has a delegate in
Congress, the amteur, the professional
and the experimental gardener here
will have some one to send to for new
kinds of garden seeds. The Department
of Agriculture furnishes the seed asked
for, done UP in packages ready for
mailing. The Delegate or Congressman
furnishes the addresses, and the seed
goes through the mail under the Con-
CHEESEMAN'S frank. The appropriation
for this purpose allots several thou
sand packages to each Congressman
so that Delegate Wilcox ought to have
enough to go around his entire constitu
ency. The annual seed distribution be-
gins the first week in the year.
The largest annual seed distribution
ever made by the government will be-
gin this year by the shipment of gar
den seed to farmers of the southern
states, and will continue until every
part of the country has been reached.
The southern states, where planting
time comes earliest, will be served first,
and the northern states last.
The demand for government seeds by
the farmers is constantly increasing
In the past representative have found
1t necessary to purchase seeds to sup
ply the demands of their constituents,
and as a consequence the appropriation
was increased at the last session of
Congress from $4,000 to $4,000. This
Will allow an increase in each represent
tative's quota of seed of over 5000
packages, each package containing five
or six varieties of seeds.
While the Agricultural Department
is charged with the enormous yearly
task of getting these seeds ready for
shipment through the mails under the
frank of the members of Congress, it
has been the custom to let the contract
for furnishing and packing the seeds
to private individuals Or firms. Last
year California planter secured the
contract, but the distribution Just to be
made and the one for next year will
| be executed for the government by
the New York Market Garden Associa-
| ton. This firm has leased the large
building No. 1910 d street northwest.
/ Washington, and is establishing plant
of machinery with which to do most
of the work of packing.
| A newly patented machine for filing
with seed and sealing the little enve-
lopes is to be used Eight of these ma
chimes are being installed. Each one
! has the capacity to fill and seal seven
/ ty envelopes minute, and The eight
machines are expected to do the work
/ heretofore requiring at least 100 girls.
/ notwithstanding this great labor saw
ing device, it will be necessary for the
/ firm to employ at least one hundred
girls This force Will he worked in a
day and a night shift and the plant
kept running constantly
Besides the envelope filling machines
several other machines are to be used
for making the envelopes. Several car
loads of paper are now stored in the
basement of the building to be used VI
in this way.
Secretary Wilson says of this seeC
distribution The distribution of gar
den seed is not a matter of particular
pride with the Agricultural Depart
ment, but it is one of our duties, ant
we endeavor to discharge it, All tn,
seeds sent out will be tested for ger
mination purity and variety. The worl
in the ID street building will be con.
stantly under the surveillance of in,
spectors from this department, ant
] everything will be done to have the dis
tribution now to be made better anC
more exped!tiously accomplished thar
previous ones"