The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1903-12-17
GOVERNMENT SEEDS.
congressman and Senators Will Have a Lot
of Novelties in Seeds This Year.

Congressman and Senators Will Have Lot
of Novelties in Seeds This Year.
Important changes this year in the
governments plan of distributing
seeds and plants will interest the
farmers of the United States and the
senator's and representatives in con-
gress,'' says the Saturday Evening
Post. ITO handle seeds intelligently,
adapting them to the sections of the
country where they will best grow, the
United States has been divided into
large agricultural districts, and maps
showing this arrangement will be
furnished to members Of congress. In
addition to the usual allotment of
miscellaneous vegetable seeds, of
which each senator and representative
will have II, 900 packages to his credit,
there will be for every one of these
statesmen 500 packages containing
novelties, each package including five
new varieties of seeds with full direc-
tons for planting and cultivation.
TO all the recipients of these novelties
a franked postal card will be supplied,
With request that he make a report
to the department of agriculture as to
his success in raising the plants.
In this way the many scientific
achievements of specialists in the gov
eminent service will be diverted to
practical fields. There have been de-
veloped within the past few years
many agricultural novelties which
give promise Of greatly benefting the
farming industry of the United States,
and Secretary Wilson is anxious that
the tillers of the soil shall reap the
harvest Of these propagating expert
1nents.
THAT city people may also en- JOY
the advantages of scientific advance
ment in plant cultivation, the allot-
ment Of flower seeds to senator's and
representatives has been Increased to
800 packages, each containing five
packets. and arrangements have been
made to enable every member whose
constituents are wholly or in the main
$4,000 packages of vegetable seeds for
the seeds of flowers. Moreover, for
these strictly city constituents a
special collection is being prepared
Of seeds of flowers suitable for small
dooryards. lots. balconies and win
dow-bOxes.
The number Of trees for each men,
Der to distribute has been increased
to 100. Bulbs are now ready for dis
tribution. In addition to the regular
cOnsignments Of seeds, members will
be provided with a miscellaneous as
sortment Of seeds to meet without de-
lay demands that come for mixed va
rieties in small lots. Members will
be furnished envelopes for sending
these through the mails. This system
will enable them to send out more than
i've packets to one address. if that is
desired.
AN important item was provided
for by the last session of congress.
The public printer was authorized to
furnish the secretary of agriculture
with the franks of senator's and repre-
sentatives. These will be supplied in
sufficient quantities to enable members
TO send out all the seed allotted them
without having to resort to document
slips. In the matter Of cotton and
tobacco, the method adopted last year
of sending out special collections
adapted to certain districts will be
continued. The bureau of plant in
austry is conducting extensive expert
ments in cotton culture, and the
methods of distributing seed are in
keeping with this scientific work.
With some of the seed to be sent out
this year will go the announcement to
cotton planters that the varieties they
are receiving are new and Of the
greatest value and cannot be bought
on the market at any price. They
will, therefore, be asked to plant with
care, report results, and carefully save
the seed of the matured plants.''