The Montgomery advertiser., 1904-11-13
SEED DISTRIBUTION
GOVERNMENT TO GIVE MORE THIS
 YEAR THAN IN PAST.
wcre than One Thousand Tons of Gar- aen, Flower and Field Seeds to be
 sent to Farmers and Others fin
 Every state and Territory of . The United States.

WA shingtof Star. Within the next three or four months over 1000 tons of garden. flower and field seeds will be distributed among the people of eve ry State and Territory in the Union, at
 a cost of $2s0,0o0-the amount appro- priated by Congress at it's last session
 for this purpose. The total distribu- tion this year VIII amount to about 6o, ,0o0,0 900 packages.
 Some important changes in the plan of conducting this distribution have been established by the department of arriculture. With 6 view of handling inc seed to better advantage the coun- trv has been divided into six districts, and seeds and plants particularly adapted to each district will be distrib- uted therein at an earlier time than heretofore.
 In past years much complaint has been made by the people of receiving seed too late in the season to be of par ticular good. The department has not been responsible for this condition, it is said. but the fault lay with the Con- eressmen, who, to a large extent, were tardy in making out their lists for their quota. It is expected to overcome this condition by beginning the distri- button earlier than has been the cus- tom in the past.
 Vegetable Seed.
 There will be, as usual, distribu- tion of miscellaneous vegetable seed, put up with five packets in a package. and each Senator. Representative and delegate in Congress will have 14500 such packages to his credit.
 The number of flower seeds allotted to each Congressman has been increas- ed to 500 packages, and arrangements have been made whereby Representa- lives having city constituents may ex- change vegetable seeds for flower seeds, if they so desire. A special co1- lection of flower seeds will be prepar- ed for those having strictly city con- stituents, the varieties chosen being suitable for window boxes. lots and small door yards.
 The plan adopted heretofore of put ting up special cole: tions of cotton and tobacco seeds best adapted to the districts into which they are to be sent will be continued. The work has proven very satisfactory, as through 1t many valuable varieties have been dis tributed. Seventy packages, one peck each, will be sent to districts growing cotton. In tobacco-growing districts 110 packages, containing five papers each. will be distributed.
 Each Senator and Representative will have to his credit thirty packages
 of lawn grass seed. The forage crop seed allotment has not yet been made, but will likely be made larger than
 heretofore. Sorghum and beet sugar seeds will be allotted in good quantity but only placed In sections of the coun- try where 1t is possible to grow them. Bulbs will be allotted in twenty boxes, containing seven bulbs each. Bulbs will hereafter be sent out in the spring instead of in the fall.
 The distribution of plants and grape vines will be similar to that of last year. The allotment of strawberry plants will be ten packages. contain ing fifteen plants each. The grape vines will be eight packages to each quota, containing five vines each. No Free Trees This Year. No trees will be distributed free by the Government this year.
 The Congressional seed distribution | is to be made factor in the education
 of American youth. and the promotion | of that nature study is earnestly ad- vocated by Secretary Wilson. The | idea is urged upon the teachers of the
 country to incorporate with the course
 of study taught in comon schools
 the first principles of agriculture, anC he has perfected plans to that end. | Nature Stuuy IS tue SNuuy OI INV
 things. as contrasted with the study of dead things, and is virtually a study
 of the first rudiments of agriculture Under the system which is to be inau | gurated this year large quantities O | seeds are to be distributed free. or
 Congressional order, of course. to tn,
 school children of the country. Accom-.
 panying the seeds will be circular
 giving directions for their cultivation | etc. and 1t is the belief of Secretar! Wilson that a liberal education may b,
 imparted by the intelligent teacher t
 the pupils in his charge by means O
 window gardens and little gardens il | which these seeds will be grown. Study of Examination.
 | Simple instruction in the principle ! of germination will be made doubly in
 teresting by the object lessons whicl
 will be before the children's eyes. Tn | difference between the methods of ger l miation of wheat and bans, for in
 stance. will convey an insight into | the mysteries of nature which coul' | be but poorly taught from books. A the plants grow and thrive under tho | tender care which they are sure to re
 ceive at the hands of the intereste,
 pupils those processes by which thu | clements of soil and air are utilized |
 explained by the teacher and absorb
 ed by the pupils not only without ef fort. but with pleasure.
 The highest aim of an educate should be to educate the people, anC
 all of them. along lines of the great est usefulness to them and the com monwealth." said Secretary Wilson. H.
 believes that this plan will be tn, | means of encouraging an interest fl agriculture and of laying the founda | ton in many juvenile minds for nor, advanced agricultural education. H,
 anticipates that it will have the efkec of inspiring in the farmers boy o girl an interest in farming as a pro fession and of cultivating the habit o
 close observation 50 necessary to thu
 successful agriculturist.
 | The SOuth's Demand.
 The demand for seeds last winter ex | ceeded the supply, therefore Congres,
 increased the appropriation from x270,-
 900 to $290,000 for this years distri.
 button. Congressman had their mails
 burdened with requests for garden
 seeds and they importuned the Secre.
 tary of Agriculture for these small
 packages as much as they have tho President for patronage. The Sepa.
 tors and Representatives from the South have been more urgent in late
 years than those from other section, | of the country.
 It is stated that in 1900. l4,73S,s6 packages of seed wer sent out, while
 in 1904 it is proposed to send out 50,.
 000.00 packages. an increase of more
 than 300 per cent in amount distribut.
 ed in five years. Meanwhile the cost haa risen from "A AZ mar fhaU.nrA G..