The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1907-11-03

Copyright, 1907, by Joseph b. Bowles.)
There are three cardinal themes
which appeal to the interest-the self
interest-of the farmer. Crops. hogs
and cattle. Anything which relates
directly to any of these vital topics Is
sure to command the willing ear of
the man of the soil. It is not strange,
therefore, that the professional swind-
Ter who makes a business OF cheating
the farmer has recognized this fact
and made the most of it,
For many years the improved seed"
swindle has been one of the most sue
cessful and is taking hundreds OF
thousands of dollars from the pockets
of the farmers. Besides taking money
for something worthless-or next to
worthless-it does the direct damage
of planting hundreds of fields with
seed inferior in terminating power or
lacking in value per acre of the crop
and of undermining popular conii-
dence in the practical value of pro-
gressive''Nwofk done by the agricul-
tural departments OF the national and
State governments-for too often the
seed swindlers claim an Endorsement
by some department or some person
connected Herewith. There is not an
agricultural department which has
not placed the emphasis of Its mes
sage to the farmer upon the great
gain in results to be had from the
careful selection OF seed--whether in
corn, in the smaller grains, in cotton
or III grasses, clovers and the forage
crops.
There are few, if any, lines of recent
experiment and research along whic!
such immense and significant progress.
has been made by the agriculture
scientists as in the matter of see,
breeding; improving standard varie
ties and making new varieties l,
this one particular the work of tn,
national and State experiment stations
has mete a new chapter In the agri
cultural history of this country, ant
has worked a potential revolution II
prodnctiyeness Of the tillable acres o
the United States.
The men actually i'll charge of thes
experiments are so much the best
safest and most disinterested authori
ties on the new varieties Of field, or
chard and garden crops worthy of pur
chase, that their advice should b
sought. Since their salaries are PAL
by the nation and SKATES, part of the
recognized work is to give informa
ton. and nowhere in the world |
there body of men more courteou
or ready TO be useful TO those 70
whom they work-the Americas farm
er. Fhey viii nearly always advis
farmers TO secure standard seeds
trees and plants already used in tn
neighborhood. or If new kinds are /
be chosen these men fill advis
which of many new candidates fo
favor they should risk on their high
priced lands instead of kinds know
tn give good crops fa
In the light of four years later
man who would grossly overstate I'll
prospective yields OF "biilion dolls
grass" not only securing the farmer
money, but inducing him 10 plant II
land to a crop less productive of vail
than the crop he would otherwise col
tinuc to grow, is a business pirate
The experiment stations and Stat
and United States Departments
Agriculture. Stat horticulture soci,
ties, field crop breeders societies, II
s American Breeders Associa ton, al
similar organizations, are rapidly d
yelopins the testing OF standard, ne,
ty introduced and newly bred yarietie
50 that they are able to advise farme
which varieties TO use In their regul
business planting and which are yalu
bic - experiment within small wa
The tree agent who induced the pi
need farmer TO purchase from lar
trnit pictures orchard trees In whi
the family long hoped, hut which Gu,
otred tnc ground until the phone