The Dawson news. (Dawson, Ga.) 1889-current, 1907-01-16

To do away with the free seec
graft" and establish instead large
number of experimental farms IN the
southwest and throughout the coun
try is the plan of Beverly 7. Gallo
way, chief of the bureau of plant IN
dustrv. department of agriculture
and William ]. Spillman, chief OF
the division of farm management
The plan is a broad, comprehen-
sive one. having for its aim the estab-
7isbment of a model farm" in every
congressional district, and, ultimate
". in every county of the United
States. In the opinion of department
officials it would serve every pur-
pose of the free, indiscriminate dis
tribution of seed, and, in addition,
give the county vastly more than
could ever be hoped from that prac-
tice.
The free distribution of common
garden seed, which comes into direct
competition with the seed men OF
the country, and against which
growing fight has been made at each
successive congressional session,
costs the government about $3.50, 900
a wear. The progressive farmers of
the country apparently are opposed
to this form of graft, preferring to!
purchase seed as they want it, un-
less it be something rare and new,
and. therefore, hard to obtain. With
concentrated for inns
purpose the division of farm manage
ment could employ 100 men at an
average salary of 1880, and send
two experts into every state and ter
ritory of the union to establish eX-
detrimental farms for the benefit of
the agricultural communities.
States May Have Farms.
With the knowledge already CLEAN
ed it would be possible, if congress
sees fit to stop the free distribution
of common seed for the agricultural
department, to establish these farms
in many states. In some regions
considerable experimentation would
be necessary to determine what is
best, but within year Professor
Spillman estimates that every sec
ton would be served. The expecta-
ton is that the farmers would gladly
furnish the land and equipment for
the model" farms This has been
the experience in the cotton belt OF
the south, where more than thirty
have been maintained for several
years past with fattering results.
The experts would act as supervisors
and would keep in touch with state
experiment stations, with the sclen-
tific experts of the agricultural de-
partment and with the first-class
farms of the Ountry.
The only expense to the govern
ment would be the salaries and eX-
penses of these experts, the farms
in every instance paying for them
selves, and in most cases returning
a profit which would be used for the
extension of the work.
Seventy-five projects already have
been developed. Much attention
would be given the improvement OF
present crops in all regions. In
Kansas and the Panhandle of Texas
the growing of drought-resistant
types of alfalfa would be encouraged.
Crops would be placed on the eXper
mental farms and the seed dissent
mated and its use encouraged. In
extreme western Texas, New Mexico
and Arizona Arabian alfalfa would
be introduced, tests having shown
that it promises to be Of great value
to the section.
Boil Weevil to Get Attention.
Because of the ravages of the boil
weevil in the south and southwest
much attention woull be devoted to
the distribution OF new varieties of
cotton. Early maturing types are
absolutely essential wherever the
boil weevil has appeared or is APP
pearing The improvement of types
of cotton is looked upon as one Of
the most valuable fields for work;
increased production, storm resist
ance and many other qualities can
be developed.
New tobacco varieties would be in
PRODUCED into Missouri, Illinois,
eastern Texas and many other states.
This work would consist of securing
and distributing carefully selected
seed of Sumatra, Cuban, Turkish and
other foreign-grown varieties, as
well as varieties developed by agri-
cultural department experiments. In
regions where tobacco is not now
grown. but where soil and climate
are adapted to it's culture, expert
ments would encourage its produc-
ton