Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1909-08-10

The International Seed Trade Congress
will convene at Niagara Falls today. 1t
Is composed Of seedsmen, men who grow
seed for sale or market the product OF
those who do, and who meet in annual
convention for the purpose Of discussing
matters growing out Of their business.
A perennial subject of discussion at con-
ventions of seedsmen is the free distri-
button of seed by the federal govern
ment, which, of course, is bitterly op-
posed by those who are in the seed bus
mess for a living. They have not sue
ceeded in inducing congress to discon-
tinue the practice, but IL is asserted that
the sentiment in opposition thereto Is
stronger than 1t was a few years ago.
American farmers and gardeners spend
about 1915, 10000 a year for seed alone,
from which The Importance of the seed
trade may be guessed. Seedsmen are on
the lookout all the time for improved
varieties, and the agriculturist or the
gardener who, succeeds in developing a
variety not on the market before and
which possesses desirable qualities makeS
his fortune. Thomas ]. Lawson is re-
ported to have given many thousands OF
dollars for a new species of carnation.
single ear Of corn OF a newly developed
species brought $3.50 at the Sioux City
Corn Palace exhibition, and as much as
IL 900 was paid for twenty ounces of a
variety of onion seed developed in Cali
fornia. A Virginia farmer sold for a
very large sum last year a few bushels
Of wheat representing a variety which he
had developed through years of careful
selection.
OF course. prices paid for a new va
rfety OF seed may represent the within
OF the wealthy faddist, but in the case
OF grain and garden seed the price is
controlled by the actual demand amone
the sturdy tiIlers OF the soil to whom the
dealers will sell. Secretary Wilson, of
the department OF agriculture, has said
that the farm production Of the country
could be doubled without increasing the
acreage were farmers to use the right
kind of seed The department is expend-
ing thousands of dollars every year in
conducting experiments for the purpose
OF developing better seed Of every kind,
doing much of the work in cooperation
with state experiment stations. In addf-
ton, there are associations of farmers in
number of the states, formed for the
purpose OF developing seed Of a higher
grade, and also for the fostering of the
sentiment for more careful seed selec-
ton.
The comparatively recent crusade for
better seed is said to be but one phase
OF the general movement for better
things In all departments of life, a move
ment which is illustrated by the demand
Tor the conservation of the natural re-
sources OF the country, in the enactment
or pure food law, and in various other
ways James ]. Hill, who controls 20,
zoo miles OF railroad in the northwest,
and Is an authority on farm economics,
mas spent many thousands of dollars try
ing TO induce the farmers along his road
TO SOW better seed, realizing that this
would mean bigger crops and heavier
freight for his railroad to haul He pre-
diets that the United States will exper1-
ence q food scarcity In the next hundred
years and that the rigors of such a pc
ROD may be enormously lessened DIV
making every acre bring twice as much
as II will produce now, an achievement
possible through the constant improve
ment and use Of carefully bred seed.
About ten years ago Sir William C.
mcdonald. OF Canada, established a fund
OF $4,000, which was given away in prizes
TO sons and daughters of farmers in Cam
ada Tor punches of the finest heads of
wheat grown on their fathers farms. a
condition being that every competitor
should plant the following year a quarter
OF an acre in wheat similarly selected.
The competition, extending over three
years. was highly successful in improv-
ing the quality of the seed wheat soUn
In Canada. The purpose of the competf-
ton was not to get the largest heads, but
to induce the children to SOW grain from
the largest heads. and thus furnish the
farmers of the various provinces with OBJ
lnGcnnn ANu rfv1op -
seed selection.
The crusade for better seed selection has
sought to induce the farmer to SOW clean
seed, that is. seed free from seed of
weeds, and to select the finest types for
planting. These things do not require spe-
cial intellectually OF special apparatus.
The department has also sought to i'm
prove seed by freeing 1t from disease
through treating 1t with chemicals, and
in this way controlling smut and rust
in wheat, blight In potatoes. and so on.
The results accomplished through the
treatment Of seed for disease are remark
able, and 1t is believed that II greater
care were used in the selection of seed
with an eye to its healthfulness many
plant diseases would disappear. No man
who has persevered in efforts to improve
seed by selection has failed. although all
seed will degenerate unless selection Is
kept up year by year.
When the department Of agriculture
brought to this country the seed of the
durum wheat, which was obtained in the
serni-arid region Of southeastern Russiai
the wheat had deteriorated through mix
ing with other varieties. but 1t has been
bred UP until the product OF the high
plains of the northwestern states Of the
United States is better adapted to making
macearoni than any wheat grown. 1t is
estimated that the annual value OF farm