Los Angeles herald., 1909-06-22
AMERICAN
SEED TRADE
THE International Seed Trade con-
By Frederic J. HaSkin

and who meet in annual convention for
the purpose of discussing matters grow
ing out of their business. A perennial
subject of discussion at conventions OF
seedsmen is the free distribution OF
seed by the federal government, which,
of course, is bitterly opposed by those
who are in the seed business for
living. They have not succeeded in in
ducing congress to discontinue the prac-
tice, but it is asserted that the senti-
ment in opposition thereto is stronger
than it was a few years ago.
American farmers and gardeners
spend about $315, 900 a year for seed
alone. from which the Importance of
the seed trade may be guessed. Seeds
men are on the lookout all the time for
improved varieties, and the agricultur-
list or the gardener who succeeds in de-
veloping a variety not on the market
before, and which possesses desirable
qualities makes his fortune. Thomas
w. Lawson is reported to have given
many thousands of dollars for new
species of carnation. A single ear of
corn of a newly developed species
brought $3.50 at the Sioux City Corn
Palace exhibition, and as much as $1,000
was paid for twenty ounces of a variety
of onion seed developed in California.
A Virginia farmer sold for a very large
sum last year a few bushels of wheat
represeting a variety which he had de-
veloped through years of careful Sc
lection.
OF course, prices paid for new va
riety of seed may represent the Whim
of the wealthy faddist, but in the case
of grain and garden seed the price is
controlled by the actual demand among
the sturdy tillers 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 in
ereasing the acreage were farmers to
use the right kind of seed. The de-
partment is expanding thousands of dol
lars every year in conducting expert
ments for the purpose Of developing
better seed of every kind, doing much
of the work in cooperation with state
experiment stations. In addition, there
are associations of farmers in a num-
Der of the states, formed for the pur-
pose Of developing seed of a higher
grade, and also for the fostering of the
sentiment for more careful seed selec-
ton.
About ten years ago Sir William C.
Mcdonald Of Canada established fund
of $4,000, which was given away in
prizes to sons and daughters of farmers
in Canada for 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 improving the quality of
the seed wheat sown in Canada. The
purpose of the competition 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 object lessons
showing the possibilities of seed selec-
ton.
When the department of agriculture
brought to this country the seed of the
durum wheat, which was obtained i'll
the semi-arid region of southeastern
Russia, the wheat had deteriordted
through mixing with other varieties
but it has been bred up until the prod
uct Of the high plains of the north
western states of the United States is
better adapted to making macaroni
than any wheat grown. 1t is estimated
that the annual value of farm products
of the United States has been in
creased over 100000, 900 by the intro
duction by the department of several
varieties of seed hitherto unknown in
the United States.
The government spends 100000 a
year in buying seeds for distribution,
WHICH is per ceIlL u the lOldl 0S'-u piil
of the country. Each senator and rep
resentative is entitled to send out an
nually 10000 packages Of vegetable
seeds and 500 of flower seeds, five varie-
ties of each being placed in a package.
The total number Of single packets thus
sent, with the number sent out by the
department direct approximates 40
600 900. These seeds are mostly bought
from private firms under contract and
are shipped to Washington and packed
by government employees. Free seed
distribution has continued since 1860
in the face of bitter attacks from many
member of congress- and with UNI
varying opposition by the seed growers
and dealers.
OF course the great bulk of the grain,
grass and garden seed soWn in this
country is produced at home. although
one firm is said to import a million
pounds of clover seed every year, chief
ly from Germany. Sweet corn seed
comes from Maine, Nebraska and Kan
sas; lettuce seed from California; bean
seed from New York and Michigan;
radish seed from the Pacific coast; beet
seed comes in largest quantities from
Europe, though the government gets
much from California; cantaloupe, wa
termelon and cucumber from Nebras-
ka; cabbage from Long island. One
locality on Long island produces an
nually $50 carloads Of cabbage seed. In
California is one field of 300 acres of
sweet peas raised solely for seed, which
is shipped to all parts of the country.
The cost of the seed used in the United
States every year is estimated about as
follows Vegetable and flower seeds,
SIC, 0OO, 900; grass seed. 5000, 000, 000
wheat, $40, 100000; corn, $20,O00,O 600; cot
ton, sci, 100000; potatoes, $685. 900, 900;
rice, 10000 900; barley, $12, 900; rye,
$s,5OO.OOO; oats, $32,5Oo,ooo; fax. ST.
600, 900.
School children are being taught
vegetable and flower growing by means
of school gardens, an idea which orist-
mated in the George Putnam grammar
school in Boston in 1891, and which has
spread to the principal cities of the
country. The children are first taught
the principles of plant growth and
given small plots which they are re-
ouired to plant and cultivate. Ocular
illustration of the principles of the
text book makes progress rapid. The
most pleasing feature of this movement
Is the establishment of school gardens
among the slums of the great cities
where youngsters who otherwise sell
dom or never would see green things
growing are taught Of flowers and veg
etables and given small plots of ground
wherein to dig In the soil and watch
the plants as they develop.
The Importance of seed of the best
quality was fully appreciated over a
century ago In 1743 England appro-
priated money for the development OF
agriculture in the American colonies
by the distribution of pure seed of