The Denison review. [volume] (Denison, Iowa) 1867-current, 1910-04-27
HOW UNCLE SAM GIVES
Sic EDS AWAY

BY w. A. DU pU Y

1T would require $50 spans of sturdy draft
ons bearing two tons each to haul away
from the department of agriculture the seed
that is each year franked out to The
are prepared for this distribution each year
GO,OOOOOO indiv idunl packets of seed, which
are done up in 12,OOO,Oo0. packages of five
packets each and sent broadcast. These
find their way into every nook and Granny
of the country. No community is so oh
scure as to escape, them, none so distant
given half show. the whole broad land
would blossom as the and the tables
of the nation would groan beneath the
province of YOU and me and the other in
dividuas in the 90oO.OOo to give them
chance.
seed distribution: The southern, the
trail and the northern. Certain classes of
seeds are prepared for the south and its
particular climatic conditions These go
out first for the season of planting opens
earlier south than north The packages be
gin to find their WAY to the southern farm
err in November. that he may make plans
for planting as early as January. a month
later the packages are being made up for
the residents of the central district. that
they may be had an equal time ahead of
the planting season and likewise the north
ern district follows
Each Representatives senator and delegate.
north and south, city and country. is fur
ready for the mail, 10000 of vegetable seed
and 1000 of flower seeds Aside from these
each has 20 boxes of Dutch bulbs with 20
varieties of hyacinths, dafodils and tulips.
They are brought from Holland, where
each has been nurtured for seven years
forth its fragrance and add pleasure to the
home of some favorite constituent. There
small quantities of lawn grass. straw
berry plants, grape vines. hybrid. cold-re
tobacco and cotton at the disposition of
each member In all rather a handsome
distributed and wisely tended would yield
great results.
A list of vegetable seeds will show that
the hands of the people plain. practical
unitarian garden truck. The list is head
ed with dwarf, pole and lima beans. Then
follow beets. Brussels sprouts carrots. col,
lards, sweet corn, cucumbers. kale. kohl
rabi. lettuce, muskmeons, mustard. okrn.
parsley. parsnips. peas radishes. squash:
tomatoes, turnips and watermelons OF
flowers there are 20 varieties. all hardy.
Towering ANNALS, we'll selected and sure
to please. Each is carefully labelled with
directions as to when to plant and how to
cultivate. single package received by an
individual would not contain all these varie-
ties. but would be sure to produce some ex-
cellent values.
best selection that science and unlimited
care can produce. There are IL score of
scientific and practical men In the depart
ment of agriculture who give close and con.
tinued attention to this matter of seed
alone No seed goes forth that has not
been tested repeatedly to prove its quality
and purity. With the information in hand
as to just the amount of seed that will be
needed. measured by the appropriation that
congress has made for the purpose. the de
partment asks for bids from seed produc-
ers Other things being equal the award
goes to the lowest bidder. Samples are eN-
amined by experts and grown in hothouses
to test their vitality. Unless certain per-
centages of them sprout the order is can
celed Later the mass of seed is received.
often in hundred thousand pound lots. This
Is again tested by planting at government
experiment stations. nursing the crop to
maturity and seeing that it develops to
form. Only this finally proven seed is sent
out. Often sufficient quantities cannot he
bought in the market aud the resort is to
having it grown under contract and scienti
fc supervision.
The government realizes the great value
of high grade seed. 1t has demonstrated
the fact that the crop much of the corn
land of the nation be doubled merely
in the selection of big, full ears for plant
ing. 1t has increased the acreage yield OF
cotton So for whoever will try the scheme
of merely separating the light from the
heavy seed and planting the latter. TIL,
idea is that sturdy seed will produce Il
sturdy plant and thereby increase the yield