Evening journal., 1913-01-24

Under the system that now prevails
each member OF the Senate and the
HOuee has quota OF 10000 packages
OF vegetable and 1000 packages OF
flower seed. each package being made
up OF five packets containing differ
ent kinds OF seed. la this year 81.
1920 packets Of vegetable and 49,
226.315 packets OF flower seed, or a
total OF 63.364,555 packets, we're sent
out. The total weight OF vegetable
and flower seeds sent out was 94,l16
pounds. or over 497 tons enough to
fill 20 freight cars. Ina addition, there
we're distributed thousands Of pack
ages Of grass seed and plants and
vines OF various kinds.
The job or purchasing. testing, ap-
pOrtioning and distributing Govern
ment seed Is a big one. All seeds are
purchased through competitive bids.
The quotations are opened and listed
I'm presence OF bidders and officials
OF the Department Of Agriculture. In
awarding contracts the officials dis
regard varieties unsuitable for distri-
button. as we'll as bids of growers or
dealers who in the past have failed
to carry out their contracts satisfac-
torly.
The seed purchased is subjected to
thorough scientific tests. When a con-
signment OF seed is received at the
Department of Agriculture warehouse
small portion is taken from the
middle and near the top and bottom
OF at least one-fourth of all the bags
and thoroughly mixed TO make a
composite sample. which is sent to
the seed laboratory From the cam
pie one or two hundred seeds are
counted out and placed between mois-
ure bloiters in a terminating cham
Der. which is really an incubator fitted
with automatic devices for keeping
the hlotters moist and for regulating
the temperature to suit the require
mcnts of different kids Of seeds
At the end of a week, or more. DC
pending on the kind OF seed. the blot
ters are examined and the number OF
seeds which have sprOuted arc count
ed to determine tho percentage oil
germnation AS result OF these
tests many thousands Of pounds OF
vegetable and flower seeds which fall
10 meet the requirements Of the
Government are rejected annually.
treat tdfe tAefctNc0.
Great care is exercised in planning
seed distribution. The country Is
divided into FIVE sections Seeds are
apportioned according to climate con.
ditions and demand For example
such vegetables as okra and collards
are distributed only in the South and
California. On the other hand, sweet
corn, which is in much demand lr
other localities. Is not sent TO tn,
South or California. because It i,
likely to be destroyed by insects OF
fungus diseases.
Such seeds as watermelon anC
muskmelon are not sent into thu
extreme North. Nearly all varieties
Of flower seed and such vegetables al
! lettuce. raddish. onion. pea. bean
beet carrot, parsnip. turnip tomato
and cucumber viii thrive at differen
seasons in all sections and are ac
Cordingly sent generally Throughout
the country.
Most vegetable seeds and many o
the flower seeds are grown i'm th'
country, growing as a business
having assumed large proportions II
recent years. Formerly most OF III
seed produced in the United State
was grown within a hundred miles @
New York city-that is in Connect
cut. on Long Island. in Eastern Penn
sylvania and New Jersey Ia the las
90 years, however, the business Ia
extended across the continent.