Atlanta Georgian. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1912-1939, 1913-04-06
SEED READY
To co IN GROUND
Millions of Packages Distributed
by u. S. Government in the
Last Year.

WASHINGTON, April 5-The
thousands of packages of seeds dis
tributed by the government will be in
the ground before many weeks.
Under the system that prevails
each member Of the Senate and the
House has a 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. In the last year
51,1SS,24O packets of vegetable and
1222e,3l5 packets of flower seed, or
total Of 63,364,555 packets, have
been sent out. The total weight of
vegetable and flower seeds sent out
was 994,116 pounds, or over 497 tons
enough to fill twenty freight cars
In addition. there were distributed
thousands Of packages of grass seed
and plants and vines of various kinds.
The free seeds had a narrow escape
In the last Congress. The Senate
struck from the appropriation bill the
provisions for distribution, but it was
restored by conference and passed
just before final adjournment.
Seed Job a Big One.
The job Of purchasing, testing, APP
portioning and distributing govern
ment seed is a big one. All seeds are
purchased through competitive bids.
The quotations are opened and listed
in the 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-
torily.
The seed purchased Is subjected 20
thorough scientific tests. When a
consignment of seed Is received at the
Department Of Agriculture warehouse
a 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 sample 100 or 200 seeds
are counted out and placed between
moist blotters in a terminating cham
Der, which is really an incubator lifted
with automatic devices for keeping
the blotters moist and for regulating
the temperature to suit the require
ments Of different kinds Of seeds.
Many Pounds Rejected.
At the end Of a week or more, de-
pending on the kind of seed, the blot
tiers are examined and the number II
seeds which have sprouted are count
ed to determine the percentage Of
termination. As a result Of these
tests many thousands Of pounds Of
vegetable and flower seeds which fail
to meet the requirements Of the gov
eminent are rejected annually
Great care is exercised In planning
a seed distribution. The country ifs
divided into five sections. Seeds are
apportioned according 10 climatic
conditions 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 i'm much demand in
other localities. is not sent to the
South or California because il is like
ly TO be destroyed by insects or fun
gus diseases
Such seeds as watermelon and
muskmelon are not sent into the ex-
IRENE North. Nearly all varieties Of
flower seed and such vegetables as
lettuce, radish. onion, pea, bean. car
rot parsnip, turnip. tomato and Gu
cumher viii thrive at different seasons
In all sections and are accordingly
sent generally throughout the coun-
try