The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1918-01-07
HOUSTON SEEKS 10000, 900
TO PURCHASE SEEDS
Secretary of Agriculture Asks Congress
for Appropriation to Enable His
Department to Assist
the Farmers.

David +. Houston, secretary of tn
treasury, has asked Congress for an APP
preparation of S6,000,00O to enable tn
department of agriculture to buy an,
sell seed to farmers for cost at a rea
sonable price. The necessity for the ap
preparation is explained in the following
letter which the secretary has sent t
the secretary of the treasury:
Il have the honor to submit herewith
for transmission to Congress for incIu
sion in the urgent deficiency bill, an es
innate of an appropriation of S6,000,00t
to enable the department to purchase
and sell seeds to farmers in areas where
unusual conditions prevail, and particu
larly in those which have suffered during
the past season from severe drought. IT
is suggested that the following language
will accomplish the purposes which the
department has in mind
"'To enable the secretary of agricul-
ture to meet the emergency caused by
the need for food and feed crops by pur
chasing, or contracting with persons to
grow, seeds suitable for the production
of food or feed crops and to store, trans
port, and furnish such seeds to farmers
for cash at reasonable price, s6,000,000,
and this fund may be used as a revolv-
ing fund until the secretary of agricul
ture determines that no such emergency
exists; and the secretary of agriculture
is authorized to pay all such expenses,
including rent, and to employ such per-
sons and means, in the District OF Co
lumbia and elsewhere, and to cooperate
with such state authorities, local organ
izstions, or individuals, as he may deem
necessary to accomplish such purpose
THE seed situation has presented. and
continues to present. many difficulties.
Under the provision of the food produc-
ton act, which made available S2,500,000
for the purchase and sale of seed to
farmers in restricted areas for cash. at
cost, it has been possible for the de-
partment to furnish some relief. Large
quantities of seed of cotton. grain sor-
ghums, and corn have been purchased for
the drought stricken sections of Texas in
order to assist in making available ade
quate supplies of seed for the next plant.
ing season. The department is taking
similar action in North Dakota and Mon
tana and has arranged to purchase con-
siderable quantities of old corn suitable
for. seed for sale to farmers in Indiana.
where an emergency exists with refer
ence to the supplies of viable seed corn
1T IL clear, however, that the funds
now at the command of the department
are wholly insufficient to enable it TO
meet the situation properly. If produc
tion is to be maintained or increased
next year, il is essential that prompt
and adequate action be taken to safe
guard the seed supplies of the nation. /,
There is urgent and immediate need for |
at least S6.000000. and IL is probable |
that an additional sum will he required |
IN the near future.
Two general areas have suffered Sc |
yerely from drought during the past sea |
son-the Southwest, including large
part of Texas and q part of Oklahoma.
and a considerable portion of the North |
west. including large sections Of North |
Dakota and eastern Montana. These re-
yions represent large part of the grain
producing areas OF the United States. 1
with particular reference TO grain sor-
ghums, oats. harley. fax. and corn. The /
seed corn situation in the northern half 4
1T the corn belt Is more serious than il 4
mas been Tor many years. Early frosts
Throughout the northern part Of the corn
halt caught much Of the corn either in
tie milk or IN the dough stages and. al.
though the crop was large. IL contains an
high percentage Of soft corn.
fse nigh prices prevailing also have
.aassd farmers 70 sell their CD corn and
there : ,nurh smaller
uDl.ls on hard than IN former YEAR
-AeIOTts s.celved through ne degsrt-