The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1919-01-30
TOPEKA STATE JOURNAL
INFORM ALTON
BURE AU
FREDERIC J. HASKIN. Director.
Washington. D. C
Observation-Disclosures SEEDS.

America is the new order OF things
For the first time in its history. the
United States has become self-sup
porting in so far as farm and garden
seed are concerned
When France and Belgium stopped
raising seed and went to war. and
when Holland and Denmark began
the hopeless struggle against war
shipping conditions, the United States
suddenly realized that its most impor-
tant source of forage, field. and vege-
table seed was effectually cut off for
nobody knew how many months or
years The scarcity of seed raised the
market price; the high price induced
greater production; and the result was
that a pending calamity resolved it
self into a benefit.
Bermuda onion seed are now raised
in California; sugar beet seed, for
merly imported from Germany, have
become an American product; Sudan
grass is raised in Kansas. Every sec
ton of the country is engaged in some
line of seed production, with Califor-
mia and the land of the Rockies in the
lead. In fact, raising seed on a ma
war industries. Unlike most of the
war projects, it is going to be still
greater as peace industry.
Proof of the United States progress
as a eedproducing country, is seen
in the fact that it has shipped millions
of pounds of seed to Europe during
the last years of war, and this in spite
of the fact that we had to provide al
most the entire supply of the Ameri
can farmer, both the professional and
the amateur war gardener. European
farmers who could not spare any part
of their crops for seed, and who could
not secure home grown seed. were
thus enabled to continue raising their
sorely needed crops. The require
ments of Europe now will be even
greater, while farm lands are being
restored to fit condition for tilling and
sowing, and until the seed farmers in
Europe return to a normal footing.
A boom in domestic seed production
does not imply that the United States
is no longer to be in the market for
many kinds of seed. On the contrary
more seed than ever will be imported
when Europe is ready to sell it. In
some cases, the same kinds of seed
are both imported and exported in
large amounts. One reason for this
apparent waste of transportation is
that a certain type of seed raised in
the United States may thrive in Can
ada, whereas Canada cannot use the
same type produced in South Ameri-
can soil. The United States takes the
South American seed and passes on
d part OF us homegrown variety.
Just where the nations of Europe
now stand as regards supplies of seed
on hand and the prospects of produce
ton il al present only estimated. Two
scientists of the department of agri-
culture are making a seed survey in
England and expect later to visit Hol-
land, Belgium, France and Denmark
in order to study the crop and market
c6nditions. Reports sent in from these
countries will serve as valuable guides
to American seed farmers by indicat-
ing the opportunities for exporting and
importing.
: Nothing is actually known of the
seed situation in countries under con-
troll OF. the central powers, but it is
assumed that Germany and the Aus
TRAN states are holding no surplus
supplies. Indications are. however,
that Germany is already planning to
build up her international seed trade
on its prewar scale Danish seed are
being sought by German agents thru
an office established in Copenhagen.
At the same time a counter line is be-
ing taken by Great Britain, which may
be followed by others of the allied
nations The British seed trade, thru
its national organization, has declared
an unconditional boycott on German
products.
In allied and neutral seed-produc-
ing countries it is probable that con-
C'uonS are better than in central Eu-
rope The demand and high prices
set on seed stimulated many smaller
growers to continue their work in
spite of labor shortages and the high
cost of production.
Then, too, it is thought possible
that the farmers of Belgium and Po-
land may have buried or otherwise
hidden away from the enemy their
stores of seed. Amounts that may be
gained in this way are comparatively
insignificant, but they represent a saw
ing in imports and transporta ton.
An ample seed harvest is an impor-
tant factor in the worlds food situa-
ton. A shortage in the seed crop is in
evitably followed by smaller vegeta-
bic and grain crops the next year.
This year there is no question but
that an enormous amount of produce
Will be necessity and it is fortunate
that aside from low crops
o. red clover and cabbage seed. grow
ers of the United States have reaped
a large harvest
Victory gardens, which this year will
be more prevalent form of patriot
ism than war gardens were last, if
plans of the War Garden commission
are successful, Will take up a number
of tons of seed. With war time prices
undiminished, and Europe clamorfnr
for food, the incentive to home garden
ing is greater than ever.
Unusual success for the amateur
~ rdener is predicted this season. IS
seeds on the market are of higher
quality than those of last year. The
abundance of most kinds of seed will
not be accompanied by very low
prices. Fertilizer and labor have in
creased the cost of growing and the
demand is sufficiently ahead of the
supply to keep the sale price inflated
Yet somewhat lower prices will pre-
vail
A phase of the seed situation unirn-
portant from an economic standpoint
but interesting psychologicaIIy. has
been the nationwide aversion to seed
bearing Teutonic names Liberty"
cabbage and Victory" beans have re-
placed titles given in honor of German
nota bles.
An official of the department of
agriculture relates an experience along