4 DEPARTMENTAL REPORTS. 



14,238,968 packets. In addition to this contract, an open order for 

 500,000 extra packets of vegetable seeds was subsequently given to 

 Mr. Parker, making an aggregate of 14,738,908, which were allotted 

 and distributed as follows: 



Senators, Representatives, and Delegates in Congress, 13,531,469 

 packets of vegetable, flower, and field seeds. 



Correspondents of the Division of Statistics, 709,765 packets of 

 vegetable and flower seeds. 



The United States Weather Bureau, »>7,485 packets of vegetable 



seeds. 



Masters and secretaries of State granges, 25,580 packets of vege- 

 table and field seeds. 



Miscellaneous, 404,669 packets of vegetable, flower, and field seeds. 



In addition to the foregoing, there were distributed under the super- 

 vision of this Division.during the fiscal year ended June 30, 1900, 

 various seeds, of which vegetable and field seeds costing $1,663 were 

 sent to Texas flood sufferers. Seeds of grasses, legumes, etc., costing 

 1823.06, were distributed for the Agrostologist. 



The distribution was begun about January 1, 1900, and closed on 

 or about Mav 15, 1900. 



Respectfully, R. J. Whittleton, 



Chief of the Seed Division. 



Hon. J. II. Brigham, 



Assistant Secretary. 



INTRODUCTION AND DISTRIBUTION OF FOREIGN SEEDS. 



From the notes furnished b}^ Mr. Jared G. Smith, assistant in charge 

 of the Section of Seed and Plant Introduction, Division of Botany, it 

 appears that 1,878 different vspecies and varieties of economic plants 

 have been received in the Section during the year. In most cases the 

 quantities secured were very small, and their distribution was limited 

 to the State experiment stations and to a few private experimenters. 

 Some verj^ valuable reports have been received in regard to the tests 

 of various importations made during the previous years. To secure 

 an intelligent distribution, inventories or catalogues were issued con- 

 taining special information procured by the explorers regarding the 

 origin, nature, value, and methods of cultivation of the new crops. 



During the fiscal year ended June 30, 1900, four agricultural explor- 

 ers visited foreign countries for the Section. Mr. Walter T. Swingle, 

 who explored Algeria and other portions of Northern Africa, secured 

 an extensive collection of the best varieties of date palms. About 500 

 trees were successfully transported to the United States and at once 

 forwarded to Arizona. A date orchard has been established on land 

 controlled by the Arizona experiment station under an arrangement 

 by which the Secretary of Agriculture has been given a ten years' 

 lease; and half the suckers produced by the trees are to be at the 

 disposal of the Secretary, the balance being reserved for the use 

 of the station. The successful establishment of the date-palm indus- 

 try iu the Salt River Valley of Arizona will not only result ulti- 



