304 Transactions op the 



SEEDS. 

 Statement of D. L. Perkins, of Emmaton. 



To the Committee on Gold Medals: 



Gentlemen: The following claim for the gold medal for agricultural 

 products by me is most respectfully submitted for your consideration: 



Agriculture is one of the most important employments in the world, 

 and in order to carry out its great importance it is necessary that in all 

 of its workings everything should be of the best, not only in its work- 

 ings, but also in the materials to be used to carry it on well and be of 

 benefit to those engaged in it. Thence, in going into field culture it is 

 of the greatest importance that everything of the seed kind should be 

 of the best quality. I have now been for the past fourteen years 

 engaged in the growing of seeds, for the purpose of giving to the public 

 the best and purest kinds for their good and benefit in the vegetable 

 department. What greater luxury can we have at our table than good 

 choice vegetables of all kinds? In order to have these, great care and 

 attention is required on the part of the grower to see that nothing but 

 the best is put into the market. In carrying on this branch of agri- 

 culture, st!i ly is required in order to carry out all of its branches suc- 

 cessfully. 



Let us go over the past, and see what I have done: To nearly every 

 country I have sent choice collections of California seeds. At the Paris 

 Exposition my collection took the prize of the silver medal, although 

 I had eighty-four competitors. This fact alone shows that my collec- 

 tion was appreciated by those who acted the part of Judges. And now 

 comes Japan to this State. She has sent her young men to learn how 

 we farm, and learn and judge of the difference of the two countries. 

 Already I have shipped to their Government a large case of California 

 grown seeds, as a present, and another installment of grain and seeds 

 will soon follow through a private party. This is but the beginning of 

 a great and important business. This I chum to be of invaluable 

 importance to this State and to the country at large. And it is by the 

 energy or' individuals that these things are brought about and good 

 results from them. I claim that it is the starting of an enterprise that 

 gives life and tone to any business, and though small at first, it will 

 gather such an impetus that no one can foresee its magnitude. Japan 

 not only wants our grains and seeds, but already they are buying choice 

 stock to send to their country, thus showing that they fully appreciate 

 what they see when they come to view our Golden State. 



Look at my record for the past fourteen years at the different Fairs. 

 The result has been highly satisfactory, showing that what has been 

 exhibited by me has always carried off the premiums, showing that the 

 judges fully understood tfce difference between the fruits of different 

 competitors. It has been impossible for me to fill orders for seeds for 

 the past two years. It was not owing to my want of knowledge, but to 

 the new plan to which I had selected to carry out the great business of 

 seed growing. Dealers write to me very early in the season for me to 

 fill their orders, so that if I should fail they can send East for them. 

 The time was when they would not buy of me, but that prejudice has 

 worn oft', and they find that the seeds grown in California, by a compe- 

 tant and trustworthy grower, are better than the foreign seeds. Proba- 



