No. 7. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 405 



cost price to farmers who would agree to plant and care for tbem. 

 We are receiying inquiries right along from persons w^ho wish to 

 grow forest trees on anj vacant space they may have. The Depart- 

 ment as yet has no legal authority to do this work. There are many 

 men engaged in the business of growing forest seedlings, bnt they 

 are mostly in the Western States, so the Commission decided to see 

 whether this could not be done in Pennsylvania to be followed by 

 distributing trees at cost to farmers and others who will agree to 

 grow and care for them, plus, of course, the cost of transportation 

 to the place to which they are to be sent. This would be a very 

 small item, and we believe it will be possible in this way to raise 

 the percentage of forest lands in every county of the State. One 

 pound of pine seed contains 30,000 grains, and if they have about 

 90 per cpnt. germinating power, as is generally figured, that one 

 pound of seed will produce at least 25,000 young trees. As I say, 

 this project was seriously considered and approved by the Forestry 

 Commission two years ago, but at that time, we were not raising 

 enough to supply the demands from our own reserves, so the bill was 

 not considered at that session; but nt this session it will come up, 

 and any of you who are interested in this subject of forest trees can 

 help us by using your influence with the Legislature in behalf of 

 this bill. If I mistake not, it has alread.y been introduced, and it 

 will no doubt follow^ the regular course of bills. The proposition 

 was first considered whether it: would not be wise to raise these 

 seedlings and give them away to farmers and others who would 

 take care of them, but the Commission seems to realize the fact that 

 what you get for nothing does not amount to much. If the price be 

 fixed at the actual cost of raising tlie seedlings plus transportation, 

 it would still be within reach of all who are interested, and make 

 It of more value to them. 



REPORT OF COMMITTEE ON CEREALS AND CEREAL CROPS. 



By J. NEWTON GLOVER, Chair man. 



The year 1908 was a good one for the farmers of this State in the 

 yields of crops and prices received for them. The latter part of 

 seeding time in 1907 was one of continued wet weather, which de- 

 layed seeding of wheat and rye to such an extent that many acres 

 were seeded late and under unfavorable conditions, which resulted 

 in a poor stand of these grains for the winter. But wheat and rye 

 sown in the first half of September made a good growth, and snow 

 covered grain fields during most of the winter, which was a great 

 protection, especially to the late seedings. The spring of 1908 was 

 cold and wet, yet favorable for wheat and rye growth, so that late 

 seedings improved wonderfully and early seedings as well, with just 

 enough rain when in blossom, to make a crop of good, plump grain, 

 which was over-weight on early seedings and a yield above the 

 average, while the late seedings made over half a crop. The yield 

 oi straw w&a good and &traight^ a« wheat stood up well, and was 



