S62 ANNUAL REPORTS OF DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 



m publishing the results of its work at Bellingham for the benefit of 

 those who ma}' wish to engage in the business of growing Dutch bulbs 

 commercially. 



Sugar-beet seed growing and distribution. — The commercial pro- 

 duction of American-grown sugar-beet seed at Fairfield, Wash., by 

 the breeding of pedigreed strains from individual analyzed mother 

 beets has continued to receive attention. The tests at Fairfield indi- 

 cate that sugar-beet seed of high quality can be produced commer- 

 cially in the United States and thus render the sugar-beet growers in 

 this country independent of European growers for their supply of 

 seed. During the past year 1,230 pounds of American-grown sugar- 

 beet seed were distributed by the Department to sugar-beet factories, 

 cooperators, and growers. Comparative tests of varieties of sugar 

 beets from European-grown seed were also continued in cooperation 

 \\'ith state experiment stations, sugar-beet factories, and cooperative 

 growers in different sections of the country. 



Plans for the next seed distribution. — The seeds to be dis- 

 tributed the coming year will be practically the same in kind and 

 quantity as last year, unless there should be a serious shortage in the 

 seed crop and the price should advance sufficiently to make it neces- 

 sary to reduce the quantity. Great care will be exercised to obtain 

 only the best seeds the market affords, and all purchases will be made 

 subject to rigid tests for purity and germination. Owing to the 

 heavy demand for seed this spring and the depleted stocks of seed in 

 warehouses, a larger percentage of the seed will be grown under con- 

 tract than formerly. 



In the distribution of Dutch bulbs each box, instead of 2 hyacinth, 

 8 narcissus, and 10 tulip bulbs, as formerly, will contain 10 tulip and 

 20 narcissus bulbs, thereby giving each recipient 30 bulbs instead of 

 20. Owing to the size and cost of hyacinth bulbs, it was deemed ad- 

 visable to discontinue their distribution, which, however, will be 

 resumed when the bulbs now being propagated and grown at the gar- 

 den near Bellingham, Wash., reach commercial sizp and are fully 

 matured. 



