XXXII REPORT OF THE SECRETARY OF AGRICULTURE. 



growing in this country can be made a commercial success will depend, 

 in large measure, upon most rigid attention to the details connected 

 with the lield and factor}^ work. It is not expected that any large 

 profits will be made, but it is believed that b}' proper and judicious 

 management suflicient profit will result to encourage the planting of 

 the crop in man^* parts of the South, especially where there is cheap 

 labor available. Proper labor, of course, constitutes one of the most 

 important factors in this matter; but, fortunately, there are many 

 places in the South where hands now idle might be turned to some 

 use in this direction. 



Congressional Seed Distribution. 



In my last report attention was called to the fact that the distribu- 

 tion of seeds was required b}" an act very specific in its terms, and 

 that it was my wish to carry out the will of Congress in a way that 

 would result in the most good to the countr3^ During the year rapid 

 advancement has been made in the matter of improving all of this 

 work, and it is gratif3ung to announce that under the system which is 

 being put into operation little or no friction has resulted. The Con- 

 gressional distribution for 1901-2 was the largest in the history of 

 the Department, 3"et notwithstanding this fact all the seed went out 

 on time. With a view to increasing the value of the work, particular 

 attention was given to the distribution of forage-crop seed, cotton 

 seed, tobacco seed, and seed of other special crops. In each case an 

 expert was put in charge of a particular crop and was responsible for 

 securing new, rare, or little known varieties, and the distribution of 

 each variety in a locality where it seemed likely that benefit would 

 result from its use. Very encouraging reports have been received as 

 a result of this work, especially in the matter of cotton distribution, 

 where a special efl^ort was put forth to secure new varieties or varie- 

 ties which were known to have value locally, but which had not been 

 generally distributed. With a view to still further increasing the 

 efficiency of the seed work, a number of new plans have been put into 

 operation during the vear. 



The method of securing seed through a contractor has been aban- 

 doned, as it was never satisfactor}^ ofl'ering opportunity^ for inferior 

 service, and, besides, working a hardship on the seed trade of the 

 country — something the Department has no desire to continue. Under 

 the new system the Department secures its own seed in the open 

 market, and contracts only for the purely mechanical features of the 

 work, such as the packeting of the seed and the mailing of the same. 

 With a view to making this work of more value to the country and 

 encouraging the legitimate seed trade, plans have been inaugurated 

 whereby the Department Avill gradualh' substitute new or little-known 

 seeds, such as specialties or novelties, for the more common sorts here- 



