l66 BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. [Jan., 



not through the Congressmen but in a proper way by the 

 department, to such persons who are intelhgent, and who are 

 raising crops that ought to be raised in the cHmate or in the 

 locahty to which the seed are sent, and who will make a full 

 and complete report of the result of their tests to the depart- 

 ment. Such a distribution of seed might be useful, and if the 

 distribution were limited to that sort of a distribution, which 

 is the only right minded one, there would be some public benefit 

 in it. 



As I understand it, this resolution is aimed at the system 

 of seed distribution which has been without any regard to 

 where the seed go, who have them, or the results that are 

 obtained by their use. I am heartily opposed to any such free 

 distribution as that. 



The President. All who are in favor of the passage of 

 this resolution will please signify it by rising. Now those who 

 are opposed please rise. We will call it unanimous. 



Secretary Brown. There is a question which is not in the 

 box, but which I would like to ask because I think perhaps 

 some of our friends present may know something in regard to 

 it, and that is as to the destruction of weeds by means of spray- 

 ing with sulphate of iron. Has any one in Connecticut had 

 any experience with the destruction of noxious weeds by spray- 

 ing with sulphate of iron. I ask the question, Mr. President, 

 because I have received an extended circular from an iron 

 wire mill in which they had illustrated the effect of spraying 

 with sulphate of iron upon various classes of weeds that per- 

 vade our soil. I wish to know if anyone in the hall knows 

 anything of the result of any such spraying. 



The President. Can anyone in the hall answer the Sec- 

 retary's question? 



A Member. I would like to hear if it would have any dif- 

 ferent effect on weeds than it would have on grain or any 

 oiher plant. 



