SECRETARY’S CORNER. 
Harris, with his usual fidelity, has given us his assistance in this 
department since the inception of our monthly and welcomes this 
opportunity to transfer it to worthy hands. Prof. Green is well 
known to you all as the Professor of Horticulture at our State Col- 
lege of Agriculture, and in charge of the experiments in horticul- 
ture being carried on by our State Experiment Station, which is con- 
ducted jointly with the college. His large experience as a teacher, 
_ practical experimenter and writer, gives him special fitness for this 
work, and his gratuitous aid in this field is fully appreciated. 
THE GOVERNMENT STILL A SEED VENDER.—The receipt in this 
office from the Department of Agriculture of five packets of garden 
seeds, all of sorts in common cultivation, like Purple Top Strap 
Leaved turnips, French Breakfast radish, etc., is evidence conclu- 
sive that Uncle Sam is still running in opposition to the legitimate 
field of the regular seedsman. There would seem to be no reason 
why the department should not confine this distribution to varie- 
ties that on account of their newness should be planted generally 
for testing purposes, and a report of results made. But no report 
is expected from the trial of the seeds evidently, as no blank for this 
Purpose is provided and no report requested. Our society at its 
last session passed strong resolutions condemning this practice, 
and, as directed, they were sent to our delegation in congress. Both 
senators and four of the seven congressmen acknowledge their re- 
ceipt, though only one gave an intimation as to how he should act 
in the matter, and he does ‘‘not see how I can consistently oppose” 
it as “his constitueuts are unanimously in favor of its continuance,” 
though he admits it is “objectionable” in that it “smacks of ‘pater- 
nalism.’” Of the other five two make no comment. Brief 
quotations are made from letters received from the other 
three, as follows: “I agree with the sentiment expressed;” 
“the original intent of the law has since been perverted;” 
“T am inclined to think the distribution of seeds as now 
carried out is a radical departure from the original intent of the 
law.” “There is no doubt good ground for complaint in the matter 
to which the resolutions refer.” The law providing for this distri- 
bution was easily re-enacted, and now seeds go out this year the 
same as before. 
The receipt of these five packets of seeds saves us twenty-five 
cents, and “knocks out” some respectable seedsman to that amount. 
Thanks, Uncle S.! 
PROF. HANSON’S ACQUISITIONS IN NORTHERN EUROPE AND ASIA.— 
Prof. N. E. Hanson, well known to our people as the horticulturist 
of the South Dakota Experiment Station, has just returned from his 
long trip through Russia and northwestern Asia, and, according to 
a statement of the Agricultural Department, is now preparing his 
report of what he has secured for trialin thiscountry. Those items 
in this report of special interest to horticulture are cited briefly as 
- follows: 
“The musk melons of Russian Turkestan, Bokhara, Khiva and Trans-Caucasia 
were deemed worthy of introduction. Many varieties run from twenty-five to 
