422 AGRICULTUKAL REPORT. 



inangel-Avurzel and sugar-beet, selected witlireiereucc more especially to 

 tlieueedsof southern fields. A large nnmber of pacl^ages of garden-seeds 

 have been distributed tbrougliout the country. It has been the aim 

 of the Department, with regard to this distribution, to send out a large 

 number of varieties, embracing, as nearly as practicable, the whole range 

 of garden-planting, but to introduce only the most improved kinds of 

 each. The farmers of our country, in the midst of their efforts to ac- 

 quire money or lands through the agency of big field-crops, are too 

 generally accustomed to neglect or to entirely ignore the garden, which 

 maj" yield comfort and health, and confer finer texture of brain and 

 muscle upon themselves and families. Hog and homiuy, hoe-cake and 

 bacon should at least be accompanied by the nutritive and appetizing pro- 

 ducts of the garden, which nature has provided in such great variety 

 and tempting forms. The vegetable and the flower garden ought to share 

 the care of every tiller of the soil. It is hardly necessary in this place 

 to specify any particular varieties distributed. The number is large, 

 and it may suffice to repeat, that most careful selection is made from 

 improved sorts raised in this country and in Europe. A large number 

 of improved vegetable varieties are imported from England. Flower- 

 seeds are cultivated in France especially for the uses of this Depart- 

 ment. The disposition of these seeds, secured as they are generally at 

 considerable cost, must be to some extent circumscribed. Kot a tithe 

 of those who apply can be supplied according to their wishes. The 

 Department is emulous of supplying the w^ants of those sections in 

 which little attention to cultivating good varieties of garden and vege- 

 table seeds has been given, or in which, on account of greater or less 

 remoteness from large and cultivated centers, seeds are difficult to be 

 obtained. The denizen of the town or city, and those having easy access 

 to either, may usually secure roots, plants, and seeds suited to their 

 purpose of usefulness or ornament. Eeports received of experiments 

 made with these seeds have been received in great numbers during the 

 past year; and, with very rare exceptions, the very highest satisfaction 

 has been expressed concerning results. The following is only one of 

 very many similar applications coming from South and West; it is from 

 Georgia : " I came here two years ago from New York, to establish a 

 farm, and find it very hard to obtain good seed in this vicinity. Hun- 

 dreds of freedmen are planting nearly worthless seed, and consequently 

 have poor crops. If we could get a few good varieties of vaiious kinds 

 for garden and field purposes to start with, our crops might soon be im- 

 proved." 



A correspondent having for some time made trial of Department seeds, 

 says : "A very noticeable feature in these^ seeds received from the De- 

 partment is the fact that they appear to be fresh and genuine, and, un- 

 lil:e some we buy, all come." 



TAHITI COTTON. 



The attention of the Department was called to the excellence of this 

 cotton by the Hon. George M. Kobesou," Secretary of the Navy, early 

 in 1871. With reference to experiment here an order was promptly 

 sent to our consul at Tahiti for a supply of the seed. This was distrib- 

 uted to leading cotton-growers in the South. The Tahiti cotton is evi- 

 dently a sea-island variety, resembling that of the Fiji Islands in black 

 seed and length and fineness of stapl-e. It is feared, however, that when 

 planted inland it will very much deteriorate. A sample raised from 

 seed furnished by the Department, in Pike County, Mississippi, was sent 



