‘s]2 ark REPORT OF THE COMMISSIONER OF AGRICULTURE. 
number of reports of Sr serine with the seeds sent out by t ris 
_ Department during the past two years. The remarkable yields — 
reported must be Penny attributed to the use of fresh seed grown a 
in localities where each variety attains its highest perfection. — a 
A diminished production should not always be attributed to. the 
deterioration of the soil alone, and the facts on record inthis Depart- _ 
ment show that the introduction of seeds from regions where they 46" | 
attain the greatest perfection has been of much importance to the — 
country. In no way is this fact so forcibly impressed upon farmers 
as by furnishing them such seeds, for they will them be convinced by 
personal experiment. Every farm upon which these’seeds are tested i 
becomes an experiment farm so far as that particular product is con- 
cerned, if the farmer is intelligent and of an observing turn of mind. 
While only a small quantity of any variety of seed was formerly ~ e) 
sent to one locality, now, instead of eight or ten varieties, not less Mg 
than forty or fifty varieties are distributed in every Congressional —_ 
district by the recently much improved system of distribution. The 
advantage of the test of so great a number of varieties must be ap- 
parent. By care on the part of the recipients to save and exchange 
among their neighbors seed of any choice varieties of grain or vege- o 
tables, the entire section of country can soon be supplied, and the 
increase in yield and quality may greatly enlarge the value of farm 
producis. * 
Several new and valuable seeds have | ‘on introduced from foreign 
countries and distributed during the fiscal year ending June 30, 
many of which are likely to prove of great value to the agricultural 
interests; among these are Egyptian clover (Trifolium alexandri- 
num), procured through the United States consul at Cairo, Kigypt, 
and which it is thought may be a valuable addition to our forage — 
plants in certain districts La are subject to protracted droughts, 
as in the Southern and Southwestern States, and also in the arid dis- 
trictsof the West. The seed has been distributed to various farmers 
and experiment stations for trial, and the results are being awaited 
with much interest, 
An effort has also been made to obtain seeds of some other forage 
plants having the same adaptation, first, of spurry (Spergula ar ven- 
sis); second, of a kind of winter pea, said to be much cultivated in 
France; and third, of the lentil (Hrvwm lens), which is cultivated in 
the south of Hurope. Wheat has also been received from Italy; red 
and white Bermuda onion seed from the Canary Islands; Abyssin- 
ian grass from the Royal Gardens, Kew, England; and potato seed 
from Belfast, Ireland. Several varieties of seed have also been re- 
ceived from the United States consuls in Mexico and distributed in 
the localities to which they are evidently the best adapted. 
Wany choice varieties of tobacco seed have been received by the 
Department from foreign consuls, and promptly distributed in local- 
