vation. Among these was a variety of Sumatra tobacco, which is © 
acting unusual attention and is eagerly sought by those eles are 
Efioridn, 
_ I desire again to call attention to the fact that Congressional lists 
should be furnished not later than December 15. 
_ The seeds designed for distribution by members of Congress and 
to statistical correspondents, experiment stations, and agricultural 
societies in the Gulf States, Arizona, New Mexico, and California 
should be sent out not later than the middle of December of each 
‘year. 
_ The hearty co-operation which now exists betwéen the seed divis- 
ion and the botanical, forestry, and the other divisions has been pro- 
-duetive of results which, if continued, will do much to promote the 
practical value of each to the farmers throughout the entire country. _ 
Ag EXPERIMENT STATIONS FOR TESTING AND DISTRIBUTING SEED. 
While I have endeavored to secure the greatest practical benefit 
to the farmers of the country under existing laws as they relate to 
‘the seed distribution by the Department, yet it is my opinion that 
the object aimed at could be better secured through the experiment 
stations that were provided for by law at the last session of Congress. 
twill be remembered that a bill was passed providing for an annual 
. appropriation of $15,000 for the benefit of the experiment station of 
each State and Territory in the United States. The object of these 
_ stations is to experiment with seeds, plants, crops, fertilizers, systems 
of culture, etc.,and to determine what is best for their respective State 
or Territory. The directorsof such stations ought to know which 
kinds of seeds the farmers of their State are most interested in, which 
are best adapted to each locality, what crops are most profitable to 
raise, and to direct their investigations and experiments and selec- 
tions to such kinds as their constituencies are most interested in. 
_ These stations are under the control of scientific and practical men, 
assisted by skilled laborers. Careful records are kept in every line 
_ of work, and the comparative merits of different varieties as to thrift- 
‘iness, hardiness, productiveness, and general adaptation to the climate 
and soil are ascertained and published, and are considered authori- 
tative. With a little additional aid to these stations, if not already 
sufficiently provided for, to purchase seeds and plants and test the 
same for their respective localities, and to distribute the seed from 
the same after ascertaining which are of real value to farmers, a 
most beneficial work for the farmers of every State could be accu. 
plished. The stations could do the testing and experimental work 
for the whole body of agriculturists, and do it much better than 
