STATE EXPERIMENT STATION 255 



(S. W. J. TO W. E. B.) 



Holderness, Sept. 17, 1895. 



My dear Mr. Britton, I send by Am. Express this morn- 

 ing a box of Apios Roots with soil containing tubercles and, 

 it is to be presumed, well stocked with the bacteria and bacte- 

 roids needful to enable this leguminous-tuberous plant to 

 supply itself with Nitrogen, Argon, Helium and all other 

 gaseous food. It is just as well, if not better, not to talk about 

 this plant and its culture. I would say and show nothing 

 more than cannot be avoided for 3 years to come. I would 

 give the tubers a chance to do their best in garden and green- 

 house, with and without supplies of N in fertilizers. Take 

 care of all the earth sent so that the bacteria may not be lack- 

 ing. I would plant out a row of the tubers in rich garden 

 soil. They flourish here in a thicket of raspberry bushes, 

 sumachs, etc., but of course climb well into sunshine. Yours, 

 etc. S. W. Johnson. 



Baked, the tubers are well-tasting and haven't poisoned me. 

 The dose, however, was small like the tubers ! 



(S. W. J. TO J. W. W., CHAIRMAN OP AGRICULTURAL 

 COMMITTEE OP CONGRESS.) 



March 1896. 



Dear Sir, The Bill H. R. 6729, of which you request my 

 opinion, I consider objectionable because it puts upon the 

 Experiment Stations, or legali/es, the raising by them of 

 seeds, bulbs, etc. etc. in quantity for sale, an occupation which 

 is contrary to the objects for which Exp. Stations were estab- 

 lished. I do not regard such furnishing of seeds, bulbs, etc. 

 etc. by Agricultural Colleges as objectionable, since work of 

 that kind may be made serviceable in instruction and in giving 

 employment to needy students, but that the Secretary of 

 Agriculture be directed to purchase all seeds, bulbs, trees, etc. 



