56 BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. [Pub. Doc. 



to state the facts always, — they want us to go a little bit 

 beyond, and make them believe a thing is a little bit better 

 than it is. As a matter of fact, as Mr. Tracy has said, some 

 of the very best varieties have practically no sale because of 

 the color or because of description. 



Mr. W. W. Rawson (of Arlington). As my name has 

 been mentioned, I think perhaps I better say a word in re- 

 gard to whether I sell the same seeds I grow. That is the 

 kind I sell, and what I went into the business for; because 

 I can produce better seeds than a gardener can produce him- 

 self, nearer the top, and keep to it. Let a gardener take seed 

 and grow it year after year, and it will deteriorate to such 

 an extent you won't know it in a few years; but let a seed 

 grower take it and grow it year after year, and make a busi- 

 ness of it, and he will get something that is better than what 

 he started with. I have always tried to grow my stock seed 

 as far as possible and send them to the best growers in the 

 country that I could get to grow them, and to that locality to 

 which the seed is particularly adapted. In that way you 

 get good seed to sell. As to having different kinds of seed, 

 we do; we have to, or we couldn't sell them. 



If you buy of three or four seedsmen, that settles it, — 

 the seedsman has the advantage; but if you buy from one 

 place and have the name on the back, so you know where you 

 got them, you are pretty sure of getting good seeds. 



I will say a word in regard to the catalogues. We have 

 got to tell the thing just as it is, and then explain it a little 

 more. That is just what the people want, and the seedsmen 

 try to give it to them. We are getting educated, just as well 

 as you. 



You will notice on the last day of the programme you are 

 all invited to visit my place in Arlington. I shall be glad to 

 have you all come, but I cannot show you what I would like 

 to show you, because it is the very worst time of the year for 

 you to come. But if you see it at the worst time, perhaps 

 you will come again when there is something more to see. 



The Chair. I had the pleasure of visiting Mr. Rawson's 

 place several years ago, and it is a great treat to look it over 

 and learn what he has been doing. I hope you will all avail 



