20 Yearbook of the Department of Agri-culture. 



could import little or no seed of the kinds handled by them, 

 and were restricted so much in the matter of exports that 

 they had to look for an outlet for their seed in the United 

 States. New areas in this country in which to purchase and 

 also to sell seeds had to be found by many of the seedsmen 

 in order that they might continue in business. Thus they 

 competed with other seedsmen who had been accustomed 

 to buy or sell" in these areas. 



On account of the uncertainties of distant freight ship- 

 ments, country merchants were more inclined than usual to 

 place their late spring orders with local or near-by seedsmen. 

 This, of course, affected the business of some of the larger 

 and more distant seedsmen, who formerly sold to these same 

 country merchants. 



In order to get business, a few large seed concerns, which 

 formerly were in the habit of attaching sight draft to bill 

 of lading, sold seed on "trade acceptance" terms. Seed 

 shipped by them was paid for by the purchaser with some 

 bankable paper payable in four months or less with interest 

 at about 6 per cent. Though similar arrangements have 

 been made in the past by a few seedsmen, they were little 

 known in the seed trade before the war. 



Many dealers reported that it was more difficult to negoti- 

 ate large loans with the banks because of frequent, temporary 

 depressions. With seed generally higher and money scarcer, 

 field seedsmen often were reluctant to carry as large stocks 

 as customarily. The chances of big profits or losses in the 

 field seed business were greater than in peace times because 

 of the larger and more frequent fluctuations in the prices 

 of seeds. 



THE SEED REPORTING SERVICE OF THE BUREAU OF 

 MARKETS. 



In order to act somewhat as a balance wheel to the seed 

 trade and as a guide to the various agencies of the Govern- 

 ment in handling the seed end of the food production prob- 

 lem, the Bureau of Markets shortly after war was declared 

 established a Seed Reporting Service. In the matter of 

 seeds, the first great concern of the Nation was to insure, 

 so far as possible, an ample supply of seed of crops that 

 would help feed this country as well as the allies, and to see 



