92 DEPARTMENTAL REPORTS. 



PLANS FOR THE FORTHCOMING DISTRIBUTION. 



Owing to the fact that the contract for the fiscal year ended June 

 30, 1902, had been awarded when the seed work was turned over to 

 the Bureau of Plant Industry, it was impracticable to make a number 

 of important and necessary changes in the work. Some modifications 

 have been brought about, however, and it is believed that these will 

 lead to improvement in a number of directions. 



The contractor this year is The Henry Phillips Seed and Implement 

 Company, of Toledo, Ohio, who will put up and send out the vegetable 

 and flower seeds only. All other seeds and plants will be handled by 

 the Department, as it is believed better results can be obtained in 

 this way. In connection with the work done by the Department, the 

 distribution of seeds of grasses and forage plants will receive special 

 attention. Aside from the usual distribution of lawn-grass seed to 

 Senators, Members, and Delegates in Congress, it is planned to send 

 out, on Congressional orders, five or six special forage crops which 

 are comparatively new and which give promise of being of value for 

 certain regions. In order to best effect the distribution of this seed 

 the country will be divided into several districts, and a particular 

 forage crop sent where it is likely to prove most valuable. 



Another innovation will be made in the matter of distributing cotton 

 seed. Instead of the usual practice of sending out small packages of 

 seed of common forms already well known, an effort will be made to 

 secure for distribution promising new sorts adapted to special regions 

 of the South. For several years the Department has been engaged 

 upon an investigation of cotton with a view to securing varieties bet- 

 ter adapted to certain regions and more resistant to diseases. Already 

 excellent results have been obtained in this work, and it is planned 

 to eventually distribute seeds of the new sorts in order to give them 

 widespread dissemination. The cotton seed this year will be senfc out 

 in larger quantities than before, for the reason that better results will 

 be obtained by encouraging the^planting of sufficient seed to determine 

 its value. Already definite arrangements have been made for secur- 

 ing most of the seed, and it is believed much benefit will result by its 

 distribution. 



In the distribution of tobacco seed arrangements have been made 

 to cooperate with the Bureau of Soils. It is planned to send into each 

 district only the varieties likely to succeed there. In order to secure 

 only the best seed for this purpose arrangements have been made for 

 a special selection of the seed, and each Senator and Member living 

 where tobacco is grown will have placed at his disposal a sufficient 

 number of packages of selected seed to give the varieties a thorough 

 trial. 



Under the direction of the Secretary, arrangements have been made 

 to send out this year, for the first time, a number of choice young 

 trees, the object being to encourage a love for trees and all that the 

 planting and care of them involves. No attempt will be made to send 

 out large numbers of any one kind, but it is believed that the distri- 

 bution of a few of the little-known sorts, particularly the rarer nut 

 trees, will be of much value, especially if the trees themselves are 

 accompanied with instructions as to their planting and care. 



Aside from the special matters noted above every arrangement has 

 been made to secure seeds of high quality, and to have every variety 

 properly packeted, labeled, and sent out promptly. 



