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a seed house in putting on the market seed which had been tested and 

 whose viability and purity could be vouched for. The work of this firm 

 obtained such significance that the government took over its plants and 

 farmers are planting only first-class, weed-free, tested seed. Now, since 

 the various farm crops and products are of far more value to the nation 

 than all the organized dealers of all sorts, taken severally or taken together, 

 it stands to reason that it is the b'usiness of this nation to see that the 

 farmer gets fair play and a square deal. It should be impossible for any 

 foul seed or seed which is diseased or bad to be put on sale in even the 

 smallest country store. Fines can be imposed and seeds tested by govern- 

 ment inspection which will soon make it impossible to furnish low grade 

 seed at high prices, as is now too frequently the case. By testing cabbage 

 seeds State College, Pennsylvania, has found that varieties sold as early 

 are frequently late, that vast quantities of early cabbage do not mature 

 until late, which will often rob a market gardener of his whole early cab- 

 bage crop. This is equally true of all other truck and farm seeds. 



After all, we are perhaps asking why should the farmer be protected 

 more than any other class? The answer is very simple. He operates on 

 a small scale; his profits are small as compared with many other busi- 

 nesses. He must have ready to his hand when the seasons come round 

 a reliable source of supply for all his needs. He cannot rush about the 

 country hunting up his seeds, fertilizers, feeds, etc. He must accept what 

 he is sold by dealers. If he alone suffered when the crops failed there 

 might be some who would decline to protect him, but since we are all 

 dependent on him it is our duty to conserve the farmer. 



Farm Credit. 



Of the bitter need for a better system of credit for farmers I shall 

 leave it for those more expert than I to speak. That this need exists I 

 am well aware. That better facilities for it must be brought about I am 

 very sure. In the meantime, I want to point out that the righting of 

 these wrongs is up to the cities. The farmer can scratch along somehow, 

 he can still feed himself and his family, but if the city food supply is 

 scarce and dear, remember that at present there is no inducement for the 

 farmer to increase it. With fair conditions and a comprehension on the 

 part of the municipalities that they can better existing conditions, there 

 is no reason why the eastern United States should not become as pros- 

 perous an agricultural section as, the West. For one thing is pre-eminently 

 true, that we have but barely scratched the surface of our agricultural 

 possibilities. 



Mr. Calwell: My attention has just been called to the fact that 

 the Pennsylvania Railroad has on exhibition at Broad Street Station a 

 train of agricultural and dairy cars. You are all invited to inspect them 

 some time during the next two or three days. 



