70 



A BIT OF XA TURKS DRAFERY. 



divided among the state, county and local agricul- 

 tural and horticultural societies, they would reach 

 those who would more fully appreciate the seed, 

 and make it to the interest of the farmers to connect 

 themselves with such organizations. 



In line with the pievious suggestion, I find on 

 page 213 of the Department report for 1873, the 

 following : "A plan adopted by an agricultural so- 

 ciety in Tennessee is a very good one and worthy 

 of imitation by communities as well as by other so- 

 cieties of a similar character ; that is, of requiring 

 every member who receives seeds for experimenta 

 purposes from the Department, to return to the so- 

 ciety at least as much as the quantity received if 

 experiments turn out favorably. In addition to 

 having the seeds of valuable varieties on hand for 

 seasonable distribution, the advantages of gradual 

 adaptation are gained." 



Another plan suggested is that of having each 

 congressman who resides in an agricultural district 

 select six or twelve intelligent farmers, and divide 

 his quota of field seeds equally between them, with 

 the agreement on their part, that after the second 

 year's crop is harvested, one-half of it shall be sold, 

 at the prevailing market price of such product, to 

 farmers and planters who reside within the counties 

 composing the congressional district, and that a 

 record of such sales, giving the name and post of- 

 fice address of the buyer, shall be sent to the Sec- 

 retary of Agriculture, that it may be entered upon 

 the records of the Department. 



The method that has been suggested of making 

 each experiment station a seed distributing centre 

 for the state does not seem to be a feasible one, as 



it would necessarily interfere too much with their 

 special lines of work, as well as be a more expen- 

 sive method than the present one. 



The Seed Division, as now conducted, is not a 

 mere seed warehouse. It is something more. The 

 annual reports which have emanated from it since 

 1884 indicate this. They teem with interesting facts 

 that are of practical value. They show what new 

 varieties of seeds have been distributed and the re- 

 sults effected. The question as to what seeds are 

 best adapted to different localities, even in the same 

 latitude, but affected by various altitudes, winds 

 and ocean currents, is becoming one of no small 

 importance, and points to the practical benefit of 

 judicious care in the selection of seeds to be planted, 

 and great watchfulness as to results. 



We are distinctively and pre-eminently a nation 

 of farmers, inasmuch as not less than 44 per cent, 

 of the entire population is engaged in rural pursuits. 

 General Washington and the presidents who imme- 

 diately succeeded him in the early history of our 

 country urged upon both houses of congress the 

 importance of placing agriculture as well as com- 

 merce immediately under the fostering care of the 

 government. Will not the people's representatives 

 recognize the fact that our welfare as a nation 

 depends largely upon the better development of 

 American agriculture? In the solution of the agri- 

 cultural problems which are of so much importance 

 in a country extending through so wide a range of / 

 latitude, a climate so diversified, and with agricul- 

 tural interests the greatest in the world, the De- 

 partment of Agriculture must ever be an important 

 factor. Wm. M. King. 



A BIT OF NATURE'S DRAPERY. 



NEARLY all tropical countries abound in wild 

 jungles which to the eye of the lover of na- 

 ture are always enchanting. Along the 

 southern coasts of our own United States may be 

 found scenery which is in no wise inferior to that of 



similar character in other countries. It is not so 

 strictly tropical as some, but there are palms of 

 several species, and exogenous trees of stately pro- 

 portions, bearing orchids, and an undergrowth of 

 creepers and shrubs which make a mass well nigh 



