Mangelwurzel (Mangel Beet). Mangelwurzel seed is used in this country for planting. The root provides a succulent feed for dairy cows and other farm live stock.

Production of mangelwurzel seed, very small prior to 1918, was in that year 286,974 pounds and in 1922, 101,700 pounds, The seeding requirement is about 320,000 pounds. Commercial growers have had excellent success with this seed, and the industry seems fairly well established, California and Washington leading.

Imports were not separately stated prior to 1922†, when 78,636 pounds, valued at $10,008, were received. Later imports are as follows:

1918..

1919..

1920.

1921.

1922.

Year.

Pounds. Value. Duty. Rate.

1918.

1919.

1920.

Pounds.

Value.

Duty. Rate.

13,778

$12, 183

$1,377 11.30

642 6.59

2,050

2,245

205 9.13

1923.

Onion seeds are produced from the flower stem of the plant the second year. The bulb is usually set out in the spring of the second year and the seeds are harvested when mature.

Production.-In 1919, 2,618,000 pounds of onion seeds were produced. In 1920 and 1921 production was 800,800 and 334,000 pounds, respectively,

and in 1922, 450,000 pounds."

Imports were not separately stated prior to 1922†, when they amounted to 7,410 pounds, valued at $5,551. In 1923 they were 117, 541 pounds, valued at $120, 829.

Parsnip. Parsnip is a root crop grown in home and market gardens for table food and on farms for live stock. About 120,000 to 150,000 pounds of the seed are used annually for planting.

Production, mainly in California, amounted to 67,000 pounds in 1916, 167,000 pounds in 1918, 25,700 pounds in 1921, and 84,000 pounds in 1922. Imports averaged annually 102,557 pounds for 1913-1917. Later statistics follow:

Radish. The radish is grown extensively in of radish seed, used solely for planting, are sold home and market gardens. Over 800,000 pounds annually, not including the seed from home gardens

for local use.

Production. The locust tree bearing this fruit grows in the Mediterranean region, and is being Introduced into California. No production figures are available.

Imports are not separately stated.

Sorghum, Sorghum includes sweet sorghum and grain sorghum, the latter mostly kafir, feterita, and milo. Sweet sorghum seed is used only for planting; the seed of grain sorghum is used for feed and for making alcohol and yeast, as well as for planting. Production. Sorghums are grown extensively, principally in the southern half of the Great Plains area. Production in Kansas, Texas, Oklahoma, Colorado, New Mexico, and Arizona in 1915 was 114,460,000 bushels, with a farm value of $51,157,000; in 1918 only 66,396,000 bushels, with farm value of $99,848,000, and in 1922, 90,381,000 bushels, valued at $79,389,000. It is cultivated in Europe, India, and other parts of Asia.

Imports are not separately stated. Spinach seed is used solely for planting; about 800,000 or 900,000 pounds are sown annually. ·Production of commercial spinach seed increased from 45,000 pounds in 1916 to 1,650,000 pounds in 1918; in 1921 it was 24,700 pounds, and in 1922, 313,800 pounds.

Imports averaged 1,241,757 pounds annually during the period 1910 to 1914. Later statistics follow:

Year.

rists or nurserymen are interested in the trade in tree seeds, the project is largely under Government supervision.

Production.-No accurate statistics regarding the production of tree seeds are available.

Imports were not separately stated prior to 1922†, when 17,338 pounds of tree and shrub seeds, valued at $14,391, were received.

Turnip and Rutabaga. Turnip and rutabaga are root crops grown extensively in home and market gardens for food purposes, and on farms for live stock. The seed is used solely for planting, and about 2,000,000 pounds (1,500,000 pounds turnip and 500,000 pounds rutabaga) are required annually.

Production.-Washington, California, New York, and Connecticut are the leading producing areas. The commercial output of turnip seed increased from 20,000 pounds in 1916 to 200,700 pounds in 1918, but declined to 59,000 pounds in 1921; the 1922 production amounted to 60,900 pounds. Production of rutabaga seed increased between 1916 and 1918 from 3,800 pounds to 27,300 pounds.

Imports for 1914 were 1,580,713 pounds, compared with an average of 1,773,613 pounds for 19101913. Later statistics follow:

Sugar Beet. The sugar beet, closely related to certain varieties of garden beet, is grown almost solely for the production of sugar. The roots yield sugar the first year, but seeds are not produced until the second

year.

Production of sugar-beet seed in 1916 was 5,539,000 pounds. Because it was difficult to import seed during the war, the seed acreage was increased; nevertheless the production of 1921 decreased to 3,575,000 pounds and in 1922 to 1,056,000 pounds. Idaho, Colorado, Utah, California, and Michigan lead. Beet-sugar manufacturers, who control the supply, endeavor to carry sufficient seed to meet requirements for one or two years and thus provide against emergencies.

Imports in 1914 were 10,490,089 pounds, valued at $804,209-86 per cent from Germany, 6 per cent from Austria-Hungary, and 3.5 per cent from Russia. Later statistics follow:

All Seeds N. S. P. F. Imports of all seeds not specially provided for are shown as follows:

Exports of seeds, except cotton, grass seeds, and flaxseed, have been as follows: 1918, $2,031,776; 1920, $2,187,318; 1922, $1,386,623; 1923, $911,749. SEEDS, GRASS. Alfalfa. The quantity of alfalfa seed used annually in the United States for planting is estimated at more than 25,000,000 pounds.

Production is very uncertain and is commercially localized in South Dakota, Nebraska, Kansas, Texas, Oklahoma, Colorado, Utah, Montana, Idaho, California, and Arizona. Excessive rains or drought and injury to the crop inflicted by grasshoppers, alfalfa weevil, and other insects affect the output.

Imports in 1914 amounted to 7,439,261 pounds, valued at $740,810. Much comes from Turkestan, but is inferior to the domestic seed. Later statistics follow:

Pounds.. Value....

Exports in 1922 amounted to 1,025,129 pounds, valued at $189,028; in 1923 to 399,346 pounds, valued at $76,066.

Clover, ALSIKE. The seed of alsike clover, used primarily for planting, was employed more extensively in 1918 and 1919 than formerly, probably because of the scarcity and higher price of red clover seed.

Production. Most of this seed is grown in Michigan, Illinois, Indiana, Ohio, Minnesota, Wisconsin, and Idaho, but production is not sufficient for domestic requirements.

Imports in 1914 were 5,349,156 pounds, valued at $804,092, and came chiefly from Canada. Later statistics follow:

864,102 7,353, 231

Exports are not separately stated. CRIMSON CLOVER seed is used solely for planting, American farmers sowing annually over 4,000,000 pounds.

Production in this country of crimson clover seed, although greatly increased during late years, does not equal requirements. It is produced successfully in Tennessee and lightly in Alabama, North Carolina, Virginia, Maryland, and Delaware. Production in the years 1921 and 1922 was 92,280,000 and 112,500,000 bushels, respectively.

Imports averaged annually 6,266,737 pounds for 1914-1917. Later statistics follow:

Production is large, but data are not available. Sales by dealers in 1919 were double those of 1917 or 1918. This plant has a wide adaptation and produces seed abundantly. Seed is raised commercially in Oregon, Idaho, Utah, Colorado, Kansas, Nebraska, South Dakota, Kentucky, Mississippi, and to a less extent in some other States. Canada also produces sweet clover seed, and during 1919 relatively large quantities were imported from that country for planting.

Imports of clover seed designated as "all other" amounted to 6,034,673 pounds, valued at $515,143, in 1914. Later statistics follow:

Exports are not separately stated. RED CLOVER. In the United States red clover seed is used exclusively for planting, the estimated annual requirement being over 100,000,000 pounds. Production is principally in Michigan, Illinois, Indiana, Ohio, Minnesota, Wisconsin, Iowa, Missouri, Oregon, and Idaho. The amount decreased during the war. Government officials and large seed dealers agree that there is a world shortage of red clover seed. The wholesale price has ranged from $15 to $50 per 100 pounds.

Imports for 1913-1917 averaged 11,989,767 pounds per annum. Before the war Germany was the most important source. Later statistics follow:

Pounds.. 1,739,649 4,742,892 4,735,921 1,436,025 6,207,554 Value... $3071756 $1,299, 306 $503,979 $107,073 $592,343

4.650,097

Exports in 1922 amounted to 2,015,891 pounds, valued at $419,892; in 1923 to 800,550 pounds, valued at $156,117.

WHITE CLOVER seed, used primarily for planting, is sown extensively in pastures and on lawns together with other clover and grass seed. Compared with the extent to which the crop is grown, however, little seed is required-probably not over 1,000,000 pounds per annum.

Imports from 1914 to 1918 were relatively small. ments for poultry and bird-seed mixtures. StaThe Orient supplies a part of domestic requiretistics of imports since 1917 follow:

but the strain is inferior. Redtop seed gives a valuable hay and pasture grass, especially on wet and acid soils. It is employed mostly in mixtures with alsike clover and alsike and timothy, and is a constituent of lawn and turf grass mixtures. Illinois produces the greater portion of the supply; Iowa and Missouri also yield fairly large quantities. Very little is imported. English rye-grass seed is a constituent of meadow and pasture mixtures and also of turf-grass mixtures. It is imported from Europe. Italian rye-grass seed, used for the same purpose as English rye-grass, is normally imported from the same source; 'in recent years a variety has come in quantities from Argentina.

Imports of "all other" grass seed amounted to 23,350,147 pounds, valued at $742,941, in 1914. Germany furnished the bulk in 1914, while in 1918 Ireland, Russia, and Canada furnished about 75 per cent. Later statistics follow (000 omitted):

Pounds.. Value..

8,564 $881

13,522 $1,666

18, 121 18,870 $1,241 $1,412

Vetch. Vetch, both hairy (winter) and common (spring), are grown for hay and forage, and the seed is used for planting. The hairy, or winter variety, is considered much more valuable, except perhaps on the Pacific coast, but high prices in recent years have restricted its use.

Production.-Hairy, or winter vetch seed is difficult to grow, small quantities being produced only in Michigan in connection with rye for grain. Most of the hairy vetch seed comes from Russia, but quantities have been small since 1914. The Willamette Valley in Oregon produces most of the common or spring vetch seed. The demand for this species, although the price is lower, rarely exceeds production and little is imported.

Imports of hairy vetch in 1914 were 3,405,750 pounds, valued at $135,875; and of spring vetch, 630,881 pounds, valued at $24,085. Later statistics follow (000 omitted):

SEEDS, OIL-BEARING. Apricot and Peach kernels. The principal use of these kernels is in the production of apricot and peach kernel oil. In preparing the fruit for drying it is split open and the pit removed. The pits are used quite extensively in California for fuel, and during the war were employed in making charcoal for gas masks.

Production. The source of the kernels is primarily the canning factories and, in California, the apricot and peach drying yards.

Imports averaged annually 22,874 pounds for 1912-1916. Later statistics follow:

Grass n. s. p. f. A few kinds of grass seeds n. 8. p. f. are imported. Canada blue-grass seed, practically all from Ontario, Canada, is used for planting. It was formerly employed to adulterate Kentucky blue-grass seed. Kentucky blue-grass seed is used for sowing, principally in pastures. Sufficiet is produced in Kentucky, Missouri, and Iowa for domestic requirements. Very little is imported. A mixture of alsike clover and timothy seed is extensively sown for hay. Although this mixture is largely imported, there is also a limited domestic production. Orchard grass seed, sown in pastures and meadows, thrives in shady places. Kentucky, Indiana, Ohio, and Virginia produce the greater part of the requirements. Large quantities were formerly imported from New Zealand,

211,105

$19,117 $7,233

37.83

38,416

7,847

1,152

14.69

65,215

14,453

1,955

13.53

32.608

7,311

978

13.38

226,703

9,437

6,801

72.07

2,291

1, 191

Castor Beans or seeds are employed principally for oil manufacture. The oil is used for industrial purposes, as a medicine, and as a lubricant for airplanes.

Production is cheaper perhaps in India and other Asiatic countries than elsewhere; it is insignificant in this country, chiefly because of the large amount of hand labor required, especially in harvesting. Efforts in 1918 to grow these beans to supply oil for airplanes met with little success, because of the inexperience of agriculturists, unseasonable conditions, and other causes.