America's Crop Heritage


 9. Lastly-its use, whether for food, medicine, or the arts.
 In removing seeds or plants from remote places across the ocean, or other-
wise, great care is often necessary to be observed in the manner of putting
them up and covering them. To aid your efforts in this respect, upon the
present occasion, a paper of directions has been prepared, and is herewith
transmitted.
 "The President will hope for your attention to the objects of this com-
munication as far as circumstances will allow; and it is not doubted but that
your own public feelings will impart to your endeavours under it, a zeal pro-
portioned to the beneficial results to which the communication looks. It is
proper to add, that no expense can at present be authorized in relation to it.
It is possible, however, that Congress may not be indisposed to provide a
small fund for it. The seeds, plants, cuttings, or whatever other germinating
substance you may transmit, must be addressed to the Treasury Department,
and sent to the collector of the port to which the vessel conveying them is
destined, or where she may arrive, accompanied by a letter of advice to the
Department. The Secretary of the Navy has instructed the commanders of
such of the public vessels of the United States as may ever touch at your port,
to lend you their assistance towards giving effect to the objects of this com-
munication; as you will perceive by the copy of his letter of instructions,
which is herewith enclosed for your information. It is believed also that the
masters of the merchant vessels of the United States will generally be willing-
such is their well known public spirit-to lend their gratuitous co-operation
towards effecting the objects proposed. I remain, respectfully, your most
obedient servant."
 RICHARD RUSH
From the American Farmer, IX, (November 30, 1827), 292-93.


 SECTION II
DIRECTIONS FOR PUTTING UP AND TRANSMITTING SEEDS AND
 PLANTS, ACCOMPANYING THE LETTER OF THE SECRETARY OF
 THE TREASURY OF SEPTEMBER 6, 1827
 "With a view to the transmission of seeds from distant countries, the
first object of care is to obtain seeds that are fully ripe, and in a sound and
healthy state. To this the strictest attention should be paid; otherwise, all
the care and trouble that may be bestowed on them, will have been wasted on
objects utterly useless.
 "Those seeds that are not dry when gathered, should be rendered so by
exposure to the air in the shade.
 "When dry, the seeds should be put into paper bags. Common brown
paper has been found to answer well for making such bags. But, as the mode
of manufacturing that paper varies in different countries, the precaution
should be used of putting a portion of the seeds in other kinds of paper.
Those that most effectually exclude air and moisture are believed to be the
best for that purpose. It would be proper, also, to enclose some of the seeds
in paper or cloth that has been steeped in melted bees' wax. It has been
recommended that seeds collected in a moist country, or season, be packed
in charcoal.