The Washington union. [volume] (City of Washington [D.C.]) 1857-1859, 1858-06-08

Commissioner of Patents.
UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE,
june 8, 1853
SIR In reply to Your communication Of the 4th inst
requesting information in regard to certain allegations
against this Office herewith have the honor to transmit
the following statement which is based testimony
contained i'll this department and knowledge derived
from persons connected herewith: .
In To the first query, would reply that agents
have not been annually To Europe by this Office and
the only instances in which expenses have been incurred
in this manner were by Mr.. Browne in 1854 and 1855
for purposes hereinafter mentioned, and Mr. Claiborne
in 1851 to collect and report information in relation to
the consumption OF COTTON"
In to the second query would state that the
seeds, cuttings, &c, which have been procured by the
office have been obtained from reliable sources mostly in
Europe and this country, at wholesale prices the seec
tons having generally been made with discrimination
and with reference to their adaptation to and
economy, while due diligence and skill have been used
in their transportation, preservation, and distribution
Large portions OF these selections have been successfully
cultivated ia various parts of the United States increas
ing the products of the farms and gardens and ENHANCING.
the comforts, luxuries, and wealth Of the people. In
consequences Of this field of enterprise has been
created, than two hundred seed stores established
IN the interior and the demands for approved seeds of
various kinds foreign and domestic, have been fully
doubled within the last four years Among those i'm
ported might be mentioned few the culture of which
has been extended and bids fair to add untold millions
the future wealth Of the country Although it is ad-
mitted that many OF these seeds varieties analogous
known to the seedsmen Of larger cities
there existed no small portion of the inhabitants of the
United States who, from the remoteness of these estab
lishments deprived of their benefits and there
thousands of in which they had no knowledge
of such seeds before. Through this bounty of govern
men with the privilege of transmitting these seeds free
by mail they found their way to the most distant
homesteads OF the frontiers
With regard 10 the Importation of seeds from Europe
the Office has been actuated by the principles
seedsmen They can usually be purchased there larger
quantities, on better terms and in many cases superior
In quality Those OF the Brsca tribes for instance
such as cabbages, trnps &C., grown in the COOL moist
climates OF the north Of Europe in the absence of the hot
scoichng suns and numerous insects which, in other
countries affect the stalks and leaves these plants
can be raised ut cheaper rate and better quality than
can be done in the older settled parts Of The United States
and BESIDES all varieties that liable to be affected by
cross formulation cultivated at distance from one
another and even plants of American origin have been
improved by careful management. Similar could
be advanced In favor Of peas beet celery, &c., imported
from abroad 4
In reply to the inquiry concerning n more feasible
plan Of distribution, it il obvious that change is de-
sirable. 1t may not generally be known that the
apartments in the Patent Office in which the labor
Of packing the seeds has been performed were, per-
haps unavodably for several years accessible to many
persons other than those properly engaged therein
indeed, to the public and that the Commissioner s
frank in some instances obtained and used for
ryng through the mails seeds selected by the office
adyertence individuals liable to send out seeds at
inappropriate seasons TO localities to which they were
not adapted and have been known in which franks
were used to cover seeds procured from other sources
while there is to suspect that in some instances
frauds practiscd with view of throwing discredit
upon the office. During the past winter and spring.
however santary reform has been realized in these
particulars The rooms in which the operative force has
been employed have been entirely private the work of
packing and distributing has been executed under the
supervision OF responsible clerk assisted by of in
fcligence and experience and to avoid mistakes seeds
OF only one variety have been opened at time for put
ting up In short the utmost has been exercised
to secure accuracy, justice, and despatch in these
portant duties ~ -
It has long been the opinion Of thecef manager of this
division that these seeds, cuttings, &c. should be dsri
ued when practicable, throughout the country in larger
quantities than has been the heretofore and to com
petent and responsible parties such agricultural socie
ties, county clerks seed growers nurserymen &c. the
most appropriate agencies he conceves for the execution
OF the implied trust In where the societies might
not lind it convenient to make these tests upon large
SCALE they might at least be able to make distributions
among their members offering prizes for successful com
petition, and requiring report from each in demonsa-
tsh OF the utility or nappropriateness Of the objects
experiment. The early and accurate information thus
afforded toscedsmen and Others Interested would doubt
less he of value In order to facilitate the transmission
OF the packages by the societies to their members he
commens that TO each parcel should be attached suit
able stamp, furnished by the General Post Office which
would allow 1t to pass free from post Office within the
territory OF the United States by single carriage only
subject to be cancelled checked by the in
the same manner as adopted at present letter stamps
In reply to the query in relation to the manner in
which the Agricultural Reports of the Patent Office have
been prepared deem 1t only necessary to say that from
the cagernes with which they been sought and the
unanmity Of the verdict not only Of the American peo-
pie but of the civilized world, in their favor no doubt
can exist in relation to their usefulness or accountability
No series Of documents indeed have ever eanated from
The government which have been more highly priced
hey are well approved repositories Of useful fcts pcc-
Marty suggestive in their character and prepared with
gfent care, assduity and acknowledged ability
Ihe NTH interrogatory renders necessary a recital
which nothing less than your expressed wish OF Justice
mcritorious public officer could make pertinent in
inns connection but since il appears to be important
mat Information should be given in regard to the fitness
Oh Mr. Browne for his present position shall present
condensed account which need only say Is based pon
authoritative and reliable data and attestcd hy persons
VINO have been cognizan of his career showing that he
mas served regular apprenticeship, course of prepare
oh' oy actual labor in every branch of knowledge his
present vocation wonld seem 10 require
Ia iozz at the age OF eighteen, we find him in charge
VI the chief operations of the dairy farm containing more
,aan hity COWS, of General Thomas Taylor in Quincy
massachusetts,, which required his attention and super
W "on rom hall past two clock in the morning until
ne closing IN OF the evening, and often even until ten