The Lambertville record. [volume] (Lambertville, N.J.) 1872-1968, 1884-10-08
SEEDS FOR THE PEOPLE.
Nearly Four Million Packages distributed
by COnRrcssineu.

by congressman.
An average Congressman prizes nothing
more than his seeds. They are always appre-
ciated, and appeal to the great mass of coun-
try constituencies.
This seed distribution is a peculiar affair.
From its inception the Agricultural Depart
ment has relied upon il as chief means of
keeping in the good graces of Congressman,
with remarkable success. The seed business
began small, but last year $75, 900 was voted
for its support, and this year 100000 is
set aside for the purpose. Formerly the
business was done in the basement of the
Agricultural Department, but two years ago
spacious building was erected for the pur-
pose, which now also shelters the Civil Ser
vice Commissioners. n
went down there tho other day to find
100 women and fifty -eight men busily em-
ployed in putting up the seed. The men
get $1.50a day, and women $1.25. Mr..
Longley, the chief, presides Every year
he buys tons of seeds. Some come from
abroad, the greater part is grown in this
country. He is constantly on the lookout
for new varieties. which are bought, tried
by the department gardener, and If q sue
cess, sent out. Two thirds of his appro-
priation he spends in seeds, the rest in put
ting them up. Half the women paste to-
gether stiff paper envelopes for the smaller
kinds, and others sew cotton bags for the
farm seeds. Then boys with different sized
scoops fill them, and at long tables other
women gum the envelope laps, or, with q
few quick stitches, sew tho bags. Then they
are piled up in heaps like small grist-mill,
waiting to be sent away This work is 60
ing on all the year. Now the winter wheat
is being prepared, to be followed by the cot
ton for the South.
During the year just over Mr.. Longley
has mailed 3,622,7 1888 packages, all going
free. OF these 2,ola. 7so are given to the
Congressman, although by law they are
only entitled to two-thirds. Then the Aeri-
cultural Department has crop correspond
ent in every county Lnd general one in
each State. The former got 800, 905 pack
ages, the latter u, 450, while miscellaneous
applicants received as, $50. And SO perfect
is the system that great books are kept
wherein each recipient and what he receives
are set down. The seeds. are of oil sorts.
from field corn and potatoes to the rarest
flowers. Peas, beans, corn and potatoes
are pat in quart sacks and the flowers seeds
in tiny envelopes Tho list inclu les over
fifty kinds while of vegetables there are 1873
varieties, and of flowers 1871. These two are
more than two-thirds of the whole. Last
year 2,35l 1886 lots of vegetables and $685.,
e38 Of flower seeds were distributed, turnips
ranking next, with 425, 1858, wheat 60, 300,
tobacco Id, 671, potatoes 112, 22O, sorghum
1850, while of tho poor despised sunfiower
665. packages were given away.
But the reader will say, what job II
must be for Congressman to do up TN |
address such a number of packages AL
lowing that the division was made equally,
each one received last year 7,104. This is
not literally true, for the city members very
often exchange their seeds with bucolic
statesmen for books and other perquisites,
while the country members, who never can
get enough seeds, go in troops to DIR. Lor-
ing to beg for more than they get by allow
ance and exchange. lie always manages
to squeeze out a few extra, which accounts
for their having moro than two-thirds. But
taking the average number, over 1000 OF
these bundles to direct would be a large lob,
Instead of that, they do this: Every Con
gresham keeps q wonderful book of names
He ransacks directories, writes to local poll
ticians and relies ON his memory to
get list of all the men in his district who
for any reason are worth looking after.
Thousands of them, with addresses, are thus
ON hand. This volume Is sent TO the Seed
OiIice There tho clerks direct TO each name
n variety of seeds, and in the mail goes at
the same time q neat official postal card
which bears these words, the blank appro.
priately filled;
SIR-At the request Of Hon.---we send
you q package of -. Very respectfully
GEORGE b. LoRNa, Commissioner.
Thus the recipient sees whence the dona-
ton comes, even II the member does not
have the bags sent to his room to be directed
by his own hand One wagon Is kept con-
stantly carrying the parcels to the postoli1ce,
and, if the increase goes on, no one knows
what bounds this grand distribution may
not reach. Correspondence Cincinnati Com
merciaj. rN4#