The Abilene reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1883-1888, 1885-05-21
SEED TIME AND HARVEST.


Developments In the Department OF Agri-
culture Showing That Some One Has
Reaped n Rich Harvest On Sorghum and
Sugar Beet Seed-Commissioner Colman' s
Dilemma-Tons of Seed and Nothing to
Move 1t With.
WASHINGTON, d. C., May 13.-Com-
missioner COlman says of the condition
of affairs in the Department of Agricul-
ture that soon after he entered upon his
duties his attention was called TO the
fact that the laboratory fund was nearly
exhausted. In order 10 avoid making a
deficiency he was compelled to furlough
several employees until the end of the
fiscal year without pay. Now it appears
several other specific appropriations are
many minor branches OF work must be
temporarily suspended. The statistical
division suffers the loss of all its State
agents, and other suspensions must
necessarily be made. In the seed division
the appropriation for the current fiscal
year was 100000. On the first of the
present month there remained only $50
of this fund in the Treasury.
An estimate made in detail by the head
of this division, and approved by the
Commissioner for the purchase of seeds,
called for the expenditure of so. ZOO, which
would leave $4,000 to pay the expense
OF packing and distribution. The amount
actually expended for seeds from this
fund seems 10 have been $50, 900. As q
result there are several kinds of seeds on
hand in large quantities with no money
to pay the expense of packing and distri-
button. There are thus in excess Is, 900
pounds of beet sugar seed, between 700
and 500 bushels of peas and
between 500 and 700 bushels Of
sorghum seed. There have been
distributed the past year about 5000
pounds of beet sugar seed, and the sup
ply on hand is sufficient to last nearly
three years at that rate. Some peas on
hand cost 81 bushel. Part of the sor-
ghum seeds have been empried from
sacks upon the floor, and two boys are
employed to stir them around to keep
them from spelling. A wide variety of
prices is.paid for seed. For example {:
Seventeen hundred bushels of sorghum
seed were purchased from a New York
firm at prices ranging from S2.S5 to 1926
a bushel, while 800 bushels o. the same
variety were Obtained from Western
man for 81 bushel.
THE CHEMISTS OPINION.
The attention of the chemist of the De-
partment was called to this fact, and he
was asked, as an expert, what would
have been fair price for the seed at the
time this stock was purchased. he said
it sold as low as twenty-five cents a
bushel in Nebraska, and that one dollar q
bushel would have been an exceedingly
good price for the very best quality,
ready prepared for planting. He was
asked how large quantity of sorghum
seed he would have purchased mad the
matter been left to him. mot pound, {"
he replied. ''There was no reason for
the purchase either of sorghum or beet.
There was no purpose in view. There
was no new variety to be tried. There
was no more reason for distributing the
old variety than for sending out white
wheat.
The chief of the seed division once last
summer called the attention of the chief
clerk of the department to sle fact that
he had more than two hundred ladies en-
ployed in the seed-room, and protested
this force could not be economically used,
but there seems to have been no efficient
reform. There seems to have been 4 very
liberal distribution of turnip seed so far
this year. The amount purchased is
stated at 10, les bushels, yet the amount
on hand is not reported in excess. The
largest amount previously purchased
within five years was $500 bushels. These
discoveries have been made incidentally,
but no formal Investigation undertaken