The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1891-09-08
THE SEED DISTRIBUTION HUM
BUG.

BUG.
Mr.. EDITOR:-The Congressman who
scatter common garden seed around
the country at public expence seem to
have an earnest defence in Major Rag
land, of the HycO tObaccO-seed farm in
Virginia, | would like to say to Mai.
Ragland that did not take up my pen
in defence of a paid scribbler," as he
says, but to denOUnCe q fraud and a
humbug. No one pays me for this, and
l have done it simply because l believe
that the whole system is wrong. The
fact that Major Ragland raises to-
baCcO-seed for the Department may
not influence his opinion but when we
find q man so anxious to defend what
puts money in his pocket, we are apt
to consider him a paid advocate. Maj.
r. says the government distribution
has stimulated a desire to procure
test and use the best the world affords. >
No doubt 1t hae 'Stlmulated" most OF
those who have tried them to buy
something better the next time. In
regard to what Maj, Ragland says
about my growing mullins from seed
sent me labeled tobacco seed, l would
beg leave to say that I probably know
as much abOUt sowing and germinat-
ing seed sas Mai. r. Every seed of
that package which terminated pro
duced q mullin plant, Unfortunately
for the Majors theory, the seed were
sOwn in rows and no mullin plant ap-
peared in the bed except where the
seed were SOWn.
As TO the inferior quality Of seed sent
out from the government seed shop
could bring a host of witnesses. But
all this has nothing to do with the Ques-
ton at issue. The law was originally
meant for the distribution Of raw and
untested seeds, that the Department
could obtain through consular agents
abroad, and which were not Obtainable
in the ordinary places Of business. 1t
has been corrupted into a medium to
enahl6 Congressman to throw tatfy to
farmers, as though the farmers were
to be bought with q quarters worth OF
seeds. 1t is a perversiOn Of the law
and q misuse of public money. The
farmers, Maj. Ragland, arenOt paup9rS,
begging for a few penny wOrths of seed
to atone for the wholesale robbery OF
high tariff.
The only question at issue is, has the
Department a right to take the public
money and spend it for seeds that can
be bought OF as good and probably
better quality III any country stOreI |
said that they have no more right to dc
it than they have to buy iron for the
blacksmiths or shoe pegs for the shoe
makers. Nearly every Commissioner
of Agriculture tried to break up the
abuse, but was forced by COngre smen
to continue it, and no one knows better
the utterly rotten and fraudulent char
actor of the whole business than those
who are compelled to carry it out. Gen.
LIE Due told me only a few days ago
that he tried his utmost to break it up
but Congress compelled him to con
tinue it. Commissioner COlman an
nOunced at q convention at the Depart
ment IN my presence his determine
ton to make the seed distribution
simply what the law designed, but he
too was compelled to keep the thing
going.
lido not know the attitude Of the pres
ent Secretary in regard to it, but feel
sure if the truth were known he would
like ID free the Department from this
Canker.
Ihave no doubt Maj. RagIand fur
nishes good t~ObaccO-seed to the De
partment, but what right has the gov
eminent to buy t~0bacc0-seed from Mai.
Ragland and give them to Mai. Rag
lands neighbOr, who is able to buy all
the seed he wants, and can find them
for sale next door? The Major saws:
HAS the great body of agriculturists
of the United States been humbugged
for hdf q centtry?' Yes sir, and 1t
1CiU take more than q fire cent paper OF
tObGccO-seed to right them.
The farmers don't want puny aims,
they don't want laws which ODDrpSS