Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1892-04-03

that they had sent US a stock that they
had left over from the previous year.
They claimed to believe them good, but
our tests showed that only 10 per cent.
would terminate. They will have to
take them back, pay the freight both
ways and send us a perfect article.
During late years the reports from the
seeds we have sent out have been excel
lent. We distribute none but such as
we have tested and know TO be good.
"There is another little confidence
game that is now and then played on US.
A man will claim that he has some
greatly improved variety OF vegetable or
flower. He puts big high sounding
name TO IL, and as we are always look
ing out for good things we are very
likely to be taken In. When the seed
comes up 1t is found, perhaps, to be
only some ordinary affair. / remember
once we got some alleged flower seeds
with Latin name foot long. They
were represented TO be exceeding choice.
| took a few OF them home and planted
them in my garden. was going on my
annual leave and left strict orders TO
keep the hens of and 10 let no calamity
befall those seeds. When / came back
I found that they had come up aud
were growing In fine shape. What do
you suppose that plant was? Just a
pumpkin, only that and nothing more. -"
what is the yearly allowance OF
seeds to each Congressman"
at is not always the same. Last year
I'D y h0D
packages Of vegetables and 500 OF
flower seeds. The aggregate was more
than 1900, 900 packages. We keep an
account with each man, just as bank
does with It's depositor. The whole
number Is placed TO his credit and as
fast az his orders are filled they are
charged TO him. Some OF the statesmen
furnish US lists Of names and we address
and mail the packages. Others have
their entire quota sent TO their rooms
and employ clerks TO do the work.
Many OF them would largely overdraw
their seed accounts II they could. We
try to be as liberal with them as we can,
but we have TO shut down on them
when the supply is exhausted. Why,
some OF them inst send the poll lists OF
their districts here and want seeds sent
TO every man. II is q beautiful theory
to serve the voters all alike, but the
seeds don't reach half way.
"a CONGRESSMAN told me funny story
of the experience he had with q con-
stituent who could no doubt till the soil
better than he could spell. He wrote 70
the member for some 'unyun seets.'
The writing was as bad as the orthog-
rapby, and after pulling over IL the
Congressman translated II to mean
union suits he was anxious 10 please
his friend, and so he went 10 clothing
store and bought two secondhand suits
OF regulation army uniform clothes.
These went by express and In few days
came a letter In which the writer ex-
pressed the profoundest thanks for the
clothes. But where are are the unyun
seets i asked for?' Then the member
came over to the department where be
was told that his constituent probably
wanted some 'onion SETS We do not
furnish settings but gave him q liberal
supply OF onion seeds. The joke was
clearly on the Congressman. He recog-
nized the fact by sending box OF cigars
with his compliments"
81 understand the Congressman and
Senators get two-thirds. How do you
distribute the remaining third?"
sIn various ways. We send them "a
agricultural colleges and societies In all
parts OF the country and 70 individuals
who apply directly to the department,
of whom there are Thousands every
year. Anybody VINO writes us for seed:
will get them provided we have what be
wants. Then we have more than 10,00f
local correspondents who send US month
ly crop reports. For this service theJ
receive no money compensation. but w
are generous with them In the matter ol
seeds for their communities. You ses
| that by our system In all It's ramifica
lions the distribution is very thorough
Seeds from Washington reach every vii
Iage and hamlet 10 the country. l cal
tell you that the people appreciate then
too. They get all the best varieties thai
are developed from year TO year, mani
OF which they otherwise never would
hear Of. There used 70 be good dea
of sport made OF our seed business, bui
people are not laughing as much as theI
were. The department Ia here 10 stay
because It is real practical benefit u
the country"
I'VE get some letters that make N
smile. One came the other day ad
dressed to The Boss Farmer, Washing
ton, d. c. OF course, that meant Sec
rotary Rusk. Another was addressed
Head Agriculturlst,' which was tn,
the same idea differently expressed
There was one which would indicate II
the mind of the writer foggy idea o.
red tape. 1t bore the srperscription
To the Chief Vegetable Man, Govern
ment Printing Office, By way Of the Pat
ent Office We stu get letters ad
dressed to Fred Watts. who was Com
missioner Of Agriculture from rs77 Il