The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1893-12-13

Ireland absorbs by far the largest pro.
portion. Of cattle, the total exports
aqereeated in value for the fiscal year
ending June 30, 1893, S26,00O,OOO. of
which Great Britain took considerably
over S25,OOOOOO. OF beef products of
all kinds our total exports were S2S,-
100000 of which Great Britain took
1924, 100000.
OF pork products the total exports
were $84, 900 900, of which Great Britain
took s5s,OOO,OO0. In bread stuff cotton
and minor products, like proportions
sent to the same destination, are shown.
The work OF the statistical division of
the Department Of Agriculture, deals
With all that relates to the economies
of farming TIE main purpose OF Its
monthly reports is to keep the far mers
informed as fully as possible or all
matters having any influence upon the
worlds markets, in which their products
find sale. Its publications relate espe-
cially to the commercial side of farm
ing. 1t is, therefore, of profound in
portance and vital concern to the farm.
ers of the United States, who represent
nearly one-half of our population, and
also of direct interest to the whole
country that the work Of this division
be efficiently performed, and that the
information it has gathered be prompt
ly diffused. 1t Is matter of cong
ratulation to know that the Secretary
will not spare any effort to make this
part of his work thoroughly useful. In
the year 1889 the Congress appropriat.
ed $1,000, to be taken from the patent
Office funds. for the purpose OF collect,
ing and distributing rare and improved
varieties of seeds and for the prosecut-
ion of agricultural Investigations and
procuring agricultural statistics. From
this small beginning the seed division OF
the Department of Agriculture has
grown to its present unwielding and
unjustiiable eXtravagant proportions
During the last fiscal year the cost OF
seed purchased was S 66,54861. The re-
mainder of an appropriation OF $l3o,-
600 was expended in putting them up
and distributing them. It surely never
could have entered the minds of those
who first sanctioned appropriations of
public money for the purchase OF new
and improved varieties OF seed for Rratu.
itous distribution that from this would
grow large az propriations for the pur.
chase and distribution by members oil
Congress of ordinary seeds and cut
tings which are common in all the State
and territories and everywhere easily
obtainable at low prices. In each State
and territory and agricultural experl
ment station has been established,
These stations, by their very character
and name are the proper agencies to
experiment with and test new varieties
of seeds, and yet this lndiscrimlnate
and wasteful distribution by Legislation
and legislators continues, ans Werlng no
purpose unless it be to remind constl-
tuents that their representatives are
unllS t)r.n,n,, G1.n Fli1 ga u1-
ties at public cost.
Under the sanction of existing legis-
latton there was sent out from the
Agricultural Department during the
last fiscal year enough of cabbage see!i
to plant 1920 acres of land; a sufi,
cient quantity of beans to plant 400
acres; beet seeds enough to plant 2SOO
acres; sweet corn enough to plant 7,oOO
acres; sufficient cucumber seed to cover
2,025 acres with vines, and enough
muskmalon and watermelon seeds to
plant 2,675 acres. The total quantity OF
flower and vegetable seeds thus dlstrt-
puted was contained in more than nine
million packages, and thew we're suffi-
cient if planted to cover 1885 acres OF
land. In view of these facts that enor-
nous xpenditure without legitimate
returns of benefit, ought to be abolish
ed. Anticipating a consummation so
manifestly in the interest Of good ad-
ministratioo, more than 100000 has
been stricken from the estimate made
to cover this object for the year ending
June 30, 1895, and the Secretary rec nm :
mends that the remaining $4,000 of
the estimate be confined strictly to the
purchare of new and improved varie-
ties of seeds, and thst,these be distribut-
ed through experiment stations. Thus
the seed will be better and after the
test has been completed by the expert.
ment station that propagation OF
the useful varletis and the rejection OF
yalueless may safely be left to the com.
mon sense of the people.
The continued Intelligent execution
of the civil service law and the lncreas.
ing approval by the people of its opera.
tion are most gratifying. The recent
extension of Its limitations and regula.
tion Of the employees at free delivery
postoffices, which has been honestly and
promptly,accomplished by the Commits
sion, with the hearty co-opera-
tfon of the Postmaster Gen.
eral, is an immensely i'm.
portant advance in the usefulness OF
the system. am, if possible, more than
ever convinced of the incalculable ben
efits conferred by the civil service law
not only in its effect upon the public
service, but also what is even more i'm.
portaut In its effect, in ele vating the
tone of political life generally.
The course Of civil service reform in
this country instructively and interest
ingly illustrates how strong a hold a
movement gains upon our people which
has underlying 1t a sentiment Of ustice
and right, and which at the same time
promises better administration Of the
government. The law embodying this
reform found its way to our statute
book more from fear of the popular
sentiment existing in its favor than
from any love for the reform itself on
the part 1 of legislators, and 1t has
lived and grown land fourished
in spite of the covert, as
we'll as open hostility of spoilsmen,
and Notwithstanding the querelous i'm.
practicability of many selfconstltuted
guardians. Beneath all the vagaries
and sublimated theories which are at.
tracred to it there underlies this reform
a sturdy common-sense principle, not
only suited to this mundane sphere, but
whose application our people are more
and more reconizing to be absolutely
essential To the most successful OD