Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1895-07-04
U. S. SEED INDUSTRY.
Explanation for the Benefit o. Yir.
sinIans and North CaroliDlans.
DISTRIBUTION NOT STOPPED.
Il VIII he Conaned In Future. How
ever, TO the Rarcr Varieties OF
Garden and FIower-Seed--Fnr-
Reel Personals.

WASHINGTON. ID. c.. July S.-Cs2eciai)
The announcement made yesterday by
Secretary Morton that the Department
of Agriculture would not next year pro-
miscuous;y distribute garden and flower
seeds needs some explanation In order
that virginisns and North Carolinians
may not conceive the idea that the de-
partment people are trying TO take away
from the masses their rights. The de-
partment does not propose to give up
entirely the distribution. but In future
only the rsrer varieties win be sent out
All OF the Virginia and North Carolina
congressman know what source OF
worry this practice OF giving out seed has
been. Each member is entitled, as rule
TO about 5000 papers OF seed. which,
when made up into packages OF three
ave. and ten papers each. render the
supply quite limited. when the fact Is
taken into consideration that each con-
kressional district has approximately
population Of l10.0 0o persons. should zo'oo
or even 500. people request their Goa
kressmen 20 favor them, II would simply
be impossible. The plan on which the
distribution Is made Is 'nrst come. hrs'
served" and, OF course. great many
requests cannot necessarily be complied
with.
COMPLAINT.
As long as the government engages In
the practice II is quite natural for one
man or woman 10 conclude that he or she
Should be favored. 30 long as neignbors
are remembered, and there has been no
end Of complaint from Virginia and North
Carolina. In many instances whole FAM
lies will write TO u congressman, ana
even farm hands have been pressed into
service on postal-cards so that whole
planting can be secured. The govern
ment never intended that this sort OF
business should be done. The idea has
been TO merely introduce new varieties
and improved ones, and once supplied
the recipient Is supposed to get start.
and &c save for next years planting what
was raised from the limited sample-lot
frat distributed The same rule was
supposed to apply TO farm and garden
seed 10 corn and grass seed, and to
flower seed: and a few choice ami rare
bulbs and plants have from time 10 time
been distributed.
MORTON'S AIN.
AS has been before referred 10 in the
Dispatch correspondence, Secretary Nor
ton has endeavored to make every bureau
In his department as useful and practical
az possible. and has taken special Inter
est in soil tests, the determination OF
insects and pests generally that attack
growing crops and fruit trees. and, better
than all, has instructed his scientific men
TO write the reports in the plainest Eng
lish imaginable, so that farmers can
understand them without having To con-
NF.1 hot
been made in Virginia. and the depart
ment has been in close touch with Colo
nsl Whiteheads Office In Virginia
Mr.. Morton is a frequent visitor TO points
IN Virginia. He has been 10 Monticello,
and he not only goes fshn9 with the
President and Commissioner Joe Miller.
In Loudoun county. but Is friend and
visitor Of State Senator Henry Fairfaxs.
having several times been his guest at
his lovely place near Aide, in Loudoun
county.
MINISTER RANSOM.
The talk at the State Department Is that
General Ransom, United States Minister
10 Mexico will probably make visit
90 Washington shortly. According to let
tiers received here ne has improved stead
lily since his arrival In North Carolina,
and his friends believe that he will soon
be all right. and able to return to the city
OF Mexico in good shape when his leave
expires.
Some OF the North Carolinans In this
city seem to think that ex-Congressman
Wharton j. Green Will take a more ac-
tive part in State politics next year.
POST-OFFICE REMOVAL
II is ordered that the post-office at
Topeco, Floyd county. Va. be removed a
quarter OF mile south Of the old loca-
ton; Noah c. Canaday. postmaster.
The following are among to-day's North
Carolina visitors: Nj. p Anderson, and
J. 8. Myers, and SONS, Of Charlotte r.
L. Patterson, Of Durham, and c. W. Bos-
hamer. OF Statesville.