The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1896-02-04
FREE SEED DISTRIBUTION.

joint meeting of the Committee on Ag-
riculture of both Houses on Wednes-
day. January 18th, for the purpose of
his action with reference to
the purchase and distribution of seed.
Secretary professed himself ready
to answer any and all inquiries made
by members of the committee, and his
replies to such inquiries presented,
among others. the following facts:
AGGREGATE EXPENDITURE THE LAW
FOR PURCHASING AND DISTRIBUTING
SEEDS
No specific amount was separately
for seed distribution
prior TO the fiscal year 1865. Since aud
including that year up to date the total
amount exDen6 ed aggregates$ s$2 $50, 600.
The section under which this expendi
ture has been made reads as follows:
The purchase and distribution of
seed by the Department of Agriculture
shall be confined to such as are rare
and uncommon in the country or such
as can be made more profitable by fire.
Quent changes from one part of our
Country to another, and the purchase,
propagation aud distribution of trees,
plants, shrubs, vines, and cuttings
shall be confined to such as are adapted
to general cultivation and to promote
the general interest of agriculture and
horticulture throughout the United
States.
DIFFICULTY IN SECURING NEW AND VALU
ABLE sEEDS.
Every annual appropriation act for
the purchase, propagation and distribu
ton of seeds contains the words "as
required Oy law" Every year adds to
the difficulty Of finding genuinely and
useful seeds rare and uncommon to
the country" adapted to general cult
walton and to promote the general In
teresG of agriculture and horticulture
throughout the United States" The
pressure to supply Congressme has
led to the purchase of seed on very i'm
perfect evidence as to novelty aud
value, the vast majority of so-called
new seeds and plants offered by seed
men ana hOrJiculturists being merely
old varieties under new names. Hence
the distribution was kept up during
the past three years with great diff
Guilty and doubt as to its legality, and
every seed found anywhere Offering
reasonable prospects of usefulness in
any part Of the country was purchased
and literally distributed.
SEEDS Observation-Disclosures OF SUCH
DISTRIBUTION.
From July 1, 1892, to July 1, 1895,
the total distribution aggregated nearly
81 600, 600 packages, of which 81 800 994
packages were distributed to Senators
and Representatives. During the term
of Office of the present Secretary mem
bers of Congress have received 3 ESQ.,
1O4 packages of seed more than during
the corresponding period under his pre-
decessor. Although thus diligently
carried out, the seed distribution has
been unsatisfactory to the people and
not calculated to promote the general
interest of agriculture and horticulture
Indeed, by inducing the people to ex
pend labor upon things they supposed
to be new, but will prove to be either
common or unsuitable, the hegovernment
has actually imposed upon them the
loss of money, time and labor.
LKGAL ADVERTISEMENT FOR PLANTS,
TREES, ETC.
In final effort to carry out the law
in strict accord with it's requirements
the Secretary, after consultation with
the Attorney General, caused an adver-
tisement for plants, trees, etc., stating
the requirements of the Department in
the language of the statute, to be pub,
lished in the lawful numbers of papers
and addressed to all seedmen and hor-
ticulturists on the Department list
The latest date at which seed could be
delivered in Washington to be avail
able for suitable distribution was No
vember 1, this arrangement giving only
from 70 to 100 days in which to clean,
test, sort, and label the seed for dis
tribution to members of Congress.
CHARACTER OF THE BIDS RECEIVED
BIDS were called for to be opened
July 1, and the board appointed to open
and examine the same found only three
which in form came up to the require
ments of the advertisement. One
offered flower and vegetable seed and
two kinds of grasses. The board found
the flower and vegetable seed were not
rare, and the Agrostologist attached to
tho 6onartment rannrted one of the