The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1897-09-02
DISTRIBUTION OF SEEDS.
j. e. NOrthrop Discusses the Govern
ment Seed shop.

]. q. Northrop delegate from the
National Association of Seed-GroWerS
and Nurserymen, read a caustic cr1ti-
cism of what he styled "The Govern
ment Seed Shop" Among other things
he said:
| Henry l.. Ellsworth, the first commissioner
of patents, conceived the idea of distributing
new and rare seeds among the farmers OF the
United States This he did at his own ex-
pense from 1886 to 1885, when he asked and
secured from congress an appropriation OF
81 coo for the purpose of collecting and DIS
tributing rare and improved varieties OF seeds
and prosecuting agricultural investigations,
and procuring agricultural statistics. FROM
this small beginning. founded in patriotism
has arisen the government seed-shop at
Washington. the colossal humbug of the day.
During the earlier years, the sums ap-
propriated by congress for TINS purpose, seem
to have been wisely expended
In 1862 the department of agriculture was
established, but the unlimited disposition OF
North Dakota received their full quota of
cotton seed. while those in Alabama and
Texas found springwheat in their prize pack
ages.
distribution had one redeeming feature, how
ever, for under it, many farmers had an OPP
portunity of inspecting seeds they had never
seen before, while in previous distributions,
they had been presented with varieties with
which they had been intimately familiar since
their boyhood days upon the farm.
That the distribution is regarded with little
interest is evidenced by the fact that out
of 8 600 900 papers of seeds distributed among
$40 600 citizens of the United States, only $40
acknowledged their receipt.
Several vigorous efforts have been made to
put a stop to this wasteful and demoralizing
use of the public funds which has already
consumed nearly So $4,000 The character of the
present secretary of agriculture is a sufficient
guarantee that he will exert his full infu-
ence toward combining it's distribution within
proper lines but the head of the department
is practically poweress in the matter, for
under the present act, it is mandatory upon
him to purchase the greatest quantity of
seeds possible to obtain for the appro-
priated and to set aside three fourths of the
packets for the use of senators and congress
men.
1t is really doubtful if congressman them
selves want these seeds. They to them
a source of endless annoyance. trivial CORES
have any seeds at all they must have a good
many for if a member of congress sends
seeds to John Doe and fails to send any to
Richard Roe. he has made an enemy of
Richard In fact. to keep peace in his BALL
wick, he must send a collection of seeds to
each voter of his political faith in the
district.
The question then is, by what means shall
this ''old man of the sea- be thrown from our
shoulders and the answer is, by the farmers
of America, the only force which can ac-
complish it. 1t must be done by a decisive
act of congress. To that end Mr.. Northrop
prepared a set of resolutions in which the
farmers congress asks for abatement of
the nuisance These were referred to the
committee on resolutions.