New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1897-09-13
4 SENSIBLE SEED POLJCf.

Tribune 10 the sagacty and judgment when
have marked the administration of the Depart
ment of Agriculture since Mr.. Wilson lnsti,iia-
ton in office. six months ago In that Drei
period the new Secretary has fairly achieved Il
reputation unique in his department for orlsl-
nality enterprise and trained executive SIKH.
Fertile in ideas and ingenious in devices Ior
the expansion of the Nations agricultural IN
terests and their development on rational ana
trulv economical lines, Mr.. Wilson's inspiring
personal influence seems already 10 have reVo-
lu,ionzed the work of the department ana 10
have lifted It's activities from the plane OF mere
dilettante research to IN exceedingly high lever
of practical interest and Importance 'hoe
March : many notable reforms have been az
complishcd in the methods by which the big
agricultural machine at Washington is operated
and many new and practical aims have been
set IL by the keen Scotch farmer who has under
taken its direction But of all the fruitful IN
noyatons attempted by Mr.. Wilson none, per-
haps. is TO be more heartily commenced lnah
the decision he has just announced to allow no
further abuse Of the departments much-per-
ycrted function Of seed purchase and circula-
ton.
According TO recent dispatches from Washing
ton Secretary Wilson has declared hihlseli ~
frankly opposed to the indlscrlmnate scatter
ing of pumpkin squash and lhorhlhg-gior!
seed broadcast over the country. ana mas pro-
claimed his intention TO do all that ne can w
discourage n practice which has brought upon
the work Of the department for many years
past a more than appreciate shadow OF poPu-
lar ridicule The Secretary shows his accuS-
toned sagacity in the means he proposes 10 Jake
TO remove the stigma Of opera bouile from MS
execution Of the so-called Free Seed law As Is
we'll known the practical notification or thlS
law by Mr.. Cleveland's Secretary OF Agriculture
J. Sterling Norton led TO long and bitter hgh'
during the last Administration between Inc
Secretary and Congress. Though Congress ap-
proprlatcd the usual amounts annually Tor Inc
purchase and distribution of seeds, Mr.. Morton
refuscd 10 cypend the moneys and dcfantly COW
cred them back into the Treasury But the
Two houses violently resented this arbitrary ana
ndefenslble refusal on the Sccretarys part 10
execute the law. and the latter. after many IN
efrectual struggles, had finally to obey the VIII
OF the legislative department. But To make the
statute az odious rs possible the defeated Secre-
tary purchased only the most common OF SEEDS
and distributed them with notice 10 the con
filling public which applied for parcels that they
were only passed around as mementos OF nope
less legislative extravaganza and folly.
Public opinion may have sustained Mr.. Nor
ton in his caustc estimate OF tho value OF mali
Ing "gardcn-sass" seeds 10 random applicants
rs n means Of encouraging National progress in
agriculture But no logic could defend his ar
bltrary refusal TO carry out the provisions of
a law passed by Congress and signed by the
President Secretary Wilson has found IN
easier and more effective way tn check Inc
wasteful and useless outgo Of seed packages
under the old grab-bag system. Instead OF fol-
lowing Mr. Moron's example and parccllng out
sunfowcr sweet pea and Johnny jump-up seeds
with impartial Indifference. he viii return TO
the strict reading of the law aud distribute here
after only seeds vines, bulbs and plants which
have genuine value in charging and divers
fying American agriculture and horticulture.
For instance, the bulk OF the present approprla-
ton or $4,000 will 90 10 procuring and ship
ping camphor tree slips TO farmers in the Gulf
States who wish 10 experiment with them, beet
seeds 70 Western applicants who are anxious 10
try 10 raise the sugar beet, grape cuttings To
vineyard owners who are willing to Introduce
new European varieties, and English walnut
Sins to those who will agree to embark in wal
nut-tree culture.
Mr.. Wilson's scheme can hardly fail To com
mand approval In any quarter in which the real
value ~ The work at which he Is now setting the
Agricultural Department is known and appre-
cinted The frce-sccd distribution abuse had
exhausted public patience. and in such hands
as Secretary Morton's had been made 10 as
sumo the proportions Of a public scandal The
new Secrctarys ingenious device or securing
and distributing only such seeds and plants as
will help 10 develop American agricultural in
tercstS removes at once the reprOaCh OF cN-
trayagance and the stigma OF administrative
folly and buncombc. Ii is Il relief, certainly,
after the unseemly chickering's Of the last four
wears. to know that the Government has at last
hit upon 4 seed policy which is at once theO-
reically defcnsbc and of undoubtcd practical
utility.
MONEY AND BUSINESS.