Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1897-07-21
DISTRIBUTING THE SEEDS
An Important Function of the Department
Of Agriculture.
Statistical Showing Made I'm the An.
suits-Special Agents. Views.

Inc report of seed distribution by he
agricultural Department for the fiscal
year ending June 30. 1897. has Just been is
sued, and contains some interesting facts
and hgures. The total amount available
Tor the purchase and distribution of The
seeds was 100000. of which all bur e. -
was expended.
or flower seeds. l,0I25oo packets were
distributed, costing s7.SG9.62 Packets OF
raoish seeds appeared to be most popular
In the vegetable line as 2l6l ITS of then,
were distributed, costing sl2eo. 81. Beets
were next In favor Packets to the number
OF 2,l4'W2 were sent out. costing sl2 80 10
Or cabbages, 2,13o.4is packets were distrib-
uted, at a cost OF sl2.35632 Lettuce seeds
10 the same number were given away by
the department. and the sum of SD l,I ~
was paid for them.
The large number of 2.1la.oI2 packets of
tomato seeds were sent broadcast incur
ring an expenditure of Sl2.34G &c Turnips
appealed apparently 10 the popular taste
Tor 2,ln.4ls packets of them were given
out and the cost was ST. 291 Onions
were well up In the demand. l.155 2oo pack
cts OF them being given away. while they
cost the department $40. l6l. ~. Beans for
bostonians and Massachusetts people gem
orally were donated TO the total number
OIL 425, 40 packets. costing s2.5l4.os
The AeEregntes.
The total sum expended for the ia.ors. Ssg
packets of vegetable seeds was sliaas7 a..
OF tobacco seeds 1850 packets were DIS
tributed, for which 81. i96.aS was paid OF
cotton seed 32,Go quarts were given away
to the farmers of the south and 81 21g ~
was expended for them
Special Agent for Inspection and Purch q,
OF Seeds r. ]. Whittleton of the Agricul-
tural Department stated today TO a reporter
OF The Star that under Secretary Morton a
new plan of purchasing the seeds had been
observed. He added:
u nder Secretary Rusk. by whom | was
appointed to my position, the seeds Were.
bought in bulk and were tested before being
accepted. There was required a certain per-
centage OF germina ton or the seeds were
rot approved. The packing was done by
the department. Then the seeds Were
bought from twenty or more firms in the
north and the same number in the south.
Under Secretary Morton only five firms
We're patronized last year-in Richmond,
Va; Philadelphia, Pa; St Paul Mimi
Memphis Tenn, and Rockford Ill Seeds
men who were not patronized had occasion
Tor complaint. Secretary Rusk believed in
having as much competition as possible.
The sample system.
Under the Morton system the seeds were
purchased in packets. Before this is done
samples are sent by the seed men 10 the
department to be examined. When found
up to the standard these samples are ac-
copied The same seeds, or of the same
standard, may or may not be used in the
packages. 1t is I'm much the same way as
II tailor would send out sample piece
OF cloth. The customer might send ba TX
an order for a suit from the goods of which
he had a sample but the garments might
or might not be made from the same piece
OF cloth. That illustrates my meaning.
The law appears TO be mandatory. Now
IN regard TO purchasing the seeds in pack
cts 1t takes about "a per cent of the cost
of the seeds to put them up
The appropriation last year was SlJ0.oOO
for the seeds. of which $20.ooO was not used,
1t was stated. The appropriation this year
Is Sl3O,OOO.