The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1897-08-02
sKND1Na rnB SEEDS Anouyn
one or ~ nnuportaut Eunctoas or tho Dsp,,,
mont OF Agriculture.
FnOm TIE Washington Evening stnr.

FFom the Washington Evening Star.
The report Of seed distribution by tho lc-
cultural Department for tho fiscal year cndin.
Juno 80. 1897. has Just been issued, and cor.
tains some interesting facts and figures. m.
total amount available for the purchase ma
distribution Of the seeds was $3.50, 900. of which
all but So. % was e=snnded.
or flower seeds, 1,012,50o packets vera al.
tributcd. costing $7,so9.62. Packets OF raaish
seeds appeared to be most popular in the VOC.
otable line, as 2,161,27 Of them were di,trIh
uted, costing $40. 607.35. Bcets wero noyt IN
favor. Packets to the number Of Q ,l47, o62 war.
sent out, costing $12,552,l6. OF cabb,ss,
2~,l3o,41s packets were distributed at a cost n,
Si2.356.32. Lettuce seeds to the sAme numbor
wero given away by the, department, ana tho
sum OF Sl2,I5a.SB was paid for them. 'o
The large number Of 2,ll9,0i2 packets ~
tomato seeds were sent BROADCAST. incurrinr an an
apparently to the popular taste, for g,I3OaTTs
packets Of them were given out and the cosI
was $13,20l. Onions were well up in Tho AZ
mand, 1875, 200 packets OF them brinE: r,v aS
AWAY. while they cost the department SID
1el.so. beans for ,Bostoninns and MSssaSStbUn..
number of 423,42O packets, costing S2.5itUpSt :"
The total sum expended for The lN,053,SSs
, Of tobacco seeds $500 packSets ,V weTo ~" a.,
utcd. for which SO, 496.o OF was paid. or rot,np
seed 49, SOC quarts were given away to the farm,
u VI N ooupu aho Pl'SiU'oO was eNDenhed
for them. "'0u
Special Agent for inspection and Purchase,
Seeds II. j. Whittleton OF the Agricultural no.
partner stated to-day to n reporter that md,
Secretary Morton a new plan Of purchasinu m.
seeds had been observed. He added ~"
Under Secretary Rusk, by whom I was ".
pointed to my position, the seeds were bouSb,
ip bulk and were tested before being accenisd'
There was required a certain percentnge ~;
termination or tho seeds were not annroraS'
The packing was done by the department Than
the seeds were bought from twenty or ,nn,a
firms In the North and the same number in ~
South. Under Secretary Morton only Ave Arm,
were pntroniZed last year-in Richmond. Va.
Philadelphia. Pa; st. Paul. MINI; Mcnnbi.'
Tenn, and Rockford, III. Sc%edsinen who wwers
not patronized had occasion for comrlainto
Secretary Rusk believed In having az mnch
competition as possible.
Under tho Morton system the seeds vera
purchased In packets. Before this is done sam.
pies arc sent by the seed men to the department
70 be examined. When found up to the standard
! these samples are accepted. The same seeds. or
the packages. 1t is in much the same way as II
o tailor would send out n sample piece OF cloth
The customer might send back an order for A
quit 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 packets. Il
takes about so per cent. of the cost Of the seeds
to put them up"
Tho appropriation last year was $3.50, 900 70,
the seeds, of which $20. 900 was not used, It was
stated. The appropriation this year Is 81 30, 600,