The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1899-11-19
wAsHIxGroY.s EXPORT OF SEEDS
Always Great, but Greatest About the
Tims OF Nominating Conventions.

Always Great, but Greatest About tho
Time Of Nominating Conventions.
There Ia popular tradition, vague In origin.
but almost universal In acceptance that sure
way which a bucolic Congressman always has
" the hearts OF his constituents. Is through tho
distribution drce In tho maid Of agricultural
seeds There Ia a scod division in the Depart
ment OF Agriculture and tho distribution Of sccds
to the constituents Of Congrcesmcn, Is under its
direction. During tho year covered by tho last
published report these were the items Of such
distribution 10, 702,9l4 papers and cloth bags
Of seeds. as follows; vegetable 14,24a,727 flower,
l.2SA.oa7 field grasses and flowers, 2o6,sSo. OF
the is. Ola bags Of seeds distributed. 1880.
$50 papers and cloth sacks Of vegetable and fold
sccds were distributed to Senators, Representa-
dvor and Delegates in Congress tby their allot-
ments) 7bl. ITO. papers Of flower and vegetable
seeds to correspondents Of tho Bureau Of Stats
tics and $50. 400 bags Of vegetable. flower and
field seeds 70 State farmer oranges
As may be seen from this by far the largest
number OF seeds distributed arc TO members Of
Congress, and the superstition Is general that
friends arc brought to their support In conse.
quence OF this exercise OF provident thoughtful.
pays uRiortsna,ely for his view Of he Ssse
II IN fact that the larger number Of seeds NO dis
tribuied are Of very little account 10 farmers OF
sent without special reference 10 tho character
and condition Of the soil without regard for china
tic conditions and without consideration 81 a
farmers needs In the alienation OF crops or tho
market for those previously roisod majority
81 the country districts in Congress, that Is, Of
the districts outside 81 the large cities are repre-
scented by lawyers whose knowledge Of thcoiet
cal farming, however exact, is very seldom matched
by their knowledge Of practical requirements Of a
farmer In the way Of seeds In the last House
of Representatives out Of 357 members. 20 only
were farmers, while !he number 81 lawyers was
ten times as great, being 2l0 In the Senate,
with total membership OF 90 there were I farmers
only, and II IN not TO be supposed. therefore, that
scientific knowledge Of seeds and the require
possession Of members Of Congress- Indeed.
ttcro In a well authenticated instance Of a farm.
cIs wife who, much disappointed and distrossod
at the receipt from time " time Of packages Of
seeds from Washington. addressed 10 her hus-
band but wholly unsuitcd for In farming
operations. wrote to the district Congressman
who sent them AZ follows.
If you think that John can help pay the in.
tercet on this farm mortgage with secds from
W warrington you are as much mistaken as "
you think that you will gain any votes in this
is not seeds but cash, and " you think much Of
John as your frequent communications indicate,
why send him a IS bill: II you are tmd about
that or you can't send So. why. may be you
spare 81, but don send any more seeds
Usually In country districts Congress nomi-
nations IRE made In summer time after the spring
harvest Is In and before the autumn harvest is
gathered during a lull In the pursuit Of agricul-
ture, In during this period. perhaps, thai seeds
in least demand, but VOTES in Congress con.
venuons are most urgently required and the dis
hardly any cessation, continuing until immediate
ly after the November election when there Is an
abrupt slump In seed sending. and ACTIVITY in this
line is not renewed until after delay OF two years
when poll teal campaigning isresumed. There arc
always more seeds sent In years when Congress
men arc 70 be voted for