New-York tribune., 1901-01-13
FREE SEED DISTRTBTTION.
THE WHOLESALE SEE DsMEN's LEAGUE
WANTS A REFORM IN THE PRACTICE.


WANTS REFORM IN THE PRACTICE.
Philadelphia. Jan. l2 (SpeciaD-Burnet Landreth
secretary of the Wholesale Seedsmen's League. has
issued the following open letter:
The free seed distribution by the Government of
SEED obtanable at every seed store has grown
10 oe serious perversion of admirable scheme
The pan as Originally deWeoped ana sxfT Eears
1 ago was the distribution Of seeds roots and tubers
distribution of gains, fibres. vegetab bes. fruits
The Government possesses vast oDportunites
Tor the collection OF new hbres and grains and
through the agency of its consuls in foreign coun
ity on the part of the government but it does
but little of such work while depressing the regu-
as merchants expect TO sell. No good results fol-
action, because the seeds and the crops
used without any improvement to the cause orig
origfnators of seed distribution having been
entirely ignored, and in its place substituted a
system Of sending out which be pur-
chased every seed store.
distributed common seeds to backwoods people
unable to reach seed at stores that cohdinon @ does
farmer in the most remote section of the land
same seeds can be bought in Washington. and if
he aspires to something not to be found at the
postage for thousand miles as for one mile.
ten million packets, which has risen by grada-
9ns until under the signed a by es
twenty-four million packets, an increase of 14o
These twenty -four million packets of seeds. if
sold at their normal retail value OF cents rep
resent a value of 81 100000 taken out of the busi-
ness Of the seed merchants If this thing goes on
ution amounts TO fifty million packets, worth $2.-
10000
The Department of Agriculture, not satisfied with
the free distribution. is now deliberately going
regularly into the seed business by requiring the
contractor TO grow by special contract with seed
farmers the required two million pounds or seeds.
contractor in big lots consequently at extremely
low prices. and grown entirely In excess OF
normal quantities required by the regular seed
trade The growing of these seeds does not proht
the seed merchant the extent OF one cent, and
the seed farmer Is forced to grow them at starva-
tion prices very low that no assurance can
possibly exist their reliability. III the GOV
eminent seeds thrown upon the market no
reputable seed merchant would purchase them az
any price for the reason that every reputable
seed merchant well knows that the Government
seeds both likely be entirely msla belled as
TO variety well impure in quality. Inc Gov
ernment lends its credit to the contractor py CIV
ing him q signed contract in advance or the grow
ing OF the seeds.
This active competition by the Government with
established branch OF commercial business Is
radically in opposition to the spirit OF the ship
OF commerce. There Is want or consistency II 1os-
ters and depresses another Seed dealers are
found in every town and hamlet In the Iand i ana
they should not be interfered with any more than
dealers in other farm necessities A distinct Hne OIL
argument against the free seed distribution is the
cost put upon the Postoffice Department IN the
ter. and. additionally, the vast labor put upon
Postofice employees. -,
What the seed trade is the abolition OF
the Congressional distribution applied 10 SORTS
OF seeds obtainable at every seed store ana IN
lieu OF this an earnest effort by the Government
TO search out in the undevelOped portions or ASA
Africa, South America and the Paclnc Isles the
many thousands OF valuable plants yet unintro-
duced.