Evening star., 1902-08-01
Forty Million Packages.

The congressional seed distribution Is be-
coming more and more popular each year.
Now Congress appropriates $27O,0oO annual
ly for this purpose. Even with the increased
quota some Representatives have not
enough to their credit to supply the demand
of their constituents. The total GiS >~ibution
this year will amount to about 1J.%o,O0O
packages which is estimated will weigh in
the neighborhood Of / 600 tons.
Besides the distribution to constituents of
congressman the Department of Agriculture
is given an allowance for its own use. over
tOooOO packages of vegetable and hoWer
seeds will be sent to its county correspond
ents IN the different states who furnish the
government with monthly crop reports.
Over 100000 papers and bags of vegetable,
flower and field seeds will be sent to the
state grange organizations throughout the
country. And then large amount Is to
be sent to weather bureau observers and
state experiment stations. ...'
Aside from the above distribution thou
sands of packages of foreign seeds and
plants. which are being introduced by the
departments experts abroad, are sent out
largely to state agricultural colleges and
such reliable cultivators as have shown a
Willingness to cooperate with the depart
ment III making reports as to the success
of these importations
Secretary Wilson has determined to dis
tribute trees with hope of implanting
love or trees In the breasts OF the people
set by the department. as we'll as to have
permanent showing for the money ex
pended.
Secretary Wilson Enthusiastic.
Secretary Wilson, being practical. far
mer. is enthusiastic over this annual seed
distribution which has so often been ridi-
culed 1t may have been greatly subject to
rfd1cule In the old days, but, 1t Is claimed. 1t
Is not so now. This is practically for the
reason that the seeds which are now sent
out are guaranteed to grow. In former
years the contract was let to seedmen with
out regard to the character or quality, ana
containing any kind of seed without regard
to whether they. weres adapted to the sub
IropicaI climate of the south or the granite
Mills of New EnglaHdr~-The appropriation
practical benefit, except to the contractor.
and made the gov ernment seed distribution
anything but popular.
Secretary Wilson has changed the plan
see that the seeds will grow. The seeds
furnished the gayernpient heretofore for
tnis purpose h4ve Sometimes been or a
rather poor quality The department Will
this matter by tdoing away with contrac-
tors ana making purchases through lts ON
cials direct from the various seed markets
OF the country. Ali purchases will be MADE
fhNei liie SUPERVISION TVI lhe plaiie oiiu neeu
bureau, which will make thorough test
OF all seeds before they are accepted and
paid for ThussHby this plan the people
VIII obtain seeds that will be guaranteed to
grow.
;, Secretary Wilson's care is to go over the
ilst and select seeds that will supply the
garden with the best of vegetables, useful
varieties, as well as popular, and divide
tnem into groups for different sections OF
the country SO that the south will receive
such seeds as are adapted for the SOIL ana
ciimate and at the proper planting time
each section has its proper class of garden
seeds as well as plants The demand for
seeds last winter exceeded the supply
Congressman had d.their mails burdened with
requests fer garden seeds, and they tmpor-
tuned the Secretary of Agriculture TOT
these small packages as much as they nave
the President for patronage. The senator's
and representatives from the south have
been more urgent In late years than those
from other sections Of the country.
Preliminary Work.
Despite the unusual amount of congress
sional seeds to be sent out this fan and