The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1903-12-06
GREAT WASTE
OF FREE SEED
The Dealers Send Out Circulars
Calling Attention to Abuses
BY Congress. \
The Titncs-Dispntch Bureau,
Colorado Building,

Fourteenth and q Streets, N. WI.
Washington, y. CT, Dec. 5, 1909.
Tho deal ers III seeds, Wholesale and 70.
tail, who are Interested In the suppress
sion of tho congressional FREQ coed dis
trlbutlon have sent out circulars to tho
entire seed trade calling attention to the
rapid growtl, Of the distribution and tho
scandals which have tainted 1t In years
past. 1t Is not charged that since tho
Department Of Agriculture undertook 10
make the distribution itself that Inferior
seeds llnve been distributed, but II is
alleged that u great deal of seed has
been bought by the Department winch
proved to be infested by bugs and worms.
and had to be destroyed.
Tho circular presents an Interesting
array Of facts concerning the dlstribu-
( ton. 1t states that "in 1900, 1473S,9is
packets were sent out. In 1904 1t Is pro-
posed to sond out 45,00o.O0O packets an
increase Of over 800 per cent. IN i've
years In 1901. $4.45 per thousand packets
wcro paid, under contract. This season,
cheaper seeds and less quantities TO inc
packet under Government management
will cost 500 per thousand packets.
In 1896, 1000 900 was appropriated 70 for
free seeds. over $20o00O.00 Will be spent
FOR the same purpose at the end Of the
present fiscal year. 1901. What will the
appropriation be in 1a0s7 At the present
ratio OF increase, not less than three
quarters, Of u million dollars!
A resume Of the distribution from 1888
down to the present time Is given, IN
which tho circular states that the last
distribution covered O larger range OF
cheap varitles OF seeds than had ever be-
fore been distributed The Department
not being able to buy as cheaply and to
work as economically as the secdman. It
was forced to use cheaper classes OF
seeds In order to stretch the appropria-
ton SO as to provide the number of pack
cts to which senators and members OF
the House had been accustomed IN pre-
vlous years. To the same end, 1t Is said,
the packets were lightened. TO tho same
end the circular notes that q newspaper
recently published an article stating that
many million packets OF seeds, repre-
senting valuation OF about $50, COZ, left
over from the spring distribution, had
Just been burned In the furnaces OF the
Department OF Agriculture bccatee 1t
was discovered they were full OF bugs
and worms. +
After pointing out that several FIRMS,
who are represented on the various COM
E.ittees of4tl American Seed Trade AS
sociation and the Wholesale Sediments
League ana VINO sdrc c''u' 6Su W.. ..'o
duty OF securing suppression OF the
free seed distribution, are furnishing
seeds to the Department and are thus
inclined to view the distribution as a
good thing" the circular adds:
con the other hand. there Is every
reason 10 believe that should the real
facts as known by. the trade be brought
tc the attention OF the public and the
general worthicsness Of the system and
gross wasteful expenditure OF public
money be properly laid before the public.
Congress would soon respond to the re-
sulting sentiment and put an end to
practice which is already privately con-
dcmncd BY SO many OF its members.