The Forrest City times. [volume] (Forrest City, Ark.) 1871-1919, 1903-11-06
NATIONAL SEED
DISTRIBUTION
Government. Will Make Large Dis
tribu'ion For Next Year.
SEVERAL IMPORTANT CHANGES
II YOu Want Some Ask Your Con-
EressmRn. ns Anyone Can HIVE
. Package simply For
the Asking.

WASHINGTON, NOV. 4.-1ne largest
congressional seed distribution ever
made by Uncle Sam has begun With.
in the coming three or four months
over a thousand tons of garden and
field seeds will be distributed among
the people of every state and territory
In the union, at a cost of $270,0O0, the
amount appropriated by the last con-
gress for this purpose. The total dis.
tribution this year will amount to
about 45.000000 packages.
Important Changes.
Some important changes in the plan
OF conducting this distribution have
been established by the department of
agriculture this year. With view Of
handling the seed to better advantage
the country has been divided into six
districts, and seeds and plants partic
ularly adapted to each district will be
distributed therein at an earlier time
than heretofore.
In years past much complaint has
been made by the people of receiving
seed too late in the season to be of
particular good. The department has
not been responsible for this condi
ton, but the fault lay with the con.
gressmen, who to large extent, were
tardy in making out their lists for
their quota.
To Overcome Complaints.
1t Is expected to overcome this con-
dition by beginning the distribution
two months earlier than has been the
custom in the past.
There will be, as usual. distribu-
tion of miscellaneous vegetable seeds,
put up with five packets in a package,
and each senator, representative and
delegate in congress will have 1880
such packages to his credit.
The number of flower seeds allotted
to each congressman has been in
creased to 500 packages. and arrange
ments have been made whereby repre-
sentatives having city constituents
may exchange vegetable seeds for
flower seeds, If they so desire. A spe-
cial collection of flower seeds will be
| prepared for those having strictly city
constituents. the varieties chosen be-
/
small dooryards.
COttOa md Tobacco Collections.
The plan adopted last year of put
ting up special collections of cotton
and tobacco best adapted to the dis
tricts into which they are sent, will be
continued. This work has proven very
satisfactory as through 1t many val
! 10 ~ Atta h,, trfl Il
Seventy packages. one peck each will
be sent to districts growing cotton. In
tobacco growing districts 10 pack
ages, containing five papers each. will
be distributed.
Each senator and representative will
have~to his credit thirty packages of
lawn grass seed The forage crop seed
allotment has not yet been made. but
will likely be made larger than hereto
fore.
Sorghum and Sugar Beets.
Sorghum and sugar beet seeds have
not yet been allotted. These seeds will
only be placed in sections of the coun
try where it is possible to grow them
Bulbs will be allotted in twenty boxes
containing seven bulbs each. The dis
tribution of plants, trees and grape
vines will be similar to that of last
year, excepting that the number oi
trees will be increased 100 for each
senator, representative and delegate.
The allotment of strawberry plants
will be ten packages. containing fiji
teen plants each. The grape vines this
year will be only eight packages tc
each quota, containing five vines in
each
Growing tn Popularity.
The congressional seed distribution
is becoming more and more popular
each year. Now congress appropriates
$270,000 annually for this purpose
Even with the increased quota many
congressman have not enough to thei,
credit to supply the demand of their
constituents.