The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1906-11-25
The Free Seed Graft.


Organizations of farmers through
out the country are already starting
an agitation against a further con-
tinuance of the Congressional habit,
which has about become chronic, of
making an annual distribution of
garden seeds among persons who do
not want them. This protest of the
farmers was inaugurated last year
and came very near resulting in the
defeat of the appropriation.
The House Committee on Agricul-
ture failed to include the customary
item for seed distribution in the an
nual appropriation measure and the
opposition To il was strong, but
the item was restored in the House
and the usual expenditure of about
half million dollars was author
lied, with tacit agreement that the
appropriation would be dropped
from the measure at the coming SEES
sion of the Congress.
The free seed distribution has be
come farce and joke. Each year
the Representative of the farming
district, who is entitled to about
$4,000 packages of assorted garden
seeds, trades around with city mem
bers, exchanging public documents
for turnips, until he is enabled to
send a package of seeds to about
every farmer in his district The
seeds are raised in New York and
Michigan, for the most part, but are
distributed throughout the country,
from Maine TO Texas and from
Massachusetts To California, without
any reference whatever TO their
adaptability TO the soil or climate
Of the section 10 which they are
sent for planting. They according
ly fit the needs OF the persons who
receive them about as well as snow
shoes would serve the Texans or
open-work sOX please the lumber
men in the Lake Superior woods.
Originally, the purpose of the ap-
preparation was to purchase rare
plants, vegetables. and flowers. but
for many years the money has been
expended in burdening the United
States mails with plain garden seeds.
such as are grown on every farm in
the nation. The money has been used
simply 10 furnish members of Con
gress a method of showing their
constituents that they have not been
forgotten. As a matter Of fact.
there is no more warrant in dis
tributing garden seeds throughout
the country than there is for fur
nishing farmers with rubber boots.
or blooded heifers. or automobiles.
If farmers are entitled to garden
seeds. carpenters in the cities have
a right TO demand rules and T.
squares and other aids to their
trades. The free seed distribution
is class legislation of pronounced
type.
But there is promise that the
abuse win be remedied at the hands
Of the very persons who were sup
posed to be favored by it, The
National Grange. the largest organi-
zation of farmers in the world, has
declared against a continuance of
free seed distribution. The reso-
luton of the Grange declares that
1--WE condemn the practice of free
distribution of garden seeds as an
/ economic waste wholly unjustifi-
able; that in the future we will not
accept from the Government free
garden seeds; that we urge our
Representative as a favor. which we
viii heartily appreciate, 10 vote
against the bin approPriating funds
for the distributing of free garden
seeds. and to use their influence tc
have the amount thus saved appro-
priated to the experiment stations
of the country, whose valuable work
is indorsed by all right thinking
men" After a pronOuncement OF
that kind from the farmers. the
Congress should have no hesitancy
in putting the lid on the free seed
graft.
Is II a Failure