The Birmingham age-herald., 1906-08-01
UNCLE SAM IS GENEROUS
 TO TILLERS OF THE SOIl

From the Washington Post
 | F the haryests reaped from the seeds
 sent out by the department of Agri- ! culture are in any degree as large as the distributions, the sun of prosperity will never set in this country.
 Last year the department sent out 35,- 77s, 400 packages of flower and vegetable seeds, which were done up in packages of five packages each, making distribu- ton of 7,l5l6SO packages The amount of seed required to accomplish this was enough to fill twenty-eight cars of SO0OO pounds per car.
 Annually there is scattered over the country a like quantity of seeds of stand ard varieties, and if they fall on fertile ground, there will always be a supply of agricultural products to meet the de- mand of consumers, no matter how large that demand may be. It is one of the chief concerns of the department that these distributions may bring about that consumation.
 Consequently, so far as 1t is practicable, seeds are only sent to such persons as can be relied upon to make a proper use of them The expense attached to this branch of the department makes 1t im- perative that a distinction should be made between the man who desires to make a genuine attempt at raising a new crop and the one who is merely actuated by idle curiosity. It has always been the desire of the department that persons to whom seeds are sent should make report of the result obtained from the planting, even If the outcome was a failure.
 Naturally most of the applications for seeds come through congressman, and they are in a position to know whether their constituent will make the proper use of the seeds The distribution of these congressional orders is the largest single business that the agricultural de- partment has to handle.
 Each member is allowed the same num- ber of seeds, and he is given franks, cor responding to the check books issued by the banks. Each time he desires that seeds shall be sent out to some one in his district, he files one of these franks with his request. His order is filed, and the frank is charged against his account. When he has drawn to his full extent, the account is closed in very much the same manner as 1t would be in any commercial house. Very often congressman inter change orders for different kinds of seeds and these negotiati tions make the keeping of the seed accounts somewhat compli- cated.
 The work of distribution begins some time in November of each year, and IS
 in tbo fnIlnvvinR Anril. In arranging the annual distributions the department first prepares suitable com binations of seeds to send to the differ ent sections of the country. In order to facilitate this the United States is divided Into four sections. Into each section there Is sent a number of combinations, cover ing as wide a range as possible. These are made up of five varieties of yegeta- ble seeds, and are planned with the view of obtaining the best possible assortment.
 Great care is expended on the forma- ton of these combinations, and it con- stltutes the foundation of the work To arrive at the aggregate number of pack ages of all combinations needed for sec ton the known number of senators rep resentatives and delegates in Congress from each section is multiplied by 12,000. It has been found that the number of various combinations in the sections is generally equal. and when all the com binations have been made the number of packages of each kind can be determined After this is ascertained the buying of the seed starts. This is done outright, or by contract. The seeds are inspected by the A.. of r1la rat md and none are sent out that do not meet all requirements.
 The work of packing the seeds is done by contract. The department furnishes house in which the work is to be carried on and hauls the seeds to 1t from the