Evening journal., 1912-10-29
TONS OF
FREE SEEDS
FROM UNCLE
63,364,s5s Packets DiStrib-
uted Annually by the
Government
CUSTUM DATES BACK
TO COLONIAL DAYS

tnat Uncle Sam should Quit distrihut-
ms seeds a huge protest is raised
in every corner of the land. Il comes
from the city as we'll as the farm, and
no lawmaker who values his job has
the temerity to go beyond making
the suggestion that the Government
practice OF distributing seed shall be
curtailed The country demands free
seed
The present plan Of seed distribu-
ton had its origin back in 1913 In
that year the British Parliament
granted 100000 TO promote the culti-
vation Of indigo and other crops in
the American colonies. and the assem-
blies of various colonies appropriated
small sums from time to time to en-
courage the cultivation of plants new
to this country such as hops. null
berry trees and vineyards for the es-
tablishment of an American wine in
dustry
Benjamin Franklin, while in Eng
land as agent for Pennsylvania, sent
home silkworm eggs and mulberry
cuttings. In the five years that he
represented this country as Minister
10 France. Thomas Jefferson forward
ed many seed samples of grasses,
IICt. peppers ana OlANNN ~ lViIANl0lh~
ents at home Other representatives
of this Government IN the early days
followed the example of Franklin and
Jefferson until. during the Admin
istration of John Quincy Adams, in
strucnons were given TO all United
States cOnsuls to forward rare plants
and seeds 70 Washington for distri-
button. A botanical garden was later
established in Washington In which
were grown many of the rare and in
teresting plants imported from for
eien countries.
Despite these efforts TO introduce
new seeds and plants, many varieties
of fruits and vegetables with which
everybody Is now familiar were scarce
or unknown in this country In the
early part of the Nineteenth Century.
There were few seed farms, nurseries
or seedsmen. Seeds were mostly grown
by the farmers, and there was no inn
provement from year 20 year.
Interest In better seeds and In Sc
curing new seeds and plants resulted
largely from the agricultural fairs in
augurated by the various societies for
promoting agriculture" which we're
organized at Charleston, New York.
Philadelphia, Boston and Washing
ton.
ln 1899, thorugh the efforts Of Henry
T. Ellsworth. Commissioner OF Pat
onts. an appropriation of 81 900 was
made for the purpose Of collecting
and distributing seeds and prosecuting
agricultural statistics With the ap-
preparation 10000 packages OF seeds
we're purchased and distributed This
appropriation marked the beginning
of the present. Department of Agricul-
ture Appropriations for seed purchase
and distribution continue to increase
as the practice gained I'm popularity
with the people until Congress itself
hallv took a hand in passing the
seed around
Under the system that now pre-
walls each member OF the Senate and
the House has a quota of 10000 pack
ages of vegetable and 1000 packages
of flower seed. each package being
made up Of FIVE packets containing
different kinds Of seed. In this year
81 ,13S.24o packets OF vegetable and
12.226.S15 packets Of flower seed. or
a total of 6a.364.555 packets. were sent
out The total weight of vegetable
and flower seeds sent out was 994.1l6
pounds. or over 497 tons-enough to
HI IU AIflkNl NdNra III HMUiIfDis lHtIN
were distributed thousands Of pack
Bges of grass seed and plants and
vines Of various kinds.
The job of purchasing testing. ap-
portioning and distributing Govern
ment seeds Is big one. All seeds are
purchased through competitive bids
The quotations are opened and listed
in the presence of bidders and Off
ciais OF the Department OF Agricul.
ture. In awarding contracts the on.
cials disregard varieties unsuitabl,
for distribution. as well as bids O
growers or dealers who in the pas
have failed to carry out their con
tracts satisfactorily
The seed purchased is subject L
thorough scientific tests. When a con
signment of seed Is received at tn
Department of Agriculture warehous
a small portion is taken from IN
middle and near the top and bottom
of at least one-fourth of all the bag
and thoroughly mixed. TO make
composite sample. which is sent to tn
seed laboratory. From the sample on
or two hundred seeds are counted on
and placed between moist hlotters j
q terminating chamber, which Is real
Is an Incubator fitted with automati
devices for keeping the blotters mois
and for regulating the temperatur
10 suit the requirements of diflerer
kinds Of seeds.
AT the end of a week or more. d
pending on the kind of seed. the bio
ters are examined and the numbe
of seeds which have sprouted al
counted to determine the percental
of termination AS a result Of thes
tests many thousands Of pounds
vegetable and flower seeds which ia
10 meet the requirements Of the Co
ernmeni are rejected annually.
Great care Is exercised in plannir
seed distribution The country
divdeG into fye sections. Seeds a
apporticned according to climatic col
ditions and demand. For exampl
such vegetables as okra and collar
are distributed only in the South az
California. On the other hand swe
corn, which is Ia much demand
other localities. is not sent to d
South or California. because II is lik
~ to be destroyed by insects or fu
gus diseases.
Such seeds as watermelon al
muskmelon are. not sent into the e
treme North. Nearly all varieties
flower seed and such vegetables