Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1916-03-03
rBy oliver owen Kuhn.]

Before this article reaches the eyes
OF the reader one Of the time honored
annual constitutions Of congress will
have transpired-the regular spring
distribution of free vegetable and
flower seeds by members of both
houses Of congress will have been COM
pleted. 49,
The annual distribution of seeds be-
gan back In the days when the de-
partment Of agriculture, now perhaps
the largest and certainly one Of the
most important departments of the
federal government, was nothing but
an obscure little bureau, occupying q
couple Of rooms and with not more
than three or four employees besides
the chief. From it's beginnings as a
gratis distribution Of a few hundred
samples of seeds of various kinds 1t
has grown into one Of the biggest
things--rin point Of size. remember. and
not or actual importance, economic or
otherwise--of annual recurrence.
This year Of grace 1915 grand total
Of about eighty millions of small
packets of assorted vegetable and
/, flower seeds was sent out in the names
OF senators and members of the house
'of representatives. In packages con-
tanning five small packets each these
seeds went to every congressional dis
trict in the United States. 16,0o0,ooo
packages being the total NUMBER
mailed on request of members OF botn
houses of congress from the office Oh
seed distribution of the department OF
agriculture.
Estimating the weight of each pack
age containing its five smaller packets
at two ounces when in its heavy en-
velope ready for mailing, the seeds
sent by members Of congress to ad-
mfring constituents this year weights
just about 100000 pounds If each
package had borne a 2-cent stamp IN
stead Of the frank Of member OF
congress the postage bill would have
been something like $4,000 But
senators and representatives do not
nay postage on free seeds any more
than on copies of speeches. public
documents and official mail, so the
postoffice department was not penny
better off for carrying this tremend-
Gus bulk Of matter as first class mail.
Extensive preparation and no SINAI:
OUTLAY arc required for this pleasant
little program OF sending annually to
practically very voter in the Unlteo
states package Of garden and flower
seeds. Each senator and each member
of the house is allotted the same num-
her Of packages for the congressional
distribution. This year the number al
looted to to ., oh member of congress
was about 100000 packages 1t fire.
quently, hapnel,s that a representative
or a senator whose constituency is al
most entirely urban has little use for
his whole allt tmeny. in which case II
is easy to arrange with another sena-
tor or representative from an agricul-
tural section to Swap excess seeds
for something else.
Each member Of congress supplies
the office Of congressional seed dis
tribution with the names and addresses
OF those to whom packages are to be
mailed Franks are also supplied IN
1.-The required number to be pasted on
the envelopes containing the y SEED
packets. The office of seed distriou-
toni does 1.-The rest; the members OF
congress- don't even know what kind
Of seeds 60 into the packages except
IN srare cases where individual re-