Forest City press. (Forest City, Potter County, D.T. [S.D.]) 1883-19??, 1916-08-09
Government Spends Millions
Distributing Free Seeds
Washinst on Star.

proprietor OF the paper had received q
large consignment Of free government
seeds from the representative from the
congressional. district. The seeds. The AZ.
ticle said, We're from blue-bloOde,, arista
Gratis of the vegetable and floral world.
grown by Uncle Sam g experts and abso-
lutely the ne plus ultra OF their kind: and
she newspaper announced l~amboyantly
that these seeds would be given, as long
as they lasted, to patrons of the paper.
Nearly half II column Of space was de-
voted to eNtol!ing the quality OF the seeds.
I .he article repeating several! times tho
statements in regard to them having been
produced ON government farms and by
The governments scientific agricultural ex-
,.srtS.
AS a matter OF cold fact the govern.
meat doesn't d;stribute a pound of gov.
eminent grown seeds a Year. OF an av-
elase. About tho only real government
seed that has been distributed in recent
years and this only in relatively small
quanti.es-was the 5u-um wheat intro
duosd several years ago and now grown
extensively in certain regions OF the west,
especially adapted to its cultivation. Prac-
tcaly every ounce OF seed that Is sent out
in the annual congressional distribution
is bought from seedsmen IN every part OF
the United States. Mo-. than this, the
government in all its hllrches IS required
To make it's purchase IN the basis OF
competitive bids, and naturally this is true
T.. tho matter of garden and flower seeds.
Many Seeds Are Imported.
Each year the department makes up lists
OF The seeds. indicating varieties and
quantities desired, and submits these lists
to seedsmen evcrywhere-jn all parts Of
The United States and Canada, and even
in England, France. Belgium. Holland and
other countries OF Europe. Bids for sup
plying the seeds are asked, the recipt-
ents of the lists and letters being asked
10 bid IN the entire list or on any part OF
it. and to submit tenders on larger or
smaller quantities. AS " the case in
awarding contracts for other government
supplies. successful bidders are required to
give bond for the satisfactory execution
OF the contracts they may be awarded. but
the department of agriculture goes a step
farther, stipulatlng that seeds to be sup
piled To the government for distribution
must be grown under Il sort of govern-
mental regulation and inspection. if re-
CURED. and that all seeds must be able to
pass rather strict inspection and tests
This is just about as far AZ the govern
nient has ANYTHING TO do with the actual
production OF the seeds distributed at the
request OF members Of congress-.
In addition to the garden and flower
seeds distributed each spring, the Depart
ment OF agriculture distributes each fall
fer members OF the House and Senate. as
sortments OF bulbs of nowering plants.
Last fall about 10000 boxes of bulbs were
distributed. each box containing from 10
to Is bulbs OF tulips. hyacinths. narcissi.
etc. These bulbs are obtained III the Same
manner as are the seeds for congressional
dis'rtbut!on-that is, they are bought from
the people who grow them. The govern-
ment hasn't q thing In the world 70 do
with their production; all It does h to buy
them and send them out for Haeusbers OF
congress-.