The news scimitar. (Memphis, Tenn.) 1907-1926, 1920-03-13

man receiving only $4,000 packages ui
vegetables, and 1000 OF flowers, pu'
the demand was so great, ana the nun 5,n
Der of their constituents VINO were ~
seed was so large that the approprlat!.Son
for the purchasing and handing OF we
supply was increased to the preseh'
figures. -,.-
The increased demand, the members
believe, was partly due TO the eAtensiiNe
carried on, encouraging the people 70
increase the food supply of the country
as well as to preserve it, persons nv
ing in apartment houses grew thels
fresh vegetables in window boxes anu
those having any ground az All ekeh
otto duty to put this ground under cui-
tivation and produce all the fooustuil
they possibly could, ,.r,
Having grown their few bits Of vege,,
tables the window box farmers touhu
that a few fresh radishes, or an oc-
casional head of crisp lettuce MADE
very acceptable addition to the ualg
MENU especially when the vegetables
were Favored with the knowledge that
they were homegrown, and cost tne
producer nothing. So this year, me
same persons who grew their vegetables
as a patriotic duty, are planting tRer'
because they like them and look Tor
ward to having them on their tables
this summer, or canned for next WIN
Thousands Of letters are received each
season by every member OF congress
skiing for such and such NegetanIe
seeds The season really opens before
Christmas when the Southern members
begin receiving appeals from their con-
stiTuents in the far South, and does not
| end until the latter part of April, Wheh
| the last package of seed is hnaly
| shipped out of the house and senate
! office buildings. ~.
The Individual distribution of the
| seed, is not, however, the only means
! by which the members increase the
| food production, and incidentally their
| own popularity, Thousands of pack,
| ages are sent to newspapers in Smah
| towns, or placed in grocery stores IN
small communities, with the invitation
to help themselves, with Mr. Senator
or Mr.. Congressman compliments
This latter practice came in Tor a
special attack by Mr., Blanton, VINO
charged that the seed was being useu
| for campaign purposes by the members
and not going into the hands Oh per-
| sons who really need them.
| He referred caustically 10 the Well
| known practice of shipping the seed TO
! political leaders in various communities,
! and demanded that the government, II
the seed distribution was TO remain,
! take the pOHIlCS out VI IL anu i''
! the department of agriculture handle II.
! Already the department receives
! thousands of requests for seeds which
il has no authority to fill, and can only
refer the writer to his senator or con-
| gresham. Practically the entire out
put is distributed through the house
and senate office buildings, or franked
out from the big warehouse where they
are stored waiting for the congressional
order for their distribution.
The department Of agriculture, which
handles the seed business of congress,
and which is likewise the governmental
agency which devotes itself assiduously
| TO a study of the improvement OF the
output Of the soil, is strongly opposed
to this congressional distribution OF
| seed. Ii considers the Appropriation for
the purpose almost wholly wasted. II
states that the constituent would be
! better served If he were given quar-
ter's worth of sugar or flour. 1t la
ments the fact that, while congress is
maintaining the tatuess OF its seed op'
preparations. those for the continuance
of experimental work that would event
ually put tens of millions OF dollars into
the national treasury are being elimi-
mated or cut to the bone.