The Conservative *
important as any at Washington , but
now the secretary has further smirched
it , by one of the most unbusinesslike
concessions ever granted a contractor.
We urge you to write to your member
of congress protesting against a con
tinuance of the free seed process.
The league members will notice that
this communication is not issued in the
name of the organization , but in the
name of the firm of D. Landreth &
Sons.
D. LANDRETH & SONS.
Philadelphia , Pa. , April 15 , 1901.
To Seeds are Added Trees.
The free distribution of seeds by a
government anxious to develop agricul
ture and , incidentally , to make con
gress as popular as possible in the rural
districts , has been so pronounced a suc
cess , that , by provision of the recent con
gress , gratuitous beneficence and cheap
voto-gettingis to be extended. This spring
the constituent will not only receive
his annual package of seeds , as usual ,
but if he so desires , some small trees for
the decoration of his bucolic home or
the replenishment of his orchard. Thus
will timber culture be developed through
out the country , and the postal depart
ment be induced to show up with the
regular annual deficit. The free dis
tribution of Plymouth Rock chickens ,
Durham calves and Berkshire pigs may
be expected in due time. Newark
( N. J. ) News , April 10 , 1901.
Withhold Payment on Vouchers.
Would it not be a good move , on the
part of the auditor of the treasury de-
partment.to withhold payment on vouch
ers presented by the seed contractors ,
( The New York Market Garden Associa
tion ) until the allegations of Landreth
& Sons , and other reputable persons ,
shall have been thoroughly investigated ?
That Seed Steal.
We fail to see exactly why the gov
ernment of the United States should
distribute seeds , without charge , to all
applicants. There is no reason why the
interests of one class in the community
should be advanced at the expense of tax
payers. Why should not merchants de
mand goods or manufacturers ask for raw
material and have their requests gran ted
by a patriarchal and benignant adminis
tration ? But the seed steal has existed
for so long , and , as it is supposed to
please the farmers , we think that the
precedent of Uncle Sam's gratuity will
continue.
If the government is to distribute
seeds there seems no reason why good ,
honest goods should not be handed out
by the secretary of agriculture. Yet
the directors of the Wholesale Seeds-
men's league , in a meeting at New York
the other day , adopted a resolution de
claring that the Department of Agricul
ture has been brought into disrepute
and departed from its traditions in giving
out bad seeds.
It seems that when the contract for
the distribution of 1901 was awarded ,
the usual specifications were made , but
but they seem to be ignored. Instead of
named varieties of vegetables , packages
are marked "selected variety , " and the
quantities in every package are less than
required. Packages of cucumber seed
were to run 80 to the pound. Those
weighed run 194 to the pound. Onion
seed , which should run 96 to the pound ,
take 106 ; peas , which should run 160 to
the bushel , run 804 , and sweet corn
packages take 290 to the bushel , where
they should take only 60.
Packages marked with the names of
high-priced tobacco seeds contain only
cheap vegetable seeds , while none shows
contents such as were called for by the
printed list upon them.
Many contained cheap seeds of
varieties not called for at all under the
contract.
According to the seedsmen , the con
tract was let for about $78,000 , and called
for the distribution of sixteen or seven
teen millions of packages. Filling the
contract as it is now being filled , say the
seedsmen , can be done for one half the
money and at a profit. There must be
a collusion somewhere , as the govern
ment is being imposed upon.
There should be an investigation of
some kind , but , probably , in these days
of billion dollar congresses , such trivial
matters as a $78,000 contract is hardly
worth the trouble. Bridgeport ( Conn. )
Post , April 18 , 1901.
Free Seed Charges Sent to Tracewell.
Seedsmen say that an attempt made
by Secretary of Agriculture , James
Wilson , to ignore the complaint of the
Wholesale Seedsmen's League against
the quality and weight of the seed
packages sent out from Washington ,
under this year's contract , will lead to
sensational developments.
It is asserted by league members
that various heads of departments in
the bureau of agriculture at Washing
ton , are in open revolt against the seeds
furnished the government for free dis
tribution prior to April 12 , by the con
tractors , the Market Gardeners' Asso
ciation , of New York. These em
ployees , it is said , have complained that
the seeds are not in accordance with
contract specifications.
W. Atlee Burpee , of the league's
board of directors , with offices at 475
North Fifth street , this city , is in pos
session of the names of the league's in
formants , but refuses to disclose them ,
fearing to compromise the men with
Secretary Wilson. In the event of an
investigation , these men will be called
as witnesses.
Comptroller of the treasury , Robert
Tracewell , received this reply yester
day , to his request for specified charges
against the seeds furnished by the Mar
ket Gardeners' Association :
April 28 , 1901.
ROBT. J. TUAOEWELL , ESQ. ,
Comptroller of the Treasury ,
Washington , D. O.
Sir : I have carefully read over the
copy of the letter of the secretary of
the Seedmen's League , published in to
day's North American , as per enclosed
clipping , and can state , from niy per
sonal examination of many of the pack
ages , which have been received through
congressmen of Pennsylvania , New
York and New Jersey , that the charges
therein are absolutely correct.
In addition to the points made by
Captain Landrethin nearly every pack
age of five examined , I find one paper
of spinach seed. This was not asked
for , when the department of agricul
ture advertised for bids , and , being sub
stituted for a more expensive seed , re
duces the cost to the lowest possible
point , as there is no vegetable seed so
cheap as spinach. This would give the
contractor an advantage in cost , in
many cases , of at least 40 to 50 per
cent. In common , with other seed
houses , we have weighed the packages
being sent out , and find in the great
majority of cases , the contents are very
much less than the specifications called
for.
for.You
You ask now for proof of these very
serious charges , made by the Wholesale
Seedmen's League ? Surely , any repre
sentative of yours , can obtain from the
secretary of agriculture , a copy of the
circular letter asking for proposals.
Then compare the specifications with
the seeds that are being distributed
today , ( or were being distributed prior
to April 12 , when the first expose was
made ) . These packages can be seen at
the seed papering establishment at
Washington , by any of your represen
tatives , and , unless changes have been
made since the charges of the Seed
League , you can obtain conclusive
proof. Yours respectfully ,
W. ATLEE BURPEE.
A copy of this letter lias been mailed
to wholesale seedsmen throughout the
country to encourage a united protest
from the league and outside seedsmen.
Free Seed Scandal.
Weight has been given the allegations
of irregularity in connection with the
free distribution of seeds by distinct
charges made by the Wholesale Seeds
men's League of the United States. The
charges are made in a protest to the
department of agriculture against pay
ment for seeds furnished on the April
contract. Four specific accusations are
urged over the signature of the secre
tary , any one of which , if substantiated ,
should be suificient to stop payment on
the vouchers of the contractor.
The league , through its secretary de
clares :
"First. The specific varieties of seeds ,
indicated in the printed specifications of
the 27th of January , 1900 , have not been
supplied , but very common , and very
