i
Thursday, January 23, 1913.]
THE CAROLINA
THE FREE DISTRIBUTION OP
GARDEN SEED.
The Democratic' Congressmen will
go a long way towards securing the
confidence of the American people if
they will, at as early a date as possi
ble, put a stop to the free distribu
tion of garden seeds. We have not
much hope that .they will do it; for
we presume that human nature in a
Democratic Congressman does not
differ a great deal from that in the
Bull Moose of Republican Congress
man.
This practice of distributing seeds
came in long years ago when the
country was new, with the distinct
object of distributing new or rare
and valuable seeds. It has degener
ated into a grave abuse, costing, we
presume, in seeds and packing and
franked postage, somewhere around
half a million dollars a year.
This is not done for the benefit of
the farmer. The seeds thus sent out
in recent years are just the ordinary
garden seeds. Some of them will
grow and some will not. The quality;
we understand, is getting better,
through the efforts of the Depart
ment of Agriculture. But no matter
whether they grow or not, they are
the same seeds that the farmer grows
in his garden, or borrows from his
neighbor, or buys from the seed store
at a small price, They are none the
better because of the fact that some
seedsman grew them under contract
With the Government, and the Gov
ernment paid freight on them to
Washington and postage out again.
It is simply Congressional graft,
not in money, but in the method of
winning the favor of the people. A
Congressman is selected not because
of his judgment of seeds, but because
of his ability and his integrity. The
majority of ^he farmers really don’t
want these seeds. The State of Ohio
is endeavoring to ascertain the wish^
es of farmers on many subjects, and
among others whether or not they
want these seeds. Recent reports
given to the Secretary of State show
that out of 1,000 farmers, 301 -want
ed the seeds and 709 did not, more
than two to one. The farmers who
want , the seeds can easily buy them
or get them from a neighbor as a
gift.
Farmers have protested against
this graft, for such it is, for the
last quarter of a century. Yet it still
keeps on, because the Congressman
is not willing to deny himself the
privilege of mailing a package of
seeds to some farmer or farmer’s
wife as a proof of his thoughftul care
and interest in their welfare. The
fact is, the Congressman perhaps
never heard of them before. He gets
a list of names, gives them to his
clerk, and the clerk mails them or
has them mailed, and the Govern
ment pays the expense.
It is time they should either repeal
this law altogether, or else go back
to its original intent and purpose.
The Government can secure rare and
valuable seeds; and these might be
distriubted to the Experiment Sta
tions for experimental purposes^ If
they prove valuable for that particu
lar locality or State, they can easily
be distributed. Seedsmen will get
onto it and multiply them to any ex
tent for which there may be a mar
ket. This will be doing the country
a service; hut to send beans to a
farmer who has been eating beans all
winter, and does not need any beans,
or to sendsbeans to a Louisiana far
mer that might be satisfactory in
Iowa, or vice-versa, is simply a piece
of nonsense, which would not be con
tinued unless there was some graft
in it, or, in other words, unless the
Congressmen felt that by sending
out these 'seeds they were making
themselves solid with the good, inno
cent people living out in the country,
who look upon them as evidence that
the Congressman at Washington is
lying awake, at night, thinking about
the garden stuff.
Reform it altogether. Cut it out. |
Now if a Democratic Congressman
will do this, even a Bull Moose or a
Republican farmer, progressive or
standpat, will give him credit. They
will all say: Well, here’s a man that
strips himself of seeming advantages,
whether it is graft or not, and hq’s
worthy of confidence.
If Congressmen could only realize
that they would make more votes by
not sending out garden seeds, the
farmer would cease to be bothered by
a lot of truck that he gets in his mail
early in the spring, which he feeds to
his hogs or chickens, or perhaps in
disgust throws them out on the road
side. The farmer is hot a fool. If
the money that was spent for this
form of petty graft was apportioned
to the different Experimental Sta
tions, the farmer would think more
of Congress, and in the end would re
ceive the benefit.—^Wallace’s Farmer.
“What’s the matter with your
wife? She’s all broken up lately.’’
“She got a terrible jar.”
“What has happened?”
“Why, she was assisting at a rum
mage sale, took off her new hat, and *
somebody sold it for thirty-five
cents.”
* * *
The traveling agent had four min
utes in which to catch his train.- '
“Can’t you go faster thajq tl'is?” he
asked the street-car cgn'fiuctor.
“Yes,” the fegiT-ringer answered,
“but I have to stay with my car.”
* • *
Little Ella’s father was an emi
nent author, and one day while he
was at luncheon the little girl occu
pied a chair in his study. Shortly a
caller was ushered in, and with a
pleasant smile, inquired:
“I suppose you assist your father in
entertaining bores?”
“Yes, sir,” replied Ella, gravely;
“please be seated.”
NURSERY STOCK
FOR THE MEMBERS OF
THE FARMERS UNION.
This Is the Place to Buy
Complete varieties of stock now on
hand for February and March delivery,
1913. Write me for prices; they are
right.
PIEDMONT NURSERY
J30
M. C. SPOON. Prop.,
Hartshorn, N. C.
We Do Not Claim
To “ own the world ” or all the good fowls in it, but we do breed
as good fowls as the best, and better than most, of the following
varieties: S. C. White and Brown Leghorns, Light Brahmas, S. C.
Black Minorcas. Cornish Fowl, Houdans, S. C. R. 1. Reds, Barred
Plymouth Rocks, White Wyandottes, Pekin and I. R. Ducks, Amer
ican and English type. Hen eggs, $2 and $3 per setting of 13.
Duck^eggs, 11 for $2. In business twenty years. Have exhibited
at all the leading shows.
NEVIN POULTRY YARDS.
Order from this Adv. Charlotte. N. C,
The First National Bank
STATESVILLE, N. C.
Capital - - - - $100,000.00
Surplus and Profits - - - . 33,000 00
Resources 750,000.00
Farmers are specially invited to open an account with us.
JOS. C. IRVIN, President.
E. S. PEGRAM, Cashier.
Groceries at Lower Prices
SAVE MONEY ON FOOD SUPPLIES
HIGH PRICES BUSTED
QUALITY GUARANTEED
QUICK SHIPMENTS
Here’s how you can buy the very best srroceries at prices even
lower tban^many dealers buy. We will sell you srroceries at
wholesale prices, let you save dealers profits. Feed for the stock,
and seed as well, sdd at way down prices. Don’t throw away
money by payine two profits, but buy at rock bottom prices like
The prices are LOW, but the quality is HIGH. You could not
buy better groceries or feed at any store. It’s only by dealing
direct with you—saving you the dealers profits, that we can make
these offers. We guarantee the quality. Shipments are made
immediately upon receipt of order.
these.
SPECIALS FOR THIS WEEK AT WHOLESALE PRICES
GROCERIES
SEEDS AND FEED
Pride of Elyslan, Highest Quality Patent Fionr,
SELRCT, Good Patent Flour, . - . -
Full Cream Ctarese,
Fre^ti Roasted Collce, Special Bargain, -
Choice Green Coftee, - **„**.•
Deiiclons Lake White Fish, Equal to Mackerel, -
Granulated Sugar,
Fine Table Sait.
$4.80 bbl.
4.60 bbl.
.19 per lb.
.10 per lb.
.18 1-2 per lb.
.03 1-2 per lb.
.05 1-4 per lb.
1-2 e. per Ib.
Burt Seed Oats,
Red Rust Proof Seed Oats.
Appier Seed Oats, -
Mixed Feeding Oats,
Ship Stuff.
Red Dog Hog Feed, •
Bran, ....
Ground Corn and Oat Feed,
$ .65 per bn.
.52 per bn.
.70 per bn.
.42 per bn.
24.50 ptr ton
30.00 per ion
25.00 ttr ton
27.00 per ton
How to Order
In ordering from this ad write
down the goods which you wish
with their prices, and remit by
Money Order or Registered Let
ter. The goods will be shipped
the same day your order is re
ceived f. 0. b. Richmond, and are
guaranteed to be satisfactory.
Endorsed by Stste Business Agent
Next week we can give you prices on Seed Potatoes, Clover,
Rape, Timothy and Millet.
Richmond Grain & Provision Co.
212 South lOlh St, Richmond, Va.
EVERYTHING TO EAT FOR MAN AND BEAST
Write for Free Catalog
The hbove goods are only a few
of the articles taken from our big
money saving price-list. Every
tiipe you buy groceries, seed or
feed without this price-list it is
like throwing your money away,
A copy will be sent you free upon
request. Write us to-day asking
us for your copy.
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