America's Crop Heritage


seeds from European firms for distribution, and in 1856 flower
seeds were also sent out. Congress appropriated $75,000 for agri-
culture in 1856, and a report of the purchases made with this
money show that the bulk of it was spent on seeds of the com-
monly-grown crops.
 Imported seeds were admitted duty free by the Treasury De-
partment, and they came in so frequently that Mason requested
that a general order covering all such shipments be issued so that
the Patent Office would not have to make out a separate authori-
zation on each shipment.
 SEED DISTRIBUTIONS CURTAILED
 Following Mason's term as commissioner, the work of the Agri-
cultural Division was subject to the alternate expansion and re-
trenchment of its budget caused by political changes. In fact,
Mason felt it necessary to temper the generosity he had displayed
earlier. Individuals receiving seeds were reminded that they were
public servants, working for the common good. Free seed dis-
tributions had caused some persons to look upon the Patent
Office as a common seed store for planting their vegetable gardens.
Mason, who was charged with collusion with seed dealers, felt that
the government should take care lest the people come to look upon
it as a fountain of favors and benefits. His criticism did not become
valid, however, until the government quit confining itself to the
introduction and distribution of new and important plants.
 Economy measures in 1859 cut the appropriation for the Agri-
cultural Division so much that only projects already under way
could be continued. Commissioner William D. Bishop recom-
mended that the money be used only to distribute varieties not
previously introduced. There was also the problem of government
competition with industry. Actually the seed distributions by the
Patent Office had promoted the sales of commercial seed firms
by calling the farmers' attention to the utility of fresh plant stocks
and a variety of crops. However, the government did not wish to
compete with the efforts of the seed dealers who by this time were
established in all the principal cities.
 SEPARATE CROP HISTORIES
 TEA CULTIVATION
 For many years growers pondered the question of raising tea in
America in order to relieve the dependency upon foreign sup-