Introduction Under Rusk and Morton


 A special agent was appointed in 1890 to purchase seeds for
distribution by the Department. Following Rusk's recommen-
dation, the distribution that year to experiment stations and agri-
cultural groups was increased considerably, and many seed pack-
ages were sent to foreign countries.' Ladoga wheat, Bermuda
grass, and sugar beet seed were some of the more significant impor-
tations made during 1890.
 The following year, the Department of Gardens and Grounds
made a heavy distribution of semitropical plants to growers in
the South. Figs, pineapples, olives, camphor trees, and several
varieties of foreign grapes made up the list. An encouraging
result of this distribution was the extension of pineapple plan-
tations in Florida. However, the government soon realized that
such large distributions of tropical fruits were expensive and
impractical since many of the plants would not grow satisfactorily
in the temperate climate of the United States.
 The Department, in addition to its work of seed distribution,
gradually assumed many new responsibilities during Rusk's term.
Marketing, animal diseases, inspection of materials, standardi-
zation of varieties, food adulteration, and favorable tariff legis-
lation were some of the more pressing problems engaging the
Department's attention.
 Morton's Attitude-A complete reversal in the Department's
policy of free seed distribution was effected in 1893, when J.
Sterling Morton became Secretary under President Cleveland's
second administration. Throughout his term of office. Morton
criticized the wholesale distributions. He was opposed to the
expense involved in the purchase, packing, and mailing of free
seeds, and took steps to reduce these expenditures in line with
the economy movement of the administration. He was against
the large distribution of common garden and field seeds, specif-
ically-turnips, cabbage, and celery seeds. Morton favored con-
fining the distributions to those seeds which might be considered
new and valuable. He charged that the most common and ordi-
nary seeds had been purchased in the years past and had been
distributed without design.
 Plants of warm climates received much attention and included, roughly in
the order of quantities sent out: olive, tea, coffee, camphor, foreign grapes, citrus
fruit varieties, date palms, figs, Japanese persimmons, currants, loquats, guavas,
pineapples, black pepper, vanilla, mangoes, and bananas. The report of the Chief
of Gardens and Grounds for 1890 described 431 of the more important economic
plants in the Gardens.