America's Crop Heritage


 Morton reversed previous policy so far as to suggest that the
introduction of rare trees and flowers be left to large seed firms.
He claimed that seed firms would get plants into the hands of the
growers two or three years ahead of the government. Morton
repeatedly defended the commercial seed firms from government
competition. Continuance of the Seed Division, which had out-
lived its usefulness according to Morton, was an infringement
on the rights of citizens engaged in legitimate trade pursuits. The
building space given to seed distribution should be given to
" ... some useful pursuit, more in keeping with the spirit of our
institutions."
 TABLE 5
 DISTRIBUTION OF MAJOR CROP SEEDS BY THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT 1889-97

 Mis-
 Vege- Cer- Tex- To- cellan-
 Year tables Flowers eals tiles bacco Turnips eous*
 No. of No. of No. of No. of
 No. of No. of pack- pack- pack- No. of pack-
 packages packages ages ages ages packages ages
1889..... 3,710,224 307,804 35,029 12,157 186,247 548,009 53,042
1890..... 4,719,691 632,909 80,715 14,473 65,020 55,905 36,633
1891..... 5,058,647 632,066 50,271 14,444 59,624 165,344 33,217
1892..... 5,043,694 722,732 16,143 20,761 76,235 29,994 23,440
1893..... 6,743,586 826,045 13,145 25,022 63,935 3,673 29,537
1894..... 8,127,013 802,102 23,129 34,950 67,897 452,752 4",475
1895..... 8,591,164 771,780 33,841 18,752 74,002 .......... 99,114
1896..... 10,125,000 NR NR NR NR NR NR
1897 ..... 19,053,839 1,022,500 NR NR NR 2,119,042 NR

 Includes such crops as herbs, opium poppy, tree seeds, grasses and sorghums.
 NR-Not reported.

 In 1894, Morton stated that the operation of experiment sta-
tions obviated the need for distribution to private individuals.
In the Annual Report for 1894, the Special Agent for the pur-
chase of seeds, Enos S. Harnden, had a report opposing the old
system of seed distribution. He mentioned the unjust "interfer-
ence" with private business, stated that the varieties distributed
were not new but only had new names, and that the Department
of Agriculture was only a dumping ground for bad seeds. Harnden
suggested that an appropriation of $15,000 for determining the
number and correct names of varieties should be made and the
results published through government bulletins.
 In spite of Morton's aggressive opposition, Congressmen were
determined to hold on to their patronage and in 1895 appropri-