it and gave an idea of what would be a fair charge. Others are doing it on various lines of vegetables, and from these special tests we would probably cull information of real value. Mr. McVay. I would like to say a word about what the agricultural experiment stations are doing for the seedsmen in Alabama. We have an experiment station in every one of our Congressional districts, beside one state experiment station. These different agricultural stations in the Congressional districts are required, under our state law, to make certain investigations into desirable grasses and forage plants and disseminate such information through bulletins to all Alabama farmers, and those bulletins are free to every one who makes application for them. Of course, all don't make application, but they get lists of landowners throughout the Congressional districts and distribute these bulletins widely, publishing a number of them, and I have noticed that these bulletins published by our different Congressional experiment stations have created a great demand for certain kinds of seed and forage plants. A few years ago no demand practically existed, and I agree with Mr. Burpee and the other gentlemen who have made remarks on the subject, that, in my judgment, this committee now under discussion would be one of the most important committees that could be appointed by the American Seed Trade Association. These experiment stations are helping our business, and helping us all, and if the results of these various tests being made throughout the United States were summarized in a well written paper to be read before this Association every year it would be of more value than any paper that could possibly be presented to this body.

grass

President Stokes-I do not know whether it would be practicable, but it seems to me it might be possible for the different state experiment stations to be of value to the seedsmen in having tests made for themselves.

I know that we make a great many of our own tests ourselves, and, also, we like very frequently to have tests made by outside laboratories especially fitted for this purpose, and it is possible, I think, for firms to make arrangements

with their nearest experiment station to make tests for them, for which the government would make a reasonable charge. Whether that could be done, I do not know, but it seems to me there can be no objection to its being suggested to them. The motion to appoint the Committee on Experiment Stations was agreed to.

President Stokes-It is usual at this first session to take a recess, in order that the Secretary may collect the dues of the members and distribute the badges. He, also, has a register which he is very anxious you should all sign, together with the names of any ladies or friends who may be here with you. You are also requested to turn in any railroad certificates that you may have, as it is very essential that we have as many of these as we can possibly get.

I may say, regarding our social entertainment, it was our purpose to have invited you to take a sail this afternoon at 3 o'clock, but Mr. Page brought on some of his Des Moines weather, and it looks as though we would have to postpone it until Thursday afternoon. Tomorrow evening at 8 o'clock we want you and all of your friends with you to attend a dinner that the Philadelphia members of this Association will give in this house. I also have here on the table some tickets admitting you to the large pier, which we will be glad to have you accept of liberally. If there are not enough we will get some more. You will find on the pier, every afternoon and evening, an entertainment which we think you will find agreeable.

In planning the entertainment for Atlantic City, the Philadelphia committee felt that it would be a kindness to you not to plan too much. There is such ample entertainment in the city itself we thought you would regard it as a kindness to be let alone.

As it is not likely we will have the sail this afternoon, I think it would be better for us to have an afternoon session of the organization at 3 o'clock, and we will endeavor to arrange for the sail on Thursday afternoon at the same hour.

We will now take a recess, and the members will please see the Secretary.

The convention here adjourned until 3 o'clock P. M.

FIRST DAY.

Afternoon Session.

The convention was called to order at 3:30 o'clock, P. M., by President Stokes.

The Secretary read the following telegram:

Walter P. Stokes,

American Seed Trade Association,

St. Charles Hotel, Atlantic City, N. J.

Please say to the members of the Association how very sorry I am not to be able to be with them at this meeting. I am unavoidably detained. J. E. NORTHRUP.

Also a telegram from Mr. A. J. Peters, of Washington, D. C., stating he would be at the convention tomorrow. Mr. Burpee-This morning I received a letter from Mr. Northrup, which contains some suggestions. (Mr. Burpee read the letter.)

Minneapolis, Minn., June 20, 1903.

Mr. W. Atlee Burpee, St. Charles Hotel, Atlantic City, N. J.

My Dear Mr. Burpee: Had I been able to be present at the Seed Trade Association and League meetings there is one matter which I had proposed submitting for the consideration of those bodies, and that is the Government distribution of seeds. We all realize what an element of danger this is to the seed business of this country. We all know that it is paternalism in its worst form, and that it is the only article of merchandise distributed by the Government. The Association and the League have wrestled with this problem during past years, and it is a greater menace today than ever before, first, for the reason that the Department is sending out a better quality of seeds than in the past, and second, because the appropriation for the purchase and distribution of seeds is increasing yearly. Cannot something be done to minimize this evil? Could purchases be made each year from surpluses in the hands of the trade, and for delivery on or before August 1st of each year, I am inclined to think that this Government seed distribution would be a benefit rather than an evil, for it would absorb existing surpluses which are always an element of danger to the entire trade; but I understand, although my information may not be correct, that only about 30 per cent. of the seeds arranged for by the Department for distribution during the coming season have been bought from surpluses, the bal

ance, or 70 per cent., having been arranged for on contract, and a large proportion of these from the seed growers. But whether these contract seeds be bought from the jobbers or the growers matters not. Production has been increased by just that amount.

In thinking as to how this difficulty might be met, it has occurred to me that the seedsmen of this country, both growers and jobbers, might pledge themselves to not accept from the Department of Agriculture, directly or indirectly, any contract or order involving the sale of seeds which could not be delivered out of stocks existing and in the market at the time the order was taken.

I believe that everyone engaged in the seed business, both grower and dealer, must realize the seriousness of the situation, and I do not believe that there is any grower or dealer but who would sign such an agreement, if he knew it was to be general and, that all were to sign. At present we all excuse ourselves for taking contracts for the Department, and justly so, on the ground that if we do not do it others will; but I do believe that there is enough public spirit among the seed trade of this country to agree to, and follow, some such plan. The foreign growers would, I feel sure, come into this agreement, in order to help protect their American customers. I believe, too, that some such system as this would be satisfactory to the Department of Agriculture, for although the Department might not be able to secure at all times just the varieties wanted they would be sure of positive deliveries and avoid the disappointments of the contract system, and the necessity of going out late in the season to buy unsatisfactory stocks to complete their assortments.

I write this very hastily, as I had hoped, almost up to the last moment, that I might be able to attend the Convention and League meeting, but it seems impossible. If you think best to present this for the consideration of the members of the Association and League I wish you would do so.

Very truly yours,

J. E. NORTHRUP.

I will give the letter to the Secretary, if he wishes to incorporate it in the minutes. It perhaps would be visionary for us to expect to ever do away with the free distribution of seeds, as many politicians use that method to keep in touch with their constituents. Now, it is certainly reasonable to suppose that if proper influences-the concentrated action of the American Seed Trade Association and the Wholesale Seedsmen's League, were brought to bear on the powers that be at Washington, the department would realize that it does not

matter whether the package contain tomato seed this year and cabbage or radish the next, for they could just as well carry out the instructions of the members of Congress as to seed distribution by purchasing these seeds in the open market from existing stocks. This suggestion of Mr. Northrup's is pertinent, though it is new to me, but it seems to me some such plan could be made practicable by the jobbers and growers agreeing to sign a paper to abide by existing circumstances, to be effective provided all the growers signed it. If the government officials would buy certain stocks it would relieve the situation. Your committee tried to emphasize this point, but the suggestion of Mr. Northrup's has never been acted upon, and we should get together, the growers and the jobbers and dealers, and agree that we will sell to the govern ment only the existing surplus. If we did that, and it were made effective, it seems to me that then we would do away with one of the most iniquitous injuries known to the trade. I would move that a committee be appointed by the Chair to take into consideration the matters brought out in Mr. Northrup's letter, to make a report at a later session of this convention, and see whether they cannot put the subject in some practicable shape.

The motion was duly seconded.

Mr. Wood-(Louisville)-I think it would be well to stop the free distribution of seed, and I don't think there is any better time to act on the question than right now. It has been forcibly presented, and if necessary a vote could be taken to see how the meeting stands.

I move, as an amendment, that a ballot be taken as to whether the American Seed Trade Association as here assembled should act on this matter here and now.

It

President Stokes-It seems to me the value of a move of this kind depends upon how the different firms, both of this Association and of the League, would feel toward it. seems to me a better plan than that proposed just now would be the appointment of a committee to report at a later session, and then if that committee saw fit to bring forth favorable recommendation, the incoming officers could appoint a com