The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1898-03-02
PLANT TREASURES
Gathered by a Government Agent in
Europe and Asia


Washington, March 2+-Secretary Will
son of the agricultural department, in
pursuance of his determination, as far
as practicable, to utilize the agricultural
seed appropriation in securing new, rare
ana valuable seeds, dispatched Prof
Neils Hansen, professor of horticulture
at BrOOkings, S. D., to eastern Europe
and Asia to secure new seeds and plants
and TO ascertain what the people at the
original cradle of mankind had been do
ing to adapt plants to their conditions.
Prof. Hansen IS now preparing his report
for publication after a trip involving
many thousand miles of travel in eastern
Russia, trans-Caucasia, Russian Turke-
stan. western China and Siberia. The i'm
mense distance Travelled, the changes of
climate and food and especially the over
land journey in Asia, which was a very
rough and adventuresome one, severely
tested the endurance of the young and
active man sent on this mission.
The trip was a successful one Many
promising varieties were obtained. About
three car loads of seed will be distrib-
uted to state experiment stations and
others
These seeds. it is expected will be chiefly
OF value IN the arid regions, the purpose
u 7 IoA- Jansen sen. , LI!P oelnB 70 oplaln
such as We're distinguished for resistance
TO drOuth and heat.
The following is a digest of his find
FIrst-In central Asia a marked feature
of the agriculture was found to be the
native alfalfa, which is a distinct sub
species Of the common alfalfa and greatly
superior to it in extent of root system
heat. This has been shown by actual
trial side by side in Turkestan, and it
eminent into the dry steppes of the region
east of the NOlga river in European Rus
sla, and 1t IS also coming into cultivation
in southern Siberia.
Second-The musk melons of Russian
Turkestan Bukhara and trans-Caucasia
We're deemed worthy OF introduction
Many varieties run from 20 to 25 pounds
IN weight, oval in shape, flesh snow
Whlte, melting, and superior in quality
TO the American variety. Some varieties
keep all winter and form one of the prin-
Slpa4 articles OF food OF the native Sarts-
seed OF large number of varieties was
saved from melons bought on the spot.
1n4ru-A large qlanJlty OF PITS OF the
choicest varieties of the Vladimir race of
cherries was obtained from carefully Sc
1ected Irult- Ihese come practically true
to seed, bear fruit of large size and ex-
ceHent quality and endure 40 degrees be-
low zero Fanrennelt. me trees, now
ever, are a. distinct race of cherry and
must be grown from seed or sprouts in
the true RUSSIAN Iash1on, as they are
short lived and tender when grated or
budded on the common commercial MAJ
zaEd or MahaleD stocks OF the nurseries
Fourth-One thousand plants. the entire
obtainable stock, were secured of a new
species of raspberry of semi-recumbent
habit recently discovered by explorers in
the mountains of extreme northern China.
the fruit IS orange yellow in color, of
large size and Of peculiar but very pleas
ant flavor The plant has proven hardy
at St Petersburg This is a new depart
ure in raspberries and is worthy of gen
eral trial.
Fifth-Scions of some new hybrids of
the hardest variety of small fruited ST.
beT1an crab, with the hardest Russian
apples, originated by a Russian expert
These will be valuable for trial in our
northwest far north of the present limits
OF apple tree culture.
Sixth-The Russian method of absolutely
preventing the rOOt-killing of apple trees
on hardy stock was carefully studied and
seeds obtained for trial This method
viii no doubt prove great boon to a
large part of our northwestern prairie
states, where rOOt-killing is the main OBJ
SeVenth-F'rom Turkestan, west China
and trans-Caucasia native varieties of
apricot, plum, peach. cherry, apple, pear.
RAJ al lea ST nd nr ms f-r1fr
and collection Of vegetables were OBJ
tanned.
Eighth-A collection of new ornamental
trees and shrubs and plants from Siberia,
Turkestan and the Caucasus.
Ninth-Seeds OF plants used in Russian
dunes or moving sands of the deserts of
southeast Russia and Turkestan.
Tenth-SmaH lots of a large number of
new legumes. cereals. grasses, trees.
fruits, shrubs and ornamental plants. etc,
recently discovered by Russian scientific
expeditions.
Eleventh-The Siberian hairy or sand
vetch (Nicla NillOSa), as grown in the
Volga region of east Russia, was obtain
ed In large quantity for general distri-
button. This plant has been widely test
ed at the American agricultural expert
of the United States. Select seed of Rus
sian red clover was also obtained for linn
tied trial, as Russian eXpeFlmenterS have
found their native clover to be harder
than that commonly grown in America.
Twelfth-Seeds of many other Russian
varieties of cereals were obtained from
the dry sections of European Russia, due
regard being paid to their market value
from an American and English stand
The hardy spring wheats of the volga
region were not included in the seed dis
tribution, as they found a profitable for
pre- used for the manufacture Of macaL-