The evening times. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1895-1902, 1901-01-14
Rare GIFT TO THE NATION.
Barbour LRthrOp Donates Botanic
Collection to the Government.


A most remarkable collection of rare
economic plants and seeds is now being
worked up by the Department OF Agricul-
ture- Barbour Lathrop. OF Chicago. with
David C. Fairchild as assistant, recently
completed q tour of the world. covering
a period Of two years and embracing trav-
els which amounted to explorations, and
Mr.. Lathrop has given the results OF the
expedition, undertaken at his own ex-
pense. TO the farmers Of the United States
through the medium Of the section of seed
and plant Introduction Of the Department
Of Agriculture.
The expedition left New York on De-
cember 81. 1898. and returned last fall.
having visited in order the following coun-
tries and sent in from each living ecoDom-
&c plants and seeds for cultivation by
American farmers and horticuIturists: ia
maica. Grenada. Barbados. Trinidad in
the West Indies: VeneZueIa. Colombia. Fc-
uador, Peru, Chile, Argentine. Brazil. in
South America; Portugal Tyrol and Bohe-
mia IN Austro- Hungary; Italy, Egypt, Am
BONA, Banda, Lcmbok Bali MoIuccas.
Aru and Kei Islands. Tenimber archipeIa-
so, and New Guinea in the Dutch East In
dies; Hongkong, Canton. in South China
the Philippine Islands Bankok. Siam: Swe-
den and Finland in Northern Europe.
spent by Mr.. Lathrop upon this expedition.
and he has put into it some OF the best
thought of 9 practical man who Is alive 10
the general wants Of his countrynen He
entrusted the technical part OF the work
TO his assistant, Mr. Fairchild, who was
detailed by Secretary Wilson from his po-
sition in charge of the section Of seed and
plant introduction
The botanist of the expedition was laid
up with malaria in the MoIuccas, and with
typhoid in Siam and Ceyion and Mr. Lath-
rop had to go twice to Carlsbad, but the
expedition has been brought to a success
full conclusion, and the farms of this coun-
try are the benedciaries
The trip was primarily planned by Mr.
Lathrop to be one of reconnaissance. The
object in the first place was TO find out
what each country offered in inducements
for exploration work how il should be en-
tered and studied whom of its inhabitants
could be relied upon as correspondents.
and what would be the probable expense
OF an exhaustive study from the stand
point of plant Introduction This object
has been attained and is embodied in a
mass Of notes and piles of publications
and notebooks.
The secondary aim was TO purchase and
import for trial such promising seeds and
plants as were suited for culture in vari-
Gus parts Of the United States. The ma
terial thus purchased has not all come in
yet, but the main part has been distribut-
ed or viii shortly be sent out by the de-
Dartment to the various experiment sta
tiOns and private experimenters fer trial
and report
Over $50 different purchases were sent
IN from the various countries each pur-
chase accompanied by careful notes on its
culture and the climatic soil conditions to
which the plant CT seed WAS best ada pied
The aHnCted list has been n part publish
ed or is in process OF publication by the
section Of seed and plant introduction It
covers a vide range of horticultural a I'D
agricultural plants suited to variety Of
conditions from the tropical surroundin gs
of Porto Rico and Hawaii to the Arctic
climate OF Alaska.