The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1901-10-08
DONE BY KANSAN
Prof. David FairchiId Returns
From Years Exploration.
Secured Many Rare Seeds and
Cuttings.
GOT 1900 HOP PLANTS.
Will Be Used to Improve United
States Variety.
Secures Collection Of Hard
Wheats in Tunis.
GOT 1000 HOP PLANTS.

Washington, ID. c. Oct. S.-Prof- Da-
vid G. Fairchild, of Kansas, agricul-
tura1 explorer of the United States de-
partment of agriculture, has just re-
turned from d years exploration in
Europe and Africa His collections in
clude all sorts of plants, seeds and cut
tings which might prove of special
value to agriculture in some part of the
United States, and his shipments to the
department during the year number
about three hundred.
Prof Fairchi1dS high standing prior
to entering upon his present work, and
his general knowledge of the soil and
climatic conditions of all parts of the
country, including the insu1ar possess
sions, give him special mental equip
ment for the work of seeking desirable
plants and seeds for introduction into
this country. He talks enthusiastically
and entertainingly of his work.
The importations mentioned herein
are the ones to which he attaches the
greatest importance:
In Bavaria he obtained 1900 hop
plants, including the five best varieties
known, Saaz and Semsch being the
principal ones. The hops now grown
in the United States are not the best
by far, and we always imported i'm
mense quantities annually from Ba-
varia- Mr.. Fairchild believes We have
all the conditions necessary to the
growing of the best hops and should
not be importing products which might
just as well be produced here.
He forwarded from Austria seed of
the famous Hanna brewing barley of
Moravia; also the Slavonian ounce, a
new variety which very likely will
prove of commercial value here. In
IStria, at RovIgnO, were found the
largest variety of hazelnutS grown, and
m a
which are said to be as large as an
average-sized ben's egg; also giant Eng
lish walnuts, the Marasca cherry, from
which comes the Marasquino liqueur,
and a beautiful pyramidal cypress from
Ragusa- This cypress has no superior
for park OrnamentatiOn-
In Greece. at Corfu, he found varie-
gated lemons and SeedleSS lemons Fan
ia furnished him giant English walnuts
and Pistach nuts. This Pistach nut is
finer in quality than the peanut. and is
roasted as are peanuts and eaten by the
LevantineS in immense quantities 1t is
the same as the Pistach nut used for
fiavoring, and is destined to become a
great favorite with cOnfectiOnerS in this
country. 1t can be grown where orange
culture f1ourishes, and the department
of agriculture is gradually accommodating
a stock for distribution At crete he Sc
cured the Cretan ST. Johns bread, which
furnishes a fodder very highly esteemed
in the whole Mediterranean region.
Sulla is the name of another forage
plant coming from the Island of Malta,
SO intimately associated in the minds of
Christians with the travels of ST. Paul
This plant is specially adapted to cal
careous soils, and from this fact Prof
Fairchild believes that it is suitable for
the island of Guam. He also forwarded
from Malta a SeedlesS lime probably
adapted to Florida: also fine varieties
of Japan medlar for the southern states,
and the rLumi nareng, a sweet orange,
which is never sour even when but half
ripe.
A collection of hard wheats and native
fodder plants were secured in Tunis, and
arrangements were perfected for obtain
ing a collection of fine Tunis table and
oil-producing olives, said to be superior
in quality to the finest French and
Spanish sorts.
Mr. Fairchild is specially enthusiastic
over a shipment of BerSeem, or Alexan-
dria clover, from Egypt This is emin-
emily suited for the arid region of the
southwest as a winter annual forage
crop of first Importance. This plant
forms the basis of Egyptian agriculture.
Without Berseem Egypt would be worse
off than the United States would be
without clover and alfalfa From this
same country he sent fodder bean
known as the horse bean of Egypt and
the Soudan; also new supply of a fine
cotton from Lower Egypt and the Sou
dan: from the latter section an excellent
shade tree-Dalbergia sisso; the best
Egyptian date palms and a superior
date from one of the GASES of Upper
Egypt; a collection of the best Egyptian
wheats to prove their rust-resistant
powers Trials there of American wheats
proved them to rust badly under condi-
lions in which the native sorts were free
from rust.
About 81, 500 worth of hard macaroni
wheats were shipped from Algiers; and
arrangements were made for num-
Der of new fodder plants which, to-
gether with the wheats, We're introduced
in co-operation with MessrS. Swingle,
Carleton and Schofield. other agricul-
tural explorers of the department.
Prof F'airchild is also very much
pleased with the success in Spain in
obtaining the finest almond in the
world. a sort which Californians have
but have heretofore been unable to get
them We import many thousands of
dollars worth every year. 1t is the
leading sort for confectionerS' use IN
coating with sugar and for use as
burnt almonds" They are long and
slim with a thin inner shell and highly
favored.
In Spain he also obtained seedless
pomegranates for culture in Arizona;
the best Spanish St Johns bread. This
tree would be admirable for railroads to
plant about their stations in the arid
southwest: at the same time it will fur
nish food for the poor and fodder for
horses.
The photographs which Prof Fair
child collects on a journey of this kind
are interesting and valuable, and serve
to illustrate his reports to the depart
ment He is already preparing to de-
part in few weeks upon another Jour-
ney. this time proba bly, through China
and Thibet. L. WILLIAM THAVIS-
Baby's Diary.