Evening star., 1901-10-08
SEEDS FROM MANY LANDS
RESULT OF PROF. DAVID G.. FAIR
-CHILD's EXPLORATIONS.
Plants Obtained for Introduction Int
This Country-Collecfed on
Years Trip.

has just returned from a years explora-
tfon in Europe and Africa. His collections
included all sorts of plants, seeds and cut
tings which might prove of value to agri-
culture In some part of the United States.
and his shipments to the department dur
ing the year numbered about three hum
dred.
Mr.. Fairchild's high standing prior to
entering upon his present work. and his
general knowledge of the soil and climatic
conditions of all parts of our country, in
Guiding the insular possessions, give him
special mental equipment for the work of
seeking desirable plants and seeds for in
PRODUCTION into this country. He talks en-
Enthusiastically and entertainingiy of his
work.
In Bavaria he obtained twelve hundred
mop plants. including the five best varieties
known. Saaz and Semsch being the princi-
pal ones. The hops now grown in the
United States are not the best. by far. and
immense quantities are imported annually
from Bavaria Mr. Fairchild believes we
have all the conditions necessary to the
growing of the best hops
He forwarded from Austria seed of the
famous Hanna brewing barley of Moravia:
also the Slav0fiian ounce, variety
which very likely will prove of commercial
value here. In Istria. at Rovigno. were
found the largest variety of hazel nuts
grown, and Dalmatia gave large olives for
picking, which are said to be long as
an average-siZed hens egg; also giant Eng
lish walnuts, the Marasca cherry, from
which comes the Marasquino liqueur, and
a beautiful pyramidal cypress from Ra-
gusa. This cypress has no superior for
park ornafnentation.
In Greece at Corfu he found variegated
lemons and seedless (or with few seeds)
lemons. Zanta gave 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 the Pistach nut used for fla
voring, and is destined to become a great
favorite with confectfeners in this country.
1t can be grown where orange culture
fourtshes, and the Department of Agricul
ture Is gradually accommodating a stock for
distribution. At Crete he secured the Gre
tan st. Johns bread, which furnishes
fodder highly esteemed In the whole Medi-
terranean region.
Sulla is the name of another forage plant
coming from the Island of Malta, so inti-
mately associated in the minds OF Chris
tians. with the travels of st. Paul. This
plant Is specially adapted to caicareous
soils, and from this fact Mr.. Fairchild be-
| lieves that IT is suitable for the island of
Guam. He also forwarded from Malta
seedless lime probably adapted to Florida;
south, and the 'Lumi nareng" sweet
orange, which is never sour even when but
half ripe.
A collection of hard wheats and native
ioudSa pidHlS were ODldlntu IN uDlS ana
arrangements were perfected for obtaining
collection of fine Tunis table and oil-pro-
ducing olives, said to be superior in quai-
ity to the finest French and Spanish sorts.
Mr. Fafrchild Is especially enthusiastic
over shipment of berseem, or Alexandria
clover. from Egypt. This Is eminently suited
for the arid regions Of the southwest as a
winter annual forage crop Of first impor-
tance This plant forms the basis Of Egyp-
tfan agriculture. Without berseem Egypt
| would be worse off than the United States
would be without clover and alfalfa. This
fodder plant forms the basis of Egyptian
agriculture. From this same country he
sent a fodder bean known as the horse bean
of Egypt and Soudan; also new supply OF
a very fine cotton from lower Egypt and
the Soudan from the latter section "a ane
shade tree (dalbergia sisso); the best Egyp-
tian date palms and a most excelen. date
from one of the oases of upper Egypt; col
| lection of the best Egyptian wheats to
prove their ruSt-reSiStant powers. Trials
there of American wheats proved them to
rust badly under conditions in which the
native sorts were free from rust
About $1,000 worth of hard macaronI
wheats were shipped from Algiers, and ar
rangements were made for a number of
new fodder plants which, together with the
wheats, were introduced in cooperation
with Messrs. Swingle. Carleton and Scho-
field, other agricultural explorers of the de-
partment.
Mr.. Fairchild is also much pleased with
his success in Spain in obtaining the finest
almond in the world, a sort which Califor-
mans have been anxious to secure for many
years, but have heretofore been unable to
get We import many thousands of dol
lars 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
she'll and highly favored. In Spain he also
secured seedless pomegranates for culture
TN Arizona; the best Spanish ST. Johns
bread. This tree would be admirable for
railways to plant about their stations in
the arid southwest; at the same time it
will furnish food for the poor and fodder
for horses.
The photographs which Mr.. FairchiId col
lects on a journey of this kind are inter-
esting and valuable. and serve to illustrate
his reports to the department. He is al
ready preparing to depart upon another
journey, this time, probably, through China
and Tibet.