Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-02-10
FOREIGN PLANTS USED
THEIR INTRODUCTION BY DE-
PARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Inc Introduction of foreign plants in Amer
lean soil as a means of securing the In
dependence of the United States in the mat
ter of raw materials was the subject of
lecture which was delivered last evening
in the Hubbard Memorial Hall, corner of
18th and NJ streets northwest, by David
Fairchild, chief explorer of the Department
of Agriculture and the head of the work
Of plant Introduction under Secretary VIII
son. Many lantern slides We're used in the
lecture to show the various plants that
have been introduced and to show the re-
suits of their introduction. The work is one
of great Importance and interest to the
horticulturists and agriculturists of the
country.
Millions of people in this country are
interested in plants, as are thousands of
those who have means with which to make
experiments with new plants and with new
varieties of old plants,' said Mr.. Farchild.
in opening the lecture. Every day the de
partment is in receipt of many letters ask
ing for plants with which to experiment.
and the bureau of plant introduction Is
sending out many varieties forwarded here
by our agents or explorers In the various
countries. From India we have obtained
the kaffircorn: from Arabia new varieties
of the orange: from northern China persim-
mons and other fruits. The new things are
coming to the bureau at the rate of twelve
per day. The plants are put In the hands of
experimenters and they are distributed la
ter, as the results of the experiments show
| more widely according to the success OBJ
tanned.
1900 Plants introduced.
1.-THE bureau was established In 1897 and
since then II has introduced about 1900
plants. Sometimes the bureau gets small
cuttings in tin tubes; at other times it may
get a ton Of seed. Through the bureau ex-
plcrers have been sent to the various parts
OF the world, and these explorers have fur
nj
into the United States. The explorers do not
obtain specimens for botanical purposes,
but they get the species which may prove,
valuable and practicable in this country"
After explaining these objects OF special
work In which he is engaged Mr.. Fairchiid
took up special plants that have been i'm
ported, showing the successes and failures
which have accompanied the introduction
of the plants into this country. lie re-
ferred to rice, declaring that Americans
are buying and eating rice which the Jap
anese and the Chinese would not touch.
He explained that in the mechanical pol
ishing machines of the country the out
side and most nutritious part Of the rice
flake is taken off, and from 40 to 80 per
cent of the flakes broken. The department
has introduced Japanese rice, and over
half of that grown in Texas and Louisiana
is of that variety.
Smyrna Fig Trees.
An interesting feature was discovered, he
declared when an effort was made to intro
duce the Smyrna fig trees. 1t was found
that without the cultivation given by a pc
culiar insect, found on ell the native
Smyrna trees. the trees would not yield
here The beneficial bug was imported,
wrapped in tin foil, and with the efforts
of those animals the Smyrna figs are Icing
grown successfully in California. Dates
were first introduced by the department
in the SOS, and the experiments have oeen
so successful that there are now 40 yarie-
ties In Arizona and California. The CitIon
was also shown to have been introduced
with success.
One of the greatest commercial benefits
that is expected to result from the efforts
of this bureau will be through the durum
wheat which was found In Russia, Africa
and Spain This is now grown so extern
siyely in this country that 6CO0GOo bushels
of durum wheat were exported last year.
1t is found that the durum wheat Will
thrive under poorer soil and climatic con-
ditions than our own wheat, and Is not at
tackled by rust, like our nariye wheat.
When used for making bread there IS little
difference found in tie resulting product
from the two varieties of wheat The in
PRODUCTION of the Japanese ''udo." which
resembles our celery, has been undertaken
and has been very successful. A lantern
slide showed a field at Arlington. which
showed plants four feet in height grown
from seeds in one season. Mangoes are
also being grown extensively in Florida,
under directions from the department here,
and the most complete collection OF VaTfe-
ties of this plant has been made ny Chief
Propagation Oliver of the Department OF
Agriculture
Egyptian Cotton.
When the department learned that 500
600 bales of Egyptian cotton was being i'm
ported every year 1t turned its attention
to the introduction OF that plant in this
country. This cotton is better adapted for
stockings, Undertaking, etc. Efforts to
raised this have proved successful only on
semI-arid lands In Colorado. where the con-
ditions are like those along the Nile After
the irrigation of more of the land IN the
west this cotton, it is believed, can be raised
successfully.
The great forage plant of the country is
alfalfa, and there are now nearly 3.0O0,oUO
acres of II in the United States. Recently
the department has introduced a seed from
Turkestan, which is giving better results
than the earlier variety. as 1t better with
stands drought and alkali. Some imported
stock planted in the southwest gives an
extra cutting in a season
Other plants touched on by the speaker
were the Nile clover, horse radish mango
steen, earrubo trees, priekly pears, spine
almonds and chayOte.