Pullman herald. [volume] (Pullman, W.T. [Wash.]) 1888-1989, 1909-12-24

lea. If we depended on the plants
that are native to this country
we should probably be living prin.
cipally on corn, pumpkins and DO.
tatoes. We should be without
most of our common vegetables
and without almost all of our
1rults. Wheat, oats, rye, barley
practically all of our cereals-are
immigrants, and chance-selected
immigrants. The rice had to he
grown on land that could be food
ed; the peaches could not stand
frost; the alfalfa needed warm
climate; the first oranges had
seeds; the dates likewise; and the
cabbages had a strong odor. In
our minds the peach is fruit
that is killed by frost and that
only grows to a certain size. We
nave not realized that it is the
KIND OF peaches that we happened
to get or those bred from these
chance-selected immigrants that is
subject to these limitations. All
peaches are not necessarily thus
limited. While in many eases we
have probably received and bred
ne best varieties of fruit and vege-
tables for our own purposes. in
many other eases we have not.
Already scientific, agricultural ex-
pIoratlon has introduced some very
valuable varieties of plants into
this country. japanese rice in
Texas and Louisiana, and Durum
wheat are, perhaps, the two best
examples.
The story of the introduction of
mating plants shows how the bu-
reau works after it has got the
new varieties of plants from the
ends Of the earth
The plant explorers had raked
the world for something that
would return productivity to the
abandoned rice lands of South
Carolina. The old rice belt be-
tween the uplands was once the
richest part of the state. But the
war ruined the dykes and bitches
and the fields were abandoned A
plant to renew the prosperity of
this region was what was sought.
Finally, in 1903, roots Of mat
ting plants were brought from the
Orient, which gave promise of
solving the difficulty. Since then,
the explorers collected and stud
led sedges from Egypt, Madeira,
Madagascar, Portugal, China, Jap
an, and some native to the Unit
ed States, All have been given
a fair trial and the process of eli
mination has left but two eligibles
that are really important - the
sedge Of China and the rush of
Japan. OF these two, the former
has thus far been more success
full. The japanese rush, though
worth double the value of the
sedse, has so far (in this country
failed to grow tall enough for
weaving.
The expedition that resulted in
the introduction of the mating
plants on a considerable scale was
made by Mr. John Tull Of the De
Ipartment Of Agriculture, who in
the early fall Of 1906 brooked the
active jealousy Of the Allied Mat
ting Guilds of Japan Nj Tull
went quietly and persiStently
about, with the aid of friendly
japanese who attended to the buy
ing and boxing Of the roots, and
succeeded in collecting at great
expense SO cases Of rush roots and
189 cases Of sedge which in Japan
is grown on the island of kiusiu
In June, 1907, $4,000 live roots
of the rush and $4,000 Of tie
sedge were planted in the Gov
eminent experimental gardens at
Chico, Cal
When the shoots were a year old
they were taken from the nur-
sery and sent to prove in Crowley,
La, Pierce, Tex, and Jacksonbo %,
Is. G.. also to some extent in North
Carolina and in Florida. The most
important test was in South Caro-
lima where Mr.. w. +. Haskell, sec
rotary and treasurer of the Caro-
lima Rice Growers Association,
raised the sedge so successfully
on one acre that he was able last
season to ship several hundred
pounds Of the straw, the finished
product of which considerably
more than covered the floors of
his home.
SO far the experiment has
demonstrated no more than the
nofuraI nop 1itionc in South Caro-