Weekly journal-miner. [volume] (Prescott, Ariz.) 1908-1929, 1912-05-01


fourteen years in spite Of the fact
that they could neither read nor
write. and were deaf. dumb and blind
into the bargain. is a fact as little
known as that Uncle Sam has
brought them in without consulting
their wishes and set them to work
without even a cent Of wages. Most
Of all. however, through
'the activities Of these apparently
AopclessIy useless aliens hundreds
hi millions Of dollars have been adj.
|slcd TO the ooun,ry's wealth.
These curious immigrants. how
ever. some Of which are aristoerats
and some plebians. are now human
beings, bu, plants. and the method
81 their introduction to this country
constitutes one of the most interest
ing as we'll as one OF the least
known features Of a work OF extreme
Importance TO the whole country
which the government is carrying
on. Though few persons are aware
Of the fact. Uncle Sam for a decade
and half has systematically been
encouraging vegetable immigrants.
To assist in this work n plant inn
migration station is maintained here
where each specimen arriving goes
shxnauh a, .x.,c..a,..., ...... ...-.i.-
TO that to which human immigrants
are subjected. Each specimen is
scrutinizcd to see that il is free from
disease and likely TO become a de-
sirable citizen and IL so helped to
become established in this country.
How successful these aliens have
been is shown in the fact that in the
last fourteen years thirty one thous-
and of them have been admitted by
the Bureau and put to work in
.creasing our nationi wealth and di-
versifying our food supply.
As might '"bc' expected the hand
ling OF these plant immigrants is
one Of the fields of activity Of the
Department of Agriculture where
the curious visitor to the Depart
ments's immigration bureau -6nds
the work centralized in the Office
Of Chief Agricultural Explorer Fair
child. the top OF whose desk IL
likely to present strange appear
ance, being decorated. for instance.
by few specimens OF Cannon ball"
fruit from tropical East Africa.
number of immense Oriental persi-
mons free from quicker and
bedraggled specimen OF edible bam-
boo just in from China where il is
much more important article Of
food than our asparagus which Il
somewhat resembles.
Generally speaking these plant i'm
migrants, while all are useful may
be classed as aristocrats and com
moners. One Of the former in
which the Department is especially
interested, which IL in fair way to
be given citizenship In our markets.
is the mango from India. IL Is
totally different from the West In
dian seeding mango rocking Of tur-,
pentine, Mr. Fairehild pronounces
il the most delicious fruit known.
Tie describes Il as tasting little
like a pineapple, lint without the
acidulous quality Of that fruit, pos
sessing a hint Of the apricot and
delightful aromatic flavor rare ip
fruits Its texture is like that Of
smsiting pear or fine oustard
which tissolves in the mouth A
hundred mango trees were planted
in California in 1902 and in 1910 one
bore 500 fruits which sold at IL
cents piece, while the latest re
ports from orchards now in exist
ence promise large crop. In In
dia annual celebrations are held in
honor Of the mango tree OF WHICH
there are hundreds of varieties pro
ducing fruits ranging in size from
a plum up to six pounds. Curiousiy
enough India after centuries of
mango growing has just learned
from Florida nurseryman the sec
re, OF budding" the mango, by
which one tree may become the
progenitor Of upwards OF half mil
lion new trees in a four year cycle.
Two other strange fruits which are
in fair way to become. contestants
for American honors are the Lo-
qua' from China and the Carrisa
from Southern Africa, The latter
fruit Is about ready to come on the
market from American orchards in
California. II is a brilliant red in
color about the size Of plum. but
without the large seed Of the Mum