Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1915-04-18

Although half the world is at war
and the communication and transporta-
ton systems Of the
Seeking New other half are seri-
Plants Abroad. oasn.. -. ~ 49,.
of foreign seed and plant Introduction
of the Department of Agriculture con-
tinue to ransack the ends Of the earth
for plants new to the United States.
and the stream OF plant immigrants,
some of which may make possible the
creation Of valuable industries. con-
tfnues to pour in with little diminu-
ton.
Practically the only countries cut off
from the work of the office by the
war are GERMANY Austria Hungary.
Belgium. the Balkan states, Turkey
and Palestine; and because most Of
sources studied for years they are not
particularly promising fields for plant
exploration. AS a matter Of fact. prac-
tica1ly all of the specimens which came
from the European countries now cut
Off from communication with the
United States were sent under exchange
agreements by scientific organizations
and individual experimenters. Pal
estfne furnished promising field for
securing dry-1and plants. but areas
having similar CLIMATIC conditions are
still open for exploration.
The work Of the Office Of foreign
seed and plant introduction continues
steadily IN what It's experts consider
one of the most promising of all the
worlds areas for the discovery of new
with their almost unlimited variety
of climatic and other environmental
conditions The office also has a rep
resentative I'm Peru. and is receiving
of the world. other than the zone of
actual war operations, from resident
co1labo-ators and correspondents. Eng
land. Russia. France and Japan con-
tinue to send specImens.
During the last fiscal year 2.73s sepa-
rate plant irtroductions were made
through the office and 4.561 specimens
We're sent out to foreign lands. Most
of the fntroductions. however. were OF
growing plants. while the larger part
Of the outgoing specimens were seeds.
During the first few months Of the
European war daily arrivals of foreign
seeds and plants in WASHINGTON fell off
somewhat. owing to interference in
ocean traffic. but now the inward flow
has about returned to the normal aver
age figure of eight specimens day.
Some Of the most promising recent
importations have como from China.
where Frank N. Meyer. agricultural
Axnlorer Of the office who has been in
charge of plant explorations in Asia
for several years. has iust returned
to Picking. after spendinR several
months penetrating the little known
Kansuh province. near the Tibetan Dor
der From this region. which has a
CLIMATE not unlike that of New Eng
land. Mr.. Meyer has sent. among other
specimens, seeds of new wild peach
and wild almond. These plants are
supposed to he Of an unusually late
hlonring type. Through their Use n
stocks on which to graft domestic
fruits, the experts of the Agricultural
Department hone to push no-thward
the fruitine area Of almonds and GER
tain peaches and allied fruits into ter
-itorv over which frost has heretofore
stood imnasssh1e guard. Several wears
of experimentation and patient wait
ing will he necessary before 1t will he
known whether the hopes Of the plant
int-oducers will he realized bnt sue
cesses undcr comparable conditions IN
the past point to interesting possible
tiles.