Perth Amboy evening news., 1921-08-22

CHdiUluBId lhNNoNA5oNAOhos iiNo tGNo oAS 49,
TO Siam, but 1t is hoped that they may be made
to grow and thrive in some of the islands of the
Hawaiian group.
The plant exploration are of two kinds, one
where the federal explorer is sent out with in
structions to specialize on one thing, and the
other where an explorer is sent to some part
of the earth with general instructions to obtain
and ship back to Washington specimens and
seeds Of any useful rowths not native to the
United States, which might be made to grow
here and produce crops.
one of the departments scientists is now in
South America, the main purpose of his explo-
rations there being to discover, II possible, an
avocado which will resist cold, to some degree,
in order that sufficient quantity may be grown
in the temperate parts of this country TO supply
the domestic demand. 1t is true that some OF
the tropical speciments of this delicious fruit
are grown in Florida. but not nearly enough to
supply the demand for the alligator pear" to
call it by its popular name. The department mas
been advised chat this scientist discovered an
avocado growing in South America, about the
latitude of the equator. but several thousand
feet up in the mountains. This species, 1t is pc
lieved, if it can be properly propagated, VIII I'LL
the demand. The explorations are being con-
tinued in the hope that a still hardler variety
may be found. -
pears. but their importation into the United
States is forbidden because of the danger OF
bringing a dangerous fly pest into this country.
Shipping the pears is hazardous, anyhow, as
they are prone to rot where they touch each
other, and shipments from Central and South
America on that account Otter are small ones
carried loose on the decks of vessels.
An Early Importation.
- The wheat crop of the United States each
year is a tremendous one now. and has been
for a great many years, yet wheat is not a ma
tive to North America. Wheat was brought INTO
this country. probably by the very earliest set
tiers, and has thrived wonderfully. However, the
Department Of Agriculture has found 1t neces-
sary to import high grade Russia wheats to I'M
prove the American crop.
Corn is a native of the western world, ana
The reverse process has taken place with that
staple. American corn was taken to Africa many
years ago, and has found conditions of climate
a nd soil there so suitable for its growth tnat Al
rican corn is quite as good now as the varletles
produced in the United States. The White po-
tato, or Irish potato, is another native or TINS
hemisphere which has been taken to Africa ana
grown in large numbers. Curious1y enough, TINS
potato is known in Africa as the "English po-
tato."
one of the big things for which the depart
men is fighting is to preserve the chestnut trees
of this country against the pest which Is oplt-
Grating them. This pest is a blight which has
been destroying the trees for a long tlme, IN
spite Of every means used to fight it. flndlhs
that fighting the disease was almost useless,
plant explorers were sent out to find a chestnut
tree somewhere in the world which would grow
readily in the United States and resist the pllsnt
which has ruined the native American grown.
A chestnut tree has been discovered IN Japan
which will measure up to all of these require
ments, it is believed. =
deeply interested is fighting the blister now de-
stroying the American white pine. rms nght
has not yet come to the stage OF exploration
for a new pine which will resist the bllster, put
that may be the final move to have this Jumper
growth. The present means OF nghllnS ~ pls
Ter is an heroic measure, based on the necessi-
ties of the pest which causes the blister. ms
pest is an odd one, spending part OF IT'S time on
wild currant and gooseberry bushes, ana the resi-
of the time on white pines. The bushes. when
the pest is present, develop a yellow nothing OF
the leaf. In order to try to control the raVases
of this insect and save the remnant OF the pines
. campaign is being conducted to destroy the
gooseberry and currant bushes whenever tney
are found in the neighborhood of white pines.
1t is impossible for the department 10 preoict
the outcome of this battle.
Plants Go Through Quarantine.
After a plant is found it is desirable TO bring
into the United States. due to regulations OF the
department., it must be sent to washington 10
the plant quarantine station here. rms mas
been aptly termed the Ellis lsiahu u ~ ""
cultural world.
The main purpose of this station is to pre-
vent the introduction Of new plant diseases INTO
the United States. Each plant brought in must
be fumigated and treated for all kinds OF as
eases, whether traces of parasites are apparent
or the plant seems entirely healthy OF not,
Somestimes the invisible eggs OF pests deadly 70
many crops may be present, but not detectapie
even under the microscope.
Despite this fumigation, it is known that there
are some plant pests which it is possible to XII
in this way. and therefore no plants Which nave
been brought into the United States are ever al
lowed to leave the quarantine station except lot
scientific study by experts who know how TO
handle them and keep them from harmlng other
g~rowths. From these plants, young plants may
be grown which are known to be absolutely Tree
Of any sort of pest, and it is from these that
crops are propagated.
With seeds, 1t is possible TO XIII eNerythHS u.
the parasitical order, and therefore Imported
seeds are put through the quarantine station
rendered free from every germ OF plant dlsease
known to man, and then shipped throughout the
country without danger to other crops.
The explorers sent out by the department are
all trained horticulturalists, and their knowledge
must and does go beyond knowledge of plant
life of ali sorts. 1t must include an exact knowl-
edge of how to prepare plants for mailing long
distances. so that on arrival they VIII NOT pe
shrivelled up or rotten. This is an important
factor when it is realized that in shipping plants
from such points as the interior of Africa or
Asia. they may be as much as four or fNe
months in transit before getting into the hands
of the proper people in Washington.