The Rock Island Argus and daily union. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1920-1923, 1921-09-01

washington, ID. C., Aug Jul ne
little known but highly useful gov
eminent function of scientific ex-
pioration is being exercised by the
department OF agriculture in order
that the breed of plants In the Unit
ed States may be improved, and tnat
dependence upon foreign countries
for any kind OF. foodstuffs may be
minimized as far as possible. E1-
ploration for plans and subsequent
Introduction of them into the United
States is almost continually going
on.
The greatest amount of this work
is for edible crop plants and trees,
but at least one exploration was
for furthering the development OF
chaimugra trees, with a view to
growing them in some of America S
island possessions, in order that the
valuable oil, essential to the treat
menk of leproSy, may be obtained
from domestic sources. Another
man is about to be sent out by the
department of agriculture to pursue
the chalmugra Investigations These
trees are native to Siam, but it is
hoped that they may be made to
grow and thrive in some of the is
lands of the Hawaiian group.
The plant explorations are of two
kinds, one where the federal ex-
plorer is sent out with instructions
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 groWths, 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 explorations there
being to discover, if possible, an
avocado which will resist cold, to
some degree, in order that suffi-
cient quantity may be grown in the
temperate parts of this country to
supply the domestic demand. 1t is
true that some of the tropical speci-
mems 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 has
been advised that this scientist dis
coveerd an avocado growing in
South America, about the latitude
of the equator. but several thousand
feet up in the mountains. This
species, it is believed, if it can be
properly propagated, will fill the
demand. The explorations are be-
in h1{
still harder variety may be found.
Mexico has, a plentiful supply of
alligator pears, but their importa--
ton into the United States is for
hidden 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
often 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 native
to North America. Wheat was
brought into this country, probably
by the very earliest settlers, and has
thrived wonderfully. However, the
department Of agriculture has found
it necessary to import high grade
Russian Wheats to improve the
American crop.
Corn is a native of the western
world, and the reverse process has
taken place with that staple. Ameri-
can corn was taken to Africa many
years ago, and has found condi-
items Of climate and soil there so
suitable for its growth that African
corn is quite as good now as the
varieties produced in the United
States The white potato, or Irish
potato is another native of this
hemisphere which has been taken
TO Africa and grown in large num-
bers. Curiously enough, tins po-