Evening star., 1922-02-26

grown in California and Florida.
The 9.000-miIe trip through Africa,
from which DR.. H. L. Shantz has Just
returned bringing back many species
Of native plants not previously grown
in the United States, but which the
experts Of the Department of Agri-
culture feel certain will prove suita-
BILE for development in this country.
is an excellent illustration Of Uncle
Sans agricultural exploration expe-
ditions.
The principal purpose of DR.. Shantz's
trip was to study the native agricul-
ture with an eye for new fruits, not
plants. forage crops Especially those
adapted for our south and west), new
ghum grasses of type similar to Su-
dan grass. which has proved such an
important forage crop in the semi
arid districts of the western part of
the United States that $4,000, 900
worth Of 1t was grown last year. He
sailed with a Smithsonian party from
New York. July 16. 1919, directly to
the Cape Verde Islands. off the coast
OF Africa. and from there to Cape
Town. where they arrived August 13,
From there the journey OF nearly
5000 miles was made almost entirely
through the heart of Africa, some
times 1000 miles inland, with occa-
sional expeditions to the coast for
observations Of Zanzibar and other
islands. and at Lourenzo Markues ana
Beira.
MUCH OF the country which Liv.
~ insstone painfully Travelled, some
thing moro than half q century ago.
Is now open to the traveller, with
comparative comfort, on tho South
African railway. There are still fast
nessea. however, where the party was
compelled to go 700 or 800 miles
away from any railway and often
through the jungle. where improved
roads were unknown.
The Cape to Cairo road Is still to
q largo extent as much q creature OF
the imagination as when first con-
ceived in the mind Of the South
African developer, Cecil Rhodes. The
long stretches were covered by
steamer, many OF them primitive
transportation systems where the
traveller merely bought passage, pro-
viding himself with bed, shelter and
food. and even the wood with which
to cook it
The expedition has given to the
Department OF Agriculture q rather
intimate knowledge of the agri
culture, not only OF the white but of
the native tribes of the regions
visited. Many Of the practices there
observed will doubtless prove help
full in connection with practice in
this country. The direct tangible
result consists of seed or living ma
terial Of more than 500 different
species or varieties Of plants many Of
which had not previously been i'm
ported into the United States, and
from which 1t is only reasonable to
suppose some important grain, forage
or fruit crops may be developed
The route lay east and north
through the Kimberley diamond regio
and the 8old-mining country of Jo-
hannesburg and Pretoria, the govern
ment headquarters Of Union South
Africa. There DR.. Shantz visited the
agricultural department for q COM
parison OF notes on the agriculture of
the two continents and to arrange a
mutual exchange Of plants.
***,%
THIS section is the center of the
great Transvaal agricultural area.
and there corn, known as mealies, Is
the chief crop. One of the most i'm
portant varieties is our own Boone
County White, a gift from America
OF considerable value to tho farmers
Of the TransvaaL
The route then lay to the seacoast
OF Lourenco Marques and by ocean
steamer to Beira. DR.. Shantz arranged
with the agriculturist there to get
some desirable East African maneoes,
which the department has wanted for
some years. He then travelled over
the highlands Of Portuguese East
Africa, which have been developed
by the Mozambique Company into
one Of the most important agricul-
turai sections of East Africa. He
then proceeded across southern
Rhodesia to Bulowayo and Victoria
Falls. At the latter point many of
the fruits concerning which Living
stone. wrote. enthusiastically. were
found and tested and the seeds sent
to the department
Dr. Shantz spent ten days there and
month at kafue, q little farther
north in northern Rhodesia, where
delay was caused by the sickness of
two members of the party. At this
point word was received of q railway
wreck on the Kongo railway in which
two members Of the original party
were killed and two injured and
forced to return to America. This
news, coupled with the sickness in
camp, was the darkest part Of the
trip and threatened to terminate the
expedition SO far as Central Africa
was concerned.
Continuing through the Kongo. a
lack Of adequate provisions for trav-
cling was encountered. From there
on practically no hotels and no pro-
visions for food for travellers were
found, although in some cases the
captains on the ships on the Kongo
were kind enough to allow the travel
ers to mess with them. and At certain
points grass huts had been provided
as temporary quarters for travellers.
This section was particularly In
teresting to tho agricultural explorer