Evening star., 1922-02-26

Will through tN0 years ENJOY lHe lrl-
proved quality Of the commercial
blackberry and other fruits, will ever
know or appreciate the trouble and
the mental and physical sufrerings
endured by Wilson Popenoe, agri-
cultural explorer, in thus enriching
American horticulture.
For nearly ten years Mr.. Popenoe
has been travelling through tropical
America, and for tho last seven or
eight years principally on the trail
of the avocado. But along with this
he has studied and brought into the
United States a number of other use
full plants obtained during his ex-
cursions in Central and South Amer
ica. He has visited all but two or
three of the countries between WASH
ington and Cape Horn. working
mostly In the Andes and Guatemala
He has Just returned to this country.
The chief aim of his work has been
to bring to life here the finest quail
ties Of the avocado and obtain plants
for our horticulturists in California
and Florida, when the plants succeed
He spent moro than two years in
Guatemala, where he obtained twen-
ty-three varieties of the avocado,
several of which are being planted
extensively in this country. To get
these he had to visit small Indian
towns in the mountains of the in
terror and examine the trees grow
ing in the door-yards of these people.
When a good variety was found, cut
tings were taken from the tree,
packed in damp moss and then car
ried down to the coast, to be for
warded by steamer to the United
States Here in Washington these
cuttings were grated on young
Seeding plants and thus established
in this country. to be sent later to
California and Florida, where they
are now bearing fruit.
Besides the avocado some Of the
most interesting plants he obtained
from the mountains OF South Ameri-
ca arc tho following:
The giant blackberry Of Colombia,
acknowledged to be the largest berry
in the world yet discovered A sin
gle fruit is 2h inches long by III
inches in diameter.
Tho Andean Cherry. a large, sweet.
cherry, which grows in parts Of this
country where other cherries cannot
be cultivated.
The tree dahlia Of Guatemala,
which grows IS feet high and bears
pink flowers inches in diameter.
The Andes berry, which is like q
raspberry in growth and has fruit
like the blackberry, Of a very fine
quality.
A dwarf orange from Chile.
The pacayito. beautiful dwarf
palm from Guatemala, excellent for
.. house culture.
And the 'pejibaye, = Costa Rican
palm, which produces huge Quanti-
ties of fruits the size of apricots, and
resembling chestnuts in character
and flavor. This will probably be OF
great value for our tropical colonies
Or dependencies.
X + X X
|DUR1NG his travels Mr.. Popenoe has
- ridden at least 5000 miles on
muleback, usually with only an In
dian companion, and lived in the huts
Of the natives. He tells this story
characteristic Of the primitive life
among the Indians OF the back coun-
try Of Guatemala: One day he broke
down on the trail His mule went
lame and he stopped at a small Indian
village. There he asked the alcalde
or head man, for hospitality and fod-
der for his animals. He was put up
in the cabildo. or city hall, and the
alcalde had his men bring in large
bundles of dried grass for the two
mules. In the morning, when leaving
Mr.. Popence wanted to show his ap-
probation Of the courtesies, and, know
Ing what he could best do, he made
the alcalde a present Of an empty tin
can. The latter was altosethe,
pleased and very profuse in his
thanks. They hardly know what q
tin can ts in that country and use them
as household utensils.
1 The value not only to fruit growers
Of this country. but to horticulturiste
throughout the world Of Mr.. Pope.
noes incursions into tropical America
is shown IN q book published last
year, Of which he is author. entitled
manual Of Tropical and sub-Tropical
Fruits" This is the first book Of fts
kind published IN any Language. Gov
leHnG the botany cultivation and