Evening star., 1928-06-17

p. H. Dorsett. agricultural explorer
for the United States Department OF
Agriculture, returned to the United
States after two and half years OF
searching in China and the tropical
islands OF Sumatra, Java and Ceylon
for plants that may be useful in Amer.
lean agriculture. With the assistance
OF his son. j. II. Dorset. he made
thousands Of selections OF seeds plants
scions. bulbs, tubers and cuttings.
This plant material. after passing IN
spection TO determine its freedom from
insect pests and diseases, and after be-
ing grown for time In detention as an
additional safeguard against the intro
duction of pests, will be sent to scien-
tific workers of the department, State.
experiment stations and other testing
gardens TO determine its adaptibility to
our conditions OF soil and climate. its
possible use for breeding work and
other qualities. Such testing takes
considerable time, often requiring 10
years or more, before the worth Of a
particular introduction has been SUM-
ciently established TO warrant giving
1t TO the public.
New Varieties of Wheat and Barley.
Because OF the importance of wheat
HAtG nhhAEy AL Nitto G1MAktT E1Ad tltL
creasing importance OF soybeans and
mungbeans, special attention was CIV
EN- TO securing new varieties Of these
crops. What Is considered as perhaps
the best collection of soybean varieties
ever brought to the United States Ii
the one collected by the Dorsetts In
Manchuria with the help Of r. W.
Skvortzow, a Russian botanical teach
ing agriculture in the high school In
HarDin, Manchuria. Upor learning the
mission Of the Americans he planted
100 varieties Of Soybcans In the local
botanical garden. When the Dorsctts
visited the place In the Fall after har-
vest they were told 10 take what they
wanted, plant and all. This willing
foresight on the part Of the Russian
scientist enabled these explorers to
send the 100 -arieties OF soybeans TO
the United States In their entirety, thus
saving investigators In this country a
years time in securing material for
study.
II is estimated that 10 per cent OF
the goybeang grown In China are pro-
dticed In Manchuria and that upward
Of 1900 900 acres In that region is de-
voted 10 this crop. Something like
100000 acres OF soybeafis was grown
In the United States last year as re-
suit Of previous introductions. II is
hoped that among the new varieties
viii be found some that are suitable
for culture In regions farther north In
this country and In other sections where
the crop Is not now grown.
Mungbeans Held staple Crop.
Mungbeans is another staple crop In
Manchuria and many parts OF China
proper which is OF coming economic ifTi-
p0rtance In the United States. said Mr..
Dorset. In their native country they
are used as mungbean sprouts. and are
an important source Of their best bean
yermiciili. There liz place for the
nungbean In this country and we ought
10 be growing more Of the crop, he
said
in the United States Is the result OF
| one introduction from Manchuria.
Many varieties OF barley were included
In the collection because Of their posi-
bilities,
Mr.. Dorset will ultimately receive
more than 500 seed packets Of wheat.
barley, soybeans and other grains from
the far corners of northern Manchufia
where agricultural explorers have been
unable 10 penetrate, No railroads en-
ter that region and mail. carried by
foot runners may be- several months
on the way Through the corporation
Of the postal commissioner OF Man
ehuria, ID. McI.0rn. samples OF these
major crops are being secured from
each Of the areas served by 500 rural
postal stations. Many packets OF seeds
have already come In and others are
continually being received When the
collection Is finally accumulated 1t will
he valuable source OF new plant ma
teriai for direct production and also fof
selection and plant breeding expert
nfnts, and one that was made at q
very slight cost 10 the United States
/, 40 far as the actual cost Of the plant
| material III concerned,
The expedition WAS further aided by
| thf Chinese Eastern Railroad, through
| the hearty cooperation OF NJ X
u0rdeyeft, chief OF the land depart
| ment. Ia supplying 10 the United
States Department III Agriculture ex-
pIorers. free of expense, private caf
completely equipped with living quar-