Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-11-16

~ in the United GtnteR Of America.
Cangress has passed unaui-
mOusIF . law which gives the
man who produces new plants
the same announcement and protection that
the inventor Of new mechanical or electrical
apparatus has received for more than century.
TOR II years the breeder who gets patent
On his new plant creations win have o MOnop-
ClE ON their pordueti0n. He can grow and sell
an Of the new varities himself OF allow others
to raise and sell the new plants while he coli
lects royalties, just as ID customary with hold
eEs Of patents on new radio devices CT tnI-
provements to steam engines.
As far rs Il is known. this new y. 8. set b the
worlds fnst plant patent law Sonae ether coun-
tries have system Of plant JegiBTati0n, bas
q does not confer tine fun privileges ct patent
HRke the new law.
Never before has it been possible for men who
direct nature in the making Of mere delicious
fruits, or in the addition of beauty and per-
funne to roses. to derive the full benefits OF
their work. AS soon Is others could get spect-
mems Of new plants they have had q right TO
raise from them and sen the new plants with
out rewarding the men who gave them their
opportunity.
Nov THAT plant breeders are assuEed fair
share of the profits Of their creations, they
WI doubtless become mere eager to produce
new varieties, and more men VIII take up this
work. Greater activity in this field of unlimited
0pp0rtunity viii certainly result IN more beau
taful flowers. tastfer and Mlore lasting fruit, and
plants OF an kinds that win net fan before the
: onslaueht Of disease.
8 a countrys future prosperity and health are
\ affected by the plant breeder II Is his work TO
create new and plentiful sources Of food supply
which can be easily ana abundanfiy Reproduced,
and 70 develop new medicinal plants 10 fight
disease and lessen human suffering.
He viii doubtless psodtaee mere rapidly than
n tire past new varieties handy enough 10 I've
through cold, disease and dFoueht. The NeTth
needs such an apple. Seedless fruits of all kinds
are in great demand A substitute for the rub
Z hew plant viii make the United States free Of
fnmuortinR this essential cnmana0ditH from other
euzlntries. ard make any plant breeder rich
IN The white pine blister rust. the chestnut
Night and the p1Ouey peach disease cost the
country millions every year. The plant breeder
hes . golden opportunity to deyel0p new yaEie-
ties which will stand up against these plaques.
a desirable new fruit or flower win always find
. ready market.
IN years to come mueh o9 the food you eat
Aod&x, many Of the clothes you wear and even
the houses in which you live may have been
so changed by the mass attack Of plant breed
ers that your children or grandchildren viii
indeed have suffered horticultural revolution
rivaling II not SURPRISING. the great industrial
revolution.
OUT THIS change win not come immediately
It wiz require many years for the combina-
tiOn of numbers Of new plants and improve
ments in plants to have 50 great an effect
To perfect inst one new plant so that it can
be put on the market often requires from 10 to
rs years. Luther Burbank, who. while he lived.
sought the right to patent plants, died before
MS dream became reality. devoted more than
10 years TO perfectinG his amaryids and over
10 years to developing new hybrid NY. To ob-
tain the white blackberry. more than $4,000
hybrid bushes were grown and eliminated
Burbank used to grow hundreds Of thousands
81 plants Just to select q single desirable speci-
men.
Already horttcultuists have submitted appH-
cations covering sorne plants which they claim
are new and patentable. hut the law is so
young that fun procedure for handing plant
patents has not been worked out.
rt has been decided however. that appIica-
ticns must be submitted IN duplicate. one copy
Of which win be kept In the Patent once and
enc other sent to the Department Of Agriculture
for expert advice as to the novelty OF the plant.
The commissioner Of patents win then issue
patent n he believes the plant patentable.
the same legal rules and regulations that APP
ply to chemical and mechanical patents VIII
apply 10 plant patents. The legal proeedure is
20 eonpiicated that is In safest to have q pat
emit attorney prepare the papers and prosecute
she application, the Patent Once advises
TLANTs Reproduced from seed and those
propagated By tnhers cannot be patented.
Although this limitation appltes to q large part
q the plant breeders neids e WAS made neces-
mry BY both commercial and technical reasons.
Eur example, potatoes which are tubeT- prop
aeated ana wheat which Is raised from seed
ere both greet food and seed crups.
n Is yerx natural and usual for the farmer on
gaxdener VINO buys potatoes for food 90 save
Aw and plant them m his garden. should he