6 SEEDS AND PLANTS IMPORTED. 



ordinary pansy, and plants of Rosa moyesi, a distinct Chinese form, 

 may be of value for the rose breeders. Our unusual collection of 

 bananas has been enriched by twelve varieties from Ceylon, and a 

 new mango of some promise from Brazil has been added to the mango 

 collection. 



It may be well to repeal what has been explained in previous in- 

 ventories, that the appearance of a name and description in this bulle- 

 tin does not indicate surely that the seeds or plants are available at 

 once for the use of experimenters. The majority of this plant ma- 

 terial has to be sent out as soon as possible after it arrives, much of 

 it to experts at the State agricultural experiment stations who are 

 waiting for it, and the rest to our propagating gardens, w T here it 

 will be taken care of until the young plants are large enough to send 

 out by mail to those particularly interested. An eligible list is kept 

 and applications from private or official experimenters who feel that 

 they are in a position to give any of the introductions a careful trial 

 are welcomed. The more specific the application the more attention 

 it will receive from this office, for the main object of the work is to 

 encourage careful trials with the purpose of building up new plant 

 industries. Whenever an experimenter thinks he sees a definite use 

 for any one of the thousands of plants which are being imported it is 

 the aim of the Office of Foreign Seed and Plant Introduction to put 

 the living seeds or plants desired in his hands. As far as the limited 

 facilities of the office permit, we will therefore agree to hunt up 

 and get plant material of an experimental character, provided it is 

 not listed in the seed or nursery catalogues of this country, and will 

 place it in the hands of experimenters who can satisfy us of their 

 ability to use it intelligently. 



As it is of great importance that a historical record be kept of the 

 success or failure of the many introductions, it is especially requested 

 that whenever an experimenter makes a success of the plants sent 

 him, and particularly if he publishes anything about them, he will 

 notify the office and publish the office number, which is invariably 

 sent out with every plant or package of seed, or, if the number is lost, 

 he will at least give the date when the seed was sent him, so that 

 through the accurate records which are kept the source of the seeds 

 can be traced. It should also be remembered that a report of failure, 

 while negative evidence, is often of very considerable value. 



David Fairchild, 

 Agricultural Explorer in Charge. 



Office of Foreign Seed and Plant Introduction, 



Washington, D. 6'., January 15, 1909. 



148 



