DISTRIBUTIOX OF SEEDS AXD PLANTS. 



17 



pears, plums, grapes, and small fruit, as well as subtropical fruits. 

 amcuig which the Washington Navel orange is deserving of special 

 note. Most of this material was purchased from foreign dealers and 

 correspondents or obtained through American consuls in different 

 parts of the wdild. Prior to 1898 the introduction of rare or new^ 

 seeds and plants was conducted as a part of the regular work of the 

 Seed Division. 



Soon after the inauguration of his administration Secretary Wil- 

 son saw the importance of building up the home plant industries 

 through explorations in foreign countries and the introduction of 

 new crops here. He succeeded in 1898 in getting $20,000 of the regu- 

 lar seed appropriation set aside for the introduction w(u-k, and has 

 been active ever since in pushing this work through the Office of 



Fig. 0. — Map of the United States, showing tho principal sections where grass and forage 



seeds are grown. 



P^reign Seed and Plant Introduction of the Bureau of Plant Indus- 

 tr}'. This office is now spending about $52,000 annually. 



In addition to securing rare plants and seeds through corre- 

 spondents and American consuls abroad, it has been the practice of 

 the Department since the establishment of the above-mentioned office 

 to sencl out trained agricultural explorers into almost every region 

 of the globe where plants of value to American agriculture are likely 

 to be found. Among the successful explorers and expeditions may 

 l)e mentioned the following: 



Mr. David Fairchild has traveled extensively in Europe, Asia, 

 Africa, Australia, and South America, secured >eeds and plants 

 of many valuable fruits, irrains. veiretables. forage grasses, and 



H'ir. 100] 



