BUREAU OF PLANT INDUSTRY. 285 



SAFEGUARDING THE ENTRY OF NEW PLANT IMMIGRANTS. 



One of the important functions which the bureau performs is to aid 

 in the effort to exchide foreign crop pests from our shores. Tlirough 

 the Office of Foreign Seed and Plant Introduction, cooperating with 

 the Federal Horticultural Board, an inspection house with quaran- 

 tine greenhouse facilities is maintained. Seeds, plants, and plant 

 materials of all kinds obtained as a result of agricultural explora- 

 tions and through correspondence are received, inspected, and 

 treated, when necessary, at the plant-inspection house. Commercial 

 shipments are also received there, inspected, handled, repacked, and 

 reshipped to their respective owners. During the past year 6,000 

 lots of seeds, plants, and plant materials were received in connection 

 with this w^ork. This material came from many parts of the world, 

 often from remote regions, and has been inspected, handled, and 

 recorded in accordance with the careful plans and system developed. 

 A considerable number of these shipments were for cooperative 

 workers in various offices of the bureau and in agricultural colleges 

 and experiment stations. The same rigid methods of inspection and 

 handling were followed in connection with seeds and plants sent out 

 of the country in exchange for those forwarded to the department. 

 Of commercial shipments received and handled during the year, ap- 

 proximately 800 were recorded. 



PROMISING NEW FRUITS. 



Barouni olives. — The Barouni olive (S. P. I. No. 12569), intro- 

 duced from northern Africa, has received much attention from olive 

 growers and packers on the Pacific coast. Because of its large size, 

 excellent quality, and high oil content it appears to be a variety of 

 much promise. A particular feature is its ability to withstand high 

 temperatures in the packing process, thus making possible the pro- 

 duction of a high-class ripe olive having the large size which has 

 long been desired. 



Fuyu persmimons. — The fuyu persimmon (S. P. I. No. 26491), 

 introduced from Japan, has shown much promise and is being 

 planted commercially. Indeed, it seems likely to become one of the 

 leading commercial varieties in the United States. The fruit is 

 never astringent and can be eaten when still hard, a characteristic 

 very rare in the Japanese persimmon. Its shape is ideal for packing 

 and shipping and its color a beautiful golden orange. In quality 

 it ranks among the best. 



Avocado varieties. — For a number of years the department has 

 been engaged in studying the avocados of tropical America and in 

 procuring the best available kinds for the use of horticulturists in 

 California and Florida, where the cultivation of this valuable fruit 

 is rapidly assuming commercial proportions. A number of Guate- 

 malan varieties introduced in 1916 have come into bearing and are 

 now offered by nurserymen both in California and Florida. Several 

 of them have been planted commercially in the latter State. A set 

 of five varieties from Ecuador, introduced in 1920, is now on trial 

 in both States, as are also several promising sorts from Costa Rica 

 and Colombia. With the exception of the date palm, no other hor- 

 ticultural industry in this country has received the attention at its 



