56 DEPARTMENTAL REPORTS. 



certain kinds of work. Such experiments have been inaugurated in 

 many parts of the countrj' during- the past year, and liavo been used 

 to show the value of different methods of controlling jjlant diseases, 

 the value of forage crops, the value of new or little-known crops, the 

 value of different methods of harvesting croi^s, etc. A special effort 

 has been pat forth to encourage the growth of alfalfa in different 

 parts of the country, and to this end demonstration experiments have 

 been inaugurated in ten or twelve States. Representative farmers 

 have been selected in certain regions and have been supplied Avith 

 sufficient seed to sow from 1 to 2 acres of this crop. Careful records 

 have been kept b}^ these men as to time of sowing, growth of crop, 

 climatic conditions, etc., and the results obtained show that great 

 interest has been taken in the work. A number of other crops have 

 also been under consideration, and will be more speeificallj' referred 

 to under the reports of the executive officers. 



FOREIGN AGIIICUL.TUIIAL. EXPLORATIONS. 



During the year quite extensive foreign agricultural explorations 

 have been carried on b}^ the Bureau. Dr. Seaman A. Knapp was sent 

 on a special mission to the Orient for the purpose of securing infor- 

 mation, and seeds and j)lants of special value to the South. The par- 

 ticular object of this trip was to obtain further facts pertaining to 

 rice culture, and to secure, if possible, new varieties of rice adapted 

 to conditions in the States of Louisiana and Texas. The question of 

 forage crops was also considered, and careful studies were made of 

 these subjects in the Philippines, Japan, China, and India. Dr. 

 Knapp returned to this country early in Ma}-, and brought with him 

 the seed of a number of new crops which ai'e being grown and tested 

 in the South. Through the generositj" of Hon. Barbour Lathrop, 

 the Department lias been able to secure much valuable information 

 and a number of important introductions from foreign countries. 

 Mr. Lathrop has taken a deep interest in this work and, at his own 

 expense, has been making special studies in a number of foreign 

 countries, assisted bj^Mr. D. G. Fairchild. Both Mr. Lathrop and Mr. 

 Fairchild are working through the Department, but, as already indi- 

 cated, the expenses are in the main boi-ne by Mr. Lathrop. Since mj^ 

 last report these gentlemen have visited India, China, Japan, and a 

 number of other foreign countries and, as already pointed out, have 

 been instrumental in securing manj- valuable additions to our list of 

 crop introductions. Late in the year Mr. Thomas II. Keai*ney, of this 

 Bureau, and Mr. Thomas H. Means, of the Bureau of Soils, were sent to 

 the arid and semiarid regions of Africa for the purpose of securing 

 information upon alkali crops and alkali soils which would enable us to 

 improve the agricultural conditions in the arid and semiarid regions of 

 this country. Mr. Kearney is making a special study of the crops, while 

 Mr. Means is studjdng soil conditions. These gentlemen will secure 

 seeds and plants wherever practicable, and the soil studies made will 

 undoubtedly be of great value in enabling us to formulate our plans 

 in regard to the distribution of such things as may be obtained. Mr. 

 Ernst A. Bessey has been sent to Russia, Turkestan, and adjacent 

 countries, for the purpose of securing new forage crops, particularly 

 Turkestan alfalfa, which was introduced into this country a few years 

 ago, but which, unfortunately, has so far jdelded no seed. Mr. Bes- 

 sey will also secure a number of varieties of cereals adapted to the 



