PROTECTING AMERICAN CROP PLANTS 81 



effect. This includes practically all ornamentals, a considerable 

 list of what is commonly known as florist stock, bush fruits, fruit 

 trees, grapevines, etc. It was pointed out that it would still be 

 practicable under the new quarantine regulations to bring in 

 no\'elties for the use of horticulturists and others. The proposed 

 methods for bringing in these novelties were described. This 

 work will be handled through the Office of Foreign Seed and Plant 

 Introduction in the Department of Agriculture. The novelties 

 will be received and cared for at the inspection houses in Washing- 

 ton and when found to be free from dangerous insects and diseases 

 will be forwarded to the importers. 



The work of the Office of Foreign Seed and Plant Introduction 

 was then described. This office for more than twenty years has 

 been bringing into the country plants, seeds, and other plant 

 products from all parts of the world for the purpose of aiding and 

 building up our owTi crop industries. More than 50,000 intro- 

 ductions have been made. Five special stations have been estab- 

 lished for the purpose of growing, testing, and propagating these 

 new introductions. Many hundreds of collaborators are also en- 

 gaged in this work. It has been the primary object of the office 

 to bring in and introduce plants only after it was certain they were 

 entirely free from injurious insects and diseases. 



To this end the office has collaborated with the Federal Horti- 

 cultural Board and has established well equipped inspection houses, 

 quarantine houses, detention houses, etc., in Washington, D. C. 

 The methods pursued in the inspections and the proper care of 

 the plants were then fully described and illustrated by means of 

 lantern slides. If at any time it is found that certain plants 

 brought in are suspected of harboring some obscure disease which 

 is not immediately e\-ident, provision is made for growing such 

 plants in quarantine under very careful isolation methods. 



The speaker stated that it was the object of the Office of Foreign 

 Seed and Plant Introduction to aid horticulturists and others in 

 every practical way in the development of their work. The 

 methods that have been followed in the introduction and estab- 

 lishment of some of the more valuable foreign plants were described. 

 The Office of Foreign Seed and Plant Introduction is now engaged 

 in quite elaborate investigations of stocks for our fruit and orna- 



