Many of the forms and varieties are not, strictly speaking, new 

 introductions. However, these are often desirable for special pur- 

 poses; for example, for the use of plant breeders in creating new 

 strains by crossing and selection, or for students of particular groups, 

 who require a large number of species, varieties, and forms in their 

 work on the improvement of cultivated plants. Wherever possible, 

 the first choice will be extended to the coworkers in the various Divi- 

 sions of the Department of Agriculture and in the State experiment 

 stations. The quantities of seeds and plants secured are usually small 

 and are entirely insufficient for indiscriminate distribution. In cases 

 where an importation proves of value after trial, a larger quantity 

 may be secured for more general distribution in the region in which 

 the plant has shown marked improvement over existing varieties. 

 But where a new crop is once established and has become so well 

 known that it is amply handled by the trade, no further importations 

 for free distribution, at least in that region, will be made. 



The rice growers of Louisiana and Texas have made extensive 

 importations, amounting to perhaps 250,000 pounds, of Kiushu or 

 Japanese rice (No. 1962) for seed purposes during the past season, an 

 apt illustration of the point in question. If a new crop imported by 

 this Department turns out to be really better than forms previously 

 cultivated it is bound to be adopted by the progressive seed merchants 

 and farmers. The original Kiushu rice importation increased the 

 value of the annual output of rice in Louisiana and Texas nearly a 

 million dollars. It is no longer an experiment, and the Department of 

 Agriculture will discontinue the distribution of this seed in the region 

 in which it has become established. One pronounced commercial suc- 

 cess of this character repays the cost of many unsuccessful ones. 



On the other hand, the expenses of exploration in foreign countries 

 in search of varieties of cultivated crops better than those alread} 1 - 

 established in the United States property devolves upon the Depart- 

 ment. It may also sometimes prove profitable to reintroduce forms 

 which have been tried without success in one portion of the land pro- 

 vided new facts as to the method of cultivation and adaptability to 

 soils and climate are determined pointing to the possible success of 

 the crop in special regions possessing the requisite natural environ- 

 ment. In such cases the endeavor to reestablish a decadent farming 

 industry may best be undertaken with the assistance of the trained 

 workers of the State experiment stations. If these experimenters 

 report favorably in regard to new or little known vegetables, grains, 

 and field crops, a larger distribution can be made to again bring the 

 crop to the attention of the farmer. 



Because of the increasing scope of the work of the Section, due to 

 the numerous seeds and plants procured, it is especially important 

 that correspondents retain the original number under which the seed 



