40 MISC. PUBLICATION 568, U. S. DEP'T. OF AGEICULTUEE 



In preparing an analysis sample from any part of a plant — flowers, 

 fruits, leaves, bark, or roots — a good thing to remember is that the 

 material must be carefully dried to prevent mildewing or fermentation. 

 If samples are small, they may be kept in cotton bags, but large quan- 

 tities will require special instructions and handling. Resins, waxes, and 

 juices also will call for special handling and appropriate containers. 



PROPAGATION MATERIAL 



As in the case of samples for analysis, the collector in the field should 

 not attempt to accumulate propagation material unless he has assurance 

 that some one will receive and give it proper care. Furthermore, he must 

 be certain that the plant has sufficient interest or value to warrant the 

 trouble and expense of sending it. As a matter of routine, pressed speci- 

 mens for identification should be prepared to represent the propagation 

 material when working with wild plants, or even with cultivated ones 

 that are not well-known. 



Aside from the usual collection data, he should include any fact or 

 observation that will contribute to the successful establishment of the 

 plant in the new growing place. The following are suggested notes: 

 Climate — hot, cold, rainy, desert, length and time of seasons, occurrence 

 of frost or snow; habitat — open place in forest, deep shade of trees, along 

 stream, moist hillside, dry prairie, mountain slope, swamp; soil — rocky, 

 sandy, silt, clay, well-drained, water-logged, degree of acidity or alka- 

 linity. 



Suggested Notes To Accompany Material 



P-4284 Grass (seed and roots) 



San Martin, north edge of town. Depart. Cundinamarca, Colombia, S. Am. El. 

 3,000 m. July 10, 1939. Red clay soil, pH 6. Growing to 18 in. high where not grazed. 

 Apparently resists drought and heavy grazing by cattle. Might make good pasture 

 grass in areas free from frost. 



P-4285 Cinchona (seedlings) 



Quina. 20 km. E. of San Martin. Depart. Cundinamarca, Colombia, S. Am. July 15, 

 1939. El. 4,000 m. Steep rocky slope. Gravelly loam soil, pH 8. Apparently out of 

 natural range. Withstands a long dry season, and tolerates poor dry soil. Might 

 serve as grafting or breeding material to produce drought-resistant stock. 



P-5002 Swietenia (seed and seedlings) 



Cedro-y. Fazenda Itataquibinha on Rio Tapajos, 50 km. up river from junction with 

 Rio Amazonas. Estado do Para, Brazil. El. 300 m. Nov. 3, 1940. Mucky soil at edge 

 of river, pH 6. One of the better timber trees of Amazon. Widely used in construc- 

 tion work and for furniture. Resists termites. Beautiful grain in wood. Would make 

 valuable forest crop in tropical regions of high rainfall, in low ground subject to 

 flooding. 



Propagation material includes anything which can be used to re- 

 produce a plant; it may be entire plants, seedlings, scions, budwood, 

 stem or root cuttings, seed, bulbs, rhizomes, or fleshy roots. Material 

 selected must be suitable for propagation purposes, and it must be 

 prepared and packed to arrive in good condition. Many a shipment has 

 reached its destination dead because of faulty packing. The method 

 and kind of packing depends upon what is being sent and upon cir- 

 cumstances. 



Supplies Needed 



Sphagnum moss, peat moss, charcoal, paraffin, waterproof paper, 

 wrapping paper, tags, string, muslin, cloth bags, seed envelopes, sacking 

 needles, gunny sacking, and indelible pencils are the usual items needed, 

 but special conditions may call for additional or substitute materials, 



