18 



breed up a better variety of coffee or to get togetlier a colleciion of 

 coffee species preparatory to sucli breediug work.* 



METHODS or PLANT INTRODUCTION. 



COLLECTIO:; OF THE PLA]S'TS. 



Tbroiigb. the agency of siicli institutions as are now maintained at 

 Government expense in many of the most imi)ortant capitals of Europe 

 and in almost all of the European colonies, many valuable plants can 

 be secured, but it would be a mistake to assume tbat an extensive col- 

 lection of economic plants could be assembled from sucb sources, for 

 in the great majority of cases, as above stated, these are not economic 

 gardens, buf rattier institutions of instruction or public iDarks. The 

 officers of such institutions are often not in position, nor do their tastes 

 lead them, as a rule, to study the cultivated crops of the surrounding 

 territor}', and their knowledge of the practical value of different varie- 

 ties is not such as would fit them for the selection of plants suited to 

 our conditions. Their ignorance regarding conditions in America would 

 further disqualify them to judge of the value of the varieties when 

 introduced. 



TVhile the numerous important seed and nursery firms in foreign 

 countries can be depended upon to furnish many interesting plants, 

 the chances of obtaining from them really new and valuable varieties 

 already generally cultivated in America are not great. On the other 

 hand, they can be exi)ected to assist materially in the introduction of 

 l>lants designed to build up a totally new industry, since American firms 

 will hardly venture to expend the large amounts of money necessary 

 to put such an industry on its feet, as first attempts along new lines 

 are seldom remunerative, owing to uncertainty of demand. There are, 

 moreover, a host of smaller firms, especially in Europe, whose cata- 

 logues never reach this country, and who, nevertheless, offer for sale 

 plants which are really novelties to America and worthy of introduc- 

 tioD. A thorough study of the numerous nurseries and seed-growing 

 establishments of foreign countries will reveal, furthermore, a number 

 of most interestiug plants introduced from all parts of the world which 

 have not proven successful in Europe, but which, owiug to our longer 

 and hotter summers, may be expected to thrive somewhere in the 

 United States. 



Through the assistance furnished by our representatives abroad 

 valuable aid can be secured, but until they are givcii the assistance of 

 trained investigators, who understand the modern problems of agricul- 

 ture and horticulture, too much reliance can not be placed upon this 

 means of securing new and valuable plants. The work of hunting out 

 such plants and the knowledge necessary to predict their value when 



*De Iiidisclie Mercnnr, August 28, 1898. Yerslag 's Lands riautcutuin te Buitcn- 

 zorg, Java, 1S95, p. 34. 



