
          man who has risked his life in obtaining some new and valuable 
plant than to find on his return to America that the 
Experimenter to whom the plant was sent did not care enough 
for it even to keep the label attached to the plant or to 
prevent its being choked by weeds.

While to the Experimenter some of these plants may seem 
to be of little value, final judgment upon them should be 
reserved until they have been given a thorough trial. Even 
to know that an introduced plant will grow in a certain locality 
is often of distinct value.

The special labels which are attached to the plants sent 
out give a brief description of their uses. The number on the 
label is the Seed and Plant Introduction (S.P.I.) number and 
corresponds to the number of a published description of the 
plant. Since reports may be requested from Experimenters at 
any time, or a representative of this Office may call to inspect 
their plantings, it is important either that the label be kept 
with the plants, or that a plot be made of the planting in order 
that the location of the plants may be known at all times.

Accompanying this catalogue are complete check lists of 
all seeds and plants ready for distribution at the Introduction 
Gardens during the season 1921-22. Applicants for plants or 
seeds should fill out all blanks on the first sheet accompanying 
the check lists, place a check mark to the left of 
the S.P.I. number of each plant desired, and return the lists 
promptly to this Office. The final judgment, however, as to 
whether a plant should be sent to a certain region must be 
left to the officials of this Office. Plants will not be sent 
to a region thought to be unsuited to them.

Requests are acted upon in the order of the receipt of 
the returned checked lists, and the plants requested are reserved 
for the Experimenter to be sent to him at the time 
designated by him if it is possible to do so. The shipping 
season as a rule extends from December 1st to April 15th.

All seeds and plants imported by this Office are examined 
upon their arrival by the Federal Horticultural Board, 
and the plants grown from these original importations are 
further inspected before they are sent out. Every effort is 
made to insure the distribution of only such plants as are 
healthy and are free from injurious plant diseases or insect 
pests.

DAVID FAIRCHILD, 
Agricultural Explorer in Charge. 
        