
          (4)

In some instances few or no plants of the exact number given in
the description may be available for distribution, but in such cases
plants of the same species and variety under another introduction
number may be substituted.

At the end of this catalogue is given a complete check list of all
plants ready for distribution during the season of 1916-17.  This
includes not only those plants of which descriptions appear in the
body of the catalogue, but a large number which are not so described,
either because only a few plants are now available for distribution or
because the data available regarding them are too meagre to warrant
the publication of a label.

Requests for material in this catalogue should be made by checking
the plants wanted in the check list sent out with the catalogue and
after filling out the blanks on the front of that list returning it promptly
to the Office of Foreign Seed and Plant Introduction.  At the same
time the experimenter should check the plants in the check list at
the end of [t?]his catalogue, retaining that for future reference.  It will
aid this office in its distribution work if each experimenter will fill
out all blanks, check the list carefully, and make no other notes or
requests on the check list itself.  Requests for plants not on the
check list or notes on plants received heretofore should be made in
a separate letter.

The number of plants available for distribution under many of
the numbers listed is quite limited, and it wiU therefore be impossible
to fill all requests.

All seeds and plants imported by this office are examined by the
inspectors of the Federal Horticultural Board upon arrival, and the
plants grown from these original importations are further inspected
before being sent out.  Every effort is being made to insure the 
distribution only of seeds and plants which are perfectly healthy and
do not harbor any injurious plant diseases or insect pests.

Since the electrotype slugs of all descriptions in this and previous
catalogues are kept in stock in this office, experimenters having
plants growing from previous distributions who desire to relabel them
can secure new labels by sending in a twig of the plant the label of
which is lost and furnishing information as to the year in which it
was sent and any other available data.

David Fairchild,
Agricultural Explorer in Charge.

Office of Foreign Seed and Plant Introduction,

Washington, D. C., October 1, 1916.
        