INVENTORY OF SEEDS AND PLANTS IMPORTED 

 BY THE OFFICE OF FOREIGN SEED AND PLANT 

 INTRODUCTION DURING THE PERIOD FROM 

 JANUARY 1 TO MARCH 31, 1913 (NO. 34; NOS. 

 34T28 TO 35135). 



INTRODUCTORY STATEMENT. 



The period covered by this inventory was characterized by no 

 especially notable explorations, and the material Usted is therefore 

 largely that sent in by correspondents in foreign countries who are 

 interested in plant-introduction work and have sent material in 

 response to requests or on their own initiative. The growth of a 

 keen interest in the domestication of wild plants all over the world 

 is one of the most remarkable phenomena observable in connection 

 with the foreign correspondence of the Office of Foreign Seed and 

 Plant Introduction. That the exchange of seeds and plants of a 

 purely experimental character builds up this interest and leads to 

 the improvement of the crop plants of the world there can be no 

 possible doubt, and there are some importations in this inventory 

 which, though httle known now, may play a distinctly important 

 role in some of the plant industries of the country. 



The cultivation of the avocado has reached the stage when every 

 new and promising variety is deserving of a thorough trial. The 

 two varieties from Campeche and Merida, Yucatan, collected by 

 Jilr. CoUins (Nos. 34855 and 34856), the yeUow-skinned variety 

 Imown as Veranero from the higher altitudes of Venezuela, collected 

 by Prof. Pittier (No. 35121), and the seedUng (No. 34831) found by 

 Dr. Eisen in the Pincio Gardens in Rome will be interesting to pros- 

 pective as well as present growers of the fruit. 



A really excellent fodder tree, such as that found by Mr. ColUns 

 in general use in Yucatan, can hardly fail to be of interest to forage- 

 crop specialists. It is called the ramon, or bread-nut tree, and 

 affords good fodder during the dry season around Merida (No. 34876) . 



Hardy ornamental shrubs which will stand the trying climates of 

 the Great Plains are in great demand among those whose homes are 

 there, and the collection of poplars, honeysuckles, and cotoneasters 

 (Nos. 34784 to 34805), secured by Mr. Frank N. Meyer from Mr. 

 A. D. Woeikoff, at Novospassko, Russia, should prove interesting to 

 these. The tamarisk, as a drought and alkali resistant tree, is already 



