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 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 will 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 dis- 

 tribution 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 j D. C, October 1, 1916. 



