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COORDINATOR
LONGWOOD GRADUATE PROGRAM
I
,
153 TOWNSEND HALL
U N I V E R S I T Y O F DELAWARE
NEWARK, D E 19717-1303
__
I N S U R E FOR:
$50.00
PLANT EXPLORATION PROGRAM
BY
Eric Nathan Tschanz
A thesis submitted to the Faculity of t h e Univers i t y cf Delaware i n partial fulfillment or' the requirements for the degree of Master of Science in Ornamental
Horticulture,
J u n e , 1977
Copyright Eric Nathan Tschanz 1977
A HISTORY:
THE U.S.D.A.
-LONGWOOD
ORNAMJNTAL
PLANT EXPLORATICN PROGRAM
BY
Eric Nathan Tsehanz
Approved :
D r , R u s s e l l J, Seibert
Professor i n charge of t h e s i s on behalf of the
Advisory Committee
Approved :
D r . R i c h a r d W, L i g h t y
C o o r d i n a t o r , Longwood Program i n O r n a m e n t a l
Horticulture
Approved :
D e a n of t h e College of G r a d u a t e S t u d i e s
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
The a u t h o r would l i k e t o t h a n k t h e Longwood Program i n Ornamental H o r t i c u l t u r e € o r t h e g r a d u a t e f e l l o w s h i p which h a s made t h e p r e p a r a t i o n of t h i s t h e s i s possible,
I a p p r e c i a t e t h e c o o p e r a t i o n I have r e c e i v e d from
t h e s t a f f of Longwood Gardens and t h e U-S.D.A,
I would
a l s o l i k e t o t h a n k Margaret H a s s e r t of t h e U n i v e r s i t y of
D e l a w a r e W r i t i n g C e n t e r € o r h e r h e l p i n e d i t i n g t h e manuscript.
I a m e s p e c i a l l y g r a t e f u l t o t h e m e m b e r s of m y
t h e s i s committee, D r , Donald E i u t t l e s t o n , D r . Richard
L i g h t y , and D r , R u s s e l l S e i b e r t , whose g u i d a n c e and c r i t i -
c i s m s have improved t h i s work.
L a s t l y , a s p e c i a l n o t e of t h a n k s t o my w i f e ,
Deborah, for her t y p i n g , p a t i e n c e , and s u p p o r t .
iii
TABLE OF CONTENTS
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . iii
.......................
vi
AC~~LEDGEitENTS
ABSTRACT
INTRODUCTION
.....................
1
CHAPTER
I
.
THE DEVELOPMENT OF GOVERNMENT-SPONSORED
PLANT INTRODUCTION AND EXPLORATION
History
......
..................
I1.
THE U .S D.A .-LONGWOOD ORNAiiNTAL PLAm
EXPLORATION PROGRAM . . . . . . . . . . . . .
T h e N e c e s s i t y €or a J o i n t Program . . . . .
The O r i g i n of t h e P r o g r a m . . . . . . . . .
............
.....
........
. . . .....
T h e Program’s G o a l s
Interactions B e t w e e n the A g e n c i e s
T h e Mechanics of t h e Program
E v a l u a t i o n and D i s t r i b u t i o n
B r e e d i n g and R e s e a r c h
....... ....
I11. THE EXPLORATIONS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
S o u t h e r n Japan .1956 . . . . . . . . . . .
W e s t e r n E u r o p e .1957 . . . . . .
....
S o u t h e r n B r a z i l and A r g e n t i n a .1958 . . . .
...........
A u s t r a l i a .1958-1959
N o r t h e r n E u r o p e .1959
N o r t h e r n Japan .1 9 6 1
Nepal.1962
Russia
1963
S i k k i m ( W e s t Bengal) .1965
S o u t h K o r e a .1966
T a i w a n .1967-1968
New G u i n e a .1970
R u s s i a .1 9 7 1
...........
...........
.
IV.
RESULTS OF THE
................
...............
........
............
.............
.............
...............
PROGRAM . . . . . . . . . . . .
iv
2
2
6
6
8
11
12
15
22
25
33
33
35
36
37
38
39
41
42
44
45
47
48
49
51
V
V.
SUGGESTIONS
FOOTNOTES
APPENDIX
- - - -.
-.
).
0
0
.
i
0
.-
-
4
.
55
-
62
-
77
ABSTRACT
O u r g a r d e n s c o n t a i n nany e x o t i c p l a n t s imported i n
a v a r i e t y of ways.
The e a r l i e s t o r n a m e n t a l p l a n t ex-
changes r e s u l t e d from t h e e f f o r t s of p r i v a t e i n d i v i d u a l s :
John B a r t r a m , Benjamin F r a n k l i n , and o t h e r s ,
i n t h e 1700s.
The p a s s a g e o f t h e Treasury C i r c u l a r A c t of 1827, a l t h o u g h
o f f e r i n g no f i n a n c i a l a s s i s t a n c e , w a s t h e f i r s t government a l r e c o g n i t i o n of t h e importance of p l a n t i m p o r t a t i o n .
N e x t , w i t h t h e establishment of t h e United States Depart-
ment of A g r i c u l t u r e (U.S.D.A.)
i n 1862, t h e government
became a c t i v e i n s e e d and p l a n t procurement and d i s t r i b u tion,
Later, d u r i n g t h e e a r l y 19OOs, p l a n t e x p l o r a t i o n
r e a c h e d i t s peak w i t h t h e l e g e n d a r y work of e x p l o r e r s such
a s E r n e s t H, Wilson, David G. F a i r c h i l d , and Frank N.
Meyer,
During t h e D e p r e s s i o n and World W a r I1 i n t e r e s t
and s u p p o r t waned and o r n a m e n t a l p l a n t e x p l o r a t i o n came
t o a s t a n d s t i l l , b u t i n 1956 f o r e i g n p l a n t e x p l o r a t i o n f o r
o r n a m e n t a l s was r e v i v e d w i t h t h e e s t a b l i s h m e n t of t h e
U,S.D.A,-Longwood
Ornamental P l a n t E x p l o r a t i o n Program.
vi
vii
Longwood Gardens, I n c . ,
e n t e r e d i n t o a n agreement
w i t h t h e A g r i c u l t u r a l Research S e r v i c e of t h e U,S,D.A.
for
t h e p u r p o s e of o r n a m e n t a l p l a n t e x p l o r a t i o n i n f o r e i g n
countries.
The c o o p e r a t i v e c o n t r a c t d e s c r i b e d t h e a r -
rangement between t h e two a g e n c i e s : Longwood w a s t o p r o v i d e funds € o r t h e e x p l o r a t i o n , and t h e U.S.D.A.
was t o
f u r n i s h t h e f a c i l i t i e s and manpower f o r q u a r a n t i n e , propa g a t i o n , e v a l u a t i o n and d i s t r i b u t i o n , and a s s o c i a t e d
s c i e n t i f i c programs,
According t o t h e agreement, t h e major g o a l of t h e
program w a s t o i n t r o d u c e new p l a n t s "which w i l l have pot e n t i a l v a l u e t o t h e f u t u r e of ornamental h o r t i c u l -
ture.
.
.I'
T h i s w a s accomplished by e x p l o r i n g i n r e g i o n s
p r e v i o u s l y u n e x p l o r e d , by c o l l e c t i n g p l a n t s f o r p o s s i b l e
u s e i n b r e e d i n g programs, and by c o l l e c t i n g p l a n t s from
w i l d o r c u l t i v a t e d sources for introduction d i r e c t l y i n t o
the field.
B e f o r e t h e p l a n t s c o u l d be released t o t h e h o r t i -
c u l t u r a l trade, t h e r e w e r e p r o c e d u r e s t h a t had t o be
p l e t e d by t h e U.S.D.A.
eom-
F i r s t , after t h e plants entered
t h e c o u n t r y , t h e y had t o be p r o c e s s e d t h r o u g h i n s p e c t i o n
viii
?
centers,
N e x t , during q u a r a n t i n e , they w e r e propagated
a n d i n c r e a s e d i n numbers.
F i n a l l y , they w e r e evaluated
and d i s t r i b u t e d by b o t h Longwood and t h e U.S.D,A,
to
b o t a n i c g a r d e n s , a r b o r e t a , nurserymen, and a g r i c u l t u r a l
s t a t i o n s f o r f u r t h e r e v a l u a t i o n b e f o r e f i n a l release t o
t h e h o r t i c u l t u r a l public.
From 1956 t o 1970, as a p a r t of this program
t h i r t e e n e x p l o r a t i o n s were made of v a r i o u s r e g i o n s of t h e
w o r l d , i n c l u d i n g t h e South Seas, t h e Far East, A s i a ,
Europe, South America, and A u s t r a l i a .
There w e r e t w o
r e a s o n s f o r t h e s e l e c t i o n o f areas t o be e x p l o r e d .
These
w e r e t h e amount of p r i o r e x p l o r a t i o n and t h e presumed
b e n e f i t s from t h e t y p e s o f p l a n t m a t e r i a l a v a i l a b l e t h e r e .
E x p l o r e r s w e r e chosen f o r t h e i r e x p e r t i s e i n c e r t a i n p l a n t
g r o u p s and f o r t h e i r knowledge o f a s p e c i f i c c o u n t r y or
region.
These t h i r t e e n e x p l o r a t i o n s produced o v e r 1 0 , 0 0 0
plant introductions.
Some of t h e s e p l a n t s w e r e u s e d i n
b r e e d i n g programs, o t h e r s w e r e r e l e a s e d a f t e r e v a l u a t i o n
t o t h e p u b l i c , and s t i l l o t h e r s w i l l be e v a l u a t e d and released i n t h e f u t u r e .
INTRODUCTION
The U.S.D.A,-Longwood
Ornamental P l a n t E x p l o r a t i o n
Program h a s had a g r e a t i n f l u e n c e on American h o r t i c u l -
ture.
John I,, Creech, s i x - t i m e e x p l o r e r f o r t h e U.S,D.A.-
Longwood E x p l o r a t i o n Program and p r e s e n t d i r e c t o r of t h e
U n i t e d S t a t e s N a t i o n a l Arboretum, i n s p e a k i n g of t h e program, s t a t e s , " T h i s program f a r exceeds any c o l l e c t i n g by
anyone a t anytime, 111 U n f o r t u n a t e l y , t h e program, as a
program, h a s n o t b e e n documented.
Although some informa-
t i o n on t h e e x p l o r a t i o n s a n d t h e i r r e t u r n s has been p u b l i s h e d , a complete summary and assesment of t h e t o t a l
program i s l a c k i n g ,
T h e r e f o r e , t h e p u r p o s e o f t h i s t h e s i s is t o document t h e h i s t o r y of t h e program, t o summarize t h e explor a t i o n s , t o e v a l u a t e t h e impact of t h e program on A m e r i c a n
h o r t i c u l t u r e , t o make s u g g e s t i o n s f o r f u t u r e s i m i l a r programs, a n d t o c a t a l o g u e t h e p l a n t material from each t r i p .
I
CHAPTER I
THE DEVELOPMENT OF G0VERIWWE"TSPONSORD
PLAMT INTRODUCTION AND EXPLORATION
History
P l a n t e x p l o r a t i o n and i n t r o d u c t i o n h a s p l a y e d an
i n t e g r a l role i n t h e a g r i c u l t u r a l h i s t o r y of t h e U n i t e d
States.
American p l a n t e x p l o r e r John B a r t r a m (1699-1777)
e s t a b l i s h e d a n e a r l y p l a n t i n t r o d u c t i o n scheme by t r a d i n g
stock w i t h h i s European c c u n t e r p a r t s , P e t e r C o l l i n s o n , John
F o t h e r g i l l and Peter Xalm.'
T h i s p r i v a t e e f f o r t by a col-
o n i s t was t h e i n c e p t i o n o f i n t r o d u c t i o n and e x p l o r a t i o n
programs i n America.
B u t a s e a r l y a s t h e p r e s i d e n t a l ad-
m i n i s t r a t i o n of John Q. A d a m s , w i t h t h e p a s s a g e of The
T r e a s u r y C i r c u l a r A c t o f 1 8 2 7 , t h e government became i n v o l v e d i n f o r e i g n p l a n t procurement.
Although t h e r e w a s
no f i n a n c i a l a s s i s t a n c e , t h i s a c t r e q u e s t e d U n i t e d S t a t e s
f o r e i g n c o n s u l s t o send agronomic s e e d s and p l a n t s t o t h e
U n i t e d S t a t e s for t e s t i n g and d i s t r i b u t i o n . 2
2
3
I n 1839 t h e f i r s t a p p r o p i a t i o n o f money w a s made t o
t h e A g r i c u l t u r a l Division of t h e P a t e n t O f f i c e O 3 This
g r a n t of $1000, i s s u e d f o r s e e d and p l a n t i n t r o d u c t i o n and
d i s t r i b u t i o n , w a s t h e f i r s t f e d e r a l r e c o g n i t i o n of t h e inp o r t a n c e o f s u c h a program.
s i o n e r of t h e b u r e a u ,
Henry L. E l l s w o r t h , commis-
i n s t i t u t e d t h e seed d i s t r i b u t i o n pro-
gram and expanded t h e program f o r t h e t e s t i n g and e x p e r i m e n t a t i o n o f new c r o p s .
Under t h e P a t e n t O f f i c e t h i s pro-
gram expanded; 80,000 s e e d p a c k e t s w e r e d i s t r i b u t e d i n
1850, and it w a s a p p a r e n t l y s u c c e s s f u l enough t o m e r i t an
4
a p p r o p r i a t i o n of $ 2 5 , 0 0 0 i n 1854,
F i n a l l y , i n 1862, t h e U n i t e d S t a t e s Department of
A g r i c u l t u r e (U.S.D.A.)
w a s e s t a b l i s h e d w i t h Issac Newton as
i t s a d m i n i ~ t r a t o r , ~Newton w a s i n s t r u c t e d t o c o n t i n u e " t o
c o l l e c t new and v a l u a b l e seeds and p l a n t s
. . . . and
to
d i s t r i b u t e them among a g r i c u l t u r i s t s " and t o " e d u c a t e t h e
p u b l i c by c o l l e c t i n g and p r e s e n t i n g a g r i c u l t u r a 1 , i n f o m a tion.
1)
6
N e a r t h e end of t h e c e n t u r y t h e a d m i n i s t r a t o r of
t h e U.S.D.A.
w a s g i v e n c a b i n e t r a n k , which i n c r e a s e d i t s
budget and s c o p e of o p e r a t i o n .
A s t h e new d e p a r t m e n t grew,
4
t h e S e c t i o n of Seed and P l a n t I n t r o d u c t i o n w a s created i n
1898,
The g e n e r a l c h a r g e of t h i s s e c t i o n w a s :
,..to b r i n g i n t o t h i s c o u n t r y for e x p e r i m e n t a l p u r p o s e s any f o r e i g n s e e d s and
p l a n t s which might g i v e promise of i n c r e a s i n g t h e v a l u e and v a r i e t y of o u r a g r i c u l t u r a l resources. 7
From t h i s s e c t i o n , p l a n t e x p l o r e r s - - i n c l u d i n g
Mark A.
C a r l e t o n , N i e l s E , Hanson, Frank N, Meyer, a n d David G o
Fairchild--were
d i s p a t c h e d to. f o r e i g n c o u n t r i e s f o r p l a n t
e x p l o r a t i o n and i m p o r t a t i o n .
Again, t h e emphasis w a s p l a c -
ed on agronomic crops, and t h e c o l l e c t i n g of o r n a m e n t a l
c r o p s w a s minimized,
Under t h e d i r e c t i o n of F a i r c h i l d
(1903-1928), t h e S e c t i o n of t h e Seed and P l a n t I n t r o d u c t i o n
became a m a j o r p o s i t i v e force f o r p l a n t e x p l o r a t i o n , i n t r o d u c t i o n , and e x p e r i m e n t a t i o n .
He established t h e general
framework f o r p l a n t i n t r o d u c t i o n a s it e x i s t e d d u r i n g t h e
U,S,D,A.-Longwood
P l a n t E x p l o r a t i o n Program.
The g e n e r a l p u r p o s e s of the p l a n t i n t r o d u c t i o n
program have remained t h e s a m e s i n c e i t s c o n c e p t i o n , a l though t h e 1898 t i t l e , S e c t i o n of Seed and P l a n t I n t r o d u c t i o n , became i n 1953 t h e S e c t i o n of P l a n t I n t r o d u c t i o n . 8
I n a d d i t i o n , a complete s y s t e m h a s developed, i n c l u d i n g
p l a n t i n s p e c t i o n and q u a r a n t i n e , a p r i n t e d i n v e n t o r y , i n -
5
t r o d u c t i o n and d i s t r i b u t i o n p r o c e d u r e s , b r e e d i n g work, and
evaluation.
I n 1 9 7 2 t h e d u t i e s became t h e r e s p o n s i b i l i t y
o f t h e P l a n t I n t r o d u c t i o n O f f i c e r of t h e U.S,D,A,'s
Plasm Resource L a b o r a t o r y , 9
Germ
.
B e c a u s e governmental emphasis h a s been on economic
c r o p s , p r i v a t e i n s t i t u t i o n s and i n d i v i d u a l s have t r a d i t i o n a l l y s e r v e d t h e n e e d s f o r o r n a m e n t a l c r o p e x p l o r a t i o n and
introduction.
I n t h e e a r l y years o f p l a n t e x p l o r a t i o n , t h e
Arnold A r b o r e t u m sponsored major e x p l o r a t i o n s t o t h e F a r
E a s t , d i r e c t e d by well-known o r n a m e n t a l p l a n t e x p l o r e r s ,
C h a r l e s S. S a r g e n t , E r n e s t H. Wilson, W i l l i a m Purdom, and
J o s e p h F. Rock. lo O t h e r g a r d e n s a n d a r b o r e t a have sporadi c a l l y engaged i n p l a n t e x p l o r a t i o n ,
The most n o t a b l e
r e c e n t e x p l o r a t i o n program f o r o r n a m e n t a l c r o p s h a s been
t h e U.S.D,A,lLongwood
Ornamental P l a n t E x p l o r a t i o n Program.
CHAPTER I1
-.
THE U. S.D.A.
-LONGWOOD
ORNAMENTAL
PLANT EXPLORATION PROGRAM
The Necessity f o r a J o i n t Prosram
Although t h e p r i m a r y p u r p o s e of t h e p l a n t e x p l o r a t i o n program under David G. F a i r c h i l d w a s t o s u p p l y a g r o nomic needs and t o make b o t a n i c a l . s u r v e y s , a number of
o r n a m e n t a l s w e r e c o l l e c t e d and introduced.'
During t h i s
p e r i o d p r i v a t e e x p e d i t i o n s , p r i n c i p a l l y t h o s e of t h e Arnold
Arboretum i n t h i s c o u n t r y and v a r i o u s E n g l i s h i n s t i t u t i o n s ,
s e a r c h e d t h e Far E a s t f o r new ornamental p l a n t s .
These
e a r l y e x p e d i t i o n s , few as t h e y w e r e , r e s u l t e d i n an i n f l u x
o f new p l a n t s i n t o A m e r i c a . 2
While i n t e r e s t and f i n a n c i a l
s u p p o r t d e c l i n e d d u r i n g t h e D e p r e s s i o n and p r i v a t e e x p l o r a t i o n c a m e t o a s t a n d s t i l l w i t h t h e b e g i n n i n g of World W a r
11, t h e 1950s b r o u g h t a renewed i n t e r e s t i n o r n a m e n t a l
p l a n t s , and leaders i n t h e h o r t i c u l t u r a l f i e l d r e a l i z e d . t h e
n e c e s s i t y of i n c r e a s i n g t h e s e l e c t i o n and q u a l i t y of a v a i l -
-
able p l a n t s ,
5
A renewed o r n a m e n t a l p l a n t e x p l o r a t i o n pro-
6
7
gram c o u l d s a t i s f y t h e s e needs.
New problems a n d c i r c u m s t a n c e s had developed s i n c e
t h e e a r l y e x p l o r a t i o n s , making it d i f f i c u l t t o u n d e r t a k e
_.
s u c h a program.
B e c a u s e o f l a c k o f f u n d s , a governmental
program w a s n o t f e a s i b l e .
The a g r i c u l t u r a l c o n c e r n s of t h e
c o u n t r y i n f l u e n c e d Congress t o f i n a n c i a l l y s u p p o r t t h e
i n t r o d u c t i o n of economic c r o p s .
L i t t l e money w a s a v a i l a b l e
f o r o r n a m e n t a l c r o p r e s e a r c h and even l e s s f o r ornamental
plant exploration.
4
The p r i v a t e s e c t o r also had i t s problems i n mounti n g a n o r n a m e n t a l s e x p l o r a t i o n program.
Pew i n s t i t u t i o n s
had t h e a b i l i t y t o b u d g e t t h e amount of money r e q u i r e d t o
s p o n s o r a n e x p e d i t i o n a n d t o t e s t and i n t r o d u c e t h e incomi n g m a t e r i a l o 5 D u e t o changing p o l i t i c a l s t r u c t u r e s ,
it
w a s d i f f i c u l t f o r a p r i v a t e i n d i v i d u a l t o e n t e r i n t o and
t r a v e l w i t h i n many f o r e i g n c o u n t r i e s O 6 I n a d d i t i o n , t h e
p l a n t q u a r a n t i n e l a w s had become i n c r e a s i n g l y s t r i n g e n t ,
r e q u i r i n g p e r m i t s f o r a l l p l a n t s e n t e r i n g t h e c o u n t r y and
r e q u i r i n g a l l p l a n t s t o be p r o c e s s e d and h a n d l e d t h r o u g h
p l a n t i n s p e c t i o n centers. 7
The d e l a y t h i s p r o c e d u r e caused
was often f a t a l for the plants.
a
I t seemed clear t h a t e i t h e r a p r i v a t e o r govern-
m e n t a l e x p l o r a t i o n program w a s i m p o s s i b l e .
The o n l y pos-
s i b i l i t y o f renewing o r n a m e n t a l p l a n t e x p l o r a t i o n w a s
t h r o u g h t h e e s t a b l i s h m e n t of a j o i n t program b e t w e e n t h e
government and a p r i v a t e agency: one p r o v i d i n g s t r e n g t h s
where t h e o t h e r had weaknesses.
The O r i g i n of t h e Program
I n 1906 P i e r r e S. duPont had! purchased Longwood,
a n o l d , wooded e s t a t e i n s o u t h e a s t e r n Pennsylvania.*
Soon
t h e r e a f t e r h e began d e v e l o p i n g t h e grounds i n t o a d i s p l a y
g a r d e n t h a t i n c l u d e d f o u n t a i n s , c o n s e r v a t o r i e s , and o u t d o o r
With t h e d e a t h of duPont i n 1954, t h e g a r d e n s be-
gardens.
c a m e t h e r e s p o n s i b i l i t y of t h e t r u s t e e s of Longwood FouRdat i o n , Inc,
A s u b s t a n t i a l endowment p r o v i d e d f o r " t h e
s u p p o r t , o p e r a t i o n , and development o f t h e Longwood g a r d e n s
n e a r K e n n e t t Square
I
Pennsylvania
.9
,I
With t h e s e i n s t r u c t i o n s , t h e t r u s t e e s i n 1955 emp l o y e d Longwood's f i r s t d i r e c t o r , R u s s e l l J, Seibert.
He
b r o u g h t t o Longwood h i s background a s d i r e c t o r of Los
Angeles S t a t e a n d County Arboretum (1950-1955) and as a n
employee and p l a n t e x p l o r e r f o r t h e U.S.D.A.
(1940-1950). 10
9
B e c a u s e of S e i b e r t ' s p r e v i o u s employment, h e realized t h e importance f o r h o r t i c u l t u r e of p l a n t e x p l o r a t i o n ,
t e s t i n g , and i n t r o d u c t i o n ,
One o f h i s e a r l y c o n t r i b u t i o n s
as d i r e c t o r of Longwood w a s t h e i d e a of combining Longw o o d ' s f i n a n c i a l resources w i t h t h e governmental mechanisms
f o r t h e p u r p o s e of a c o o p e r a t i v e
available t o t h e U.S.D.A,
o r n a m e n t a l p l a n t exploration,''
I n 1955 t h i s c o n c e p t w a s
e x p l a i n e d t o C a r l 0, E r l a n s o n , t h e head of t h e U.S.D.A,'s
S e c t i o n of P l a n t I n t r o d u c t i o n ,
The i d e a w a s e n t h u s i a s t i -
c a l l y a c c e p t e d by E r l a n s o n , who had been a p l a n t e x p l o r e r
h i m s e l f and had been i n f l u e n c e d by t h e e a r l i e r c o l l e c t o r s ,
F a i r c h i l d , Wilson Popenoe, and B, Y. Morrison, under whom
h e had worked.
12
Next,
it w a s proposed t o t h e t r u s t e e s of
t h e Longwood Foundation who a c c e p t e d it.
Seibert then
I
j o i n e d f o r c e s w i t h E r l a n s o n t o implement t h e program. 13
T h i s c o n c e p t of, a combined e f f o r t € o r c r n a m e n t a l
p l a n t e x p l o r a t i o n overcame t h e problems t h a t had p r e v i o u s l y
p r e v e n t e d s u c h a program.
Longwood Foundation would
s u p p l y s u f f i c i e n t funds f o r a complete and c o n t i n u i n g p r o gram.
Through t h e f a c i l i t i e s a t Longwood, a program of
t e s t i n g , b r e e d i n g , and d i s t r i b u t i o n w a s t o be carried on.
Seibert r e a l i z e d t h e importance o f an ongoing program;
10
t h e r e f o r e , t h e g r a n t s f o r these e x p l o r a t i o n s w e r e made
renewable each year.
14
Although t h e U.S.D,A,
could n o t d i r e c t l y s u p p l y
funds f o r t h e s e expeditions, t h e y w e r e w i l l i n g t o f u r n i s h
manpower t o o r g a n i z e t h e t r i p s l . t o a s s i s t i n q u a r a n t i n e ,
and t o c a r r y o u t programs based on them,
agency, t h e U,S,D.A,
As a governmental
had t h e p o l i t i c a l c o n n e c t i o n s n e c e s -
s a r y t o o b t a i n permission t o e n t e r i n t o snd explore i n
o t h e r w i s e restricted c o u n t r i e s ,
They c o u l d a l s o arrange
f o r f o r e i g n c o n t a c t s t o assist t h e e x p l o r e r s i n p l a n t c o l lection,
The U,S,D,A.
worked c l o s e l y w i t h t h e q u a r a n t i n e
c e n t e r t o e x p e d i t e t h e e n t r y and i n s p e c t i o n of o r n a m e n t a l s ,
They a l s o a g r e e d t o implement b r e e d i n g , t e s t i n g , and dist r i b u t i o n programs w i t h t h e materials r e c e i v e d from t h e s e
e x p e d i t i o n s 15
Thus, t h e program o r i g i n a t e d by S e i b e r t had t h e
e s s e n t i a l components from Longwood and t h e U.S.D.A,,
en-
a b l i n g it t o o r g a n i z e and c a r r y o u t a p r i v a t e - p u b l i c
orna-
m e n t a l p l a n t e x p l o r a t i o n program which would h a v e g r e a t i m p a c t on t h e f i e l d of h o r t i c u l t u r e ,
11
?
The Proqram's Goal
The g e n e r a l i d e a b e h i n d Longwood G a r d e n ' s c o n c e p t
o f a j o i n t e x p l o r a t i o n program w a s t o increase t h e number
and v a r i e t y o f p l a n t s f o r American h o r t i c u l t u r e . l6
The
g o a l s s t a t e d i n t h e c o o p e r a t i v e agreement between t h e two
agencies support S e i b e r t ' s o r i g i n a l idea.
The agreement
states:
...the Branch and t h e C o o p e r a t o r d e s i r e
t o encourage t h e advancement of o r n a m e n t a l
h o r t i c u l t u r e i n t h e United S t a t e s through
t h e d i s c o v e r y a n d i n t r o d u c t i o n of new o r
l i t t l e known p l a n t s of t h e w o r l d which w i l l
h a v e p o t e n t i a l v a l u e t o t h e f u t u r e of ornam e n t a l h o r t i c u l t u r e and, t h e r e f o r e , t o t h e
r a p i d l y i n c r e a s i n g numbers of home g a r d e n e r s
and p l a n t h o b b y i s t s . 17
John L. Creech, s i x - t i m e Longwood-U.S.D.A.
plant
e x p l o r e r and p r e s e n t l y d i r e c t o r of t h e U n i t e d S t a t e s
National A r b o r e t u m , h a s stated t h e r e w e r e t h r e e underlying
p u r p o s e s i n t h i s program.
One w a s t o e x p l o r e r e g i o n s o f
t h e w o r l d where seed and p l a n t exchange w a s n o t p o s s i b l e .
Aided by governmental a f f i l i a t i o n , t h e s e e x p e d i t i o n s c o u l d
c o l l e c t and e x p l o r e i n many areas t h a t had p r e v i o u s l y been
off l i m i t s .
Another w a s t o i n c r e a s e t h e gene p o o l f o r
b r e e d i n g programs: new c o l l e c t i o n s o f p l a n t s c o u l d add t o
a n e s t a b l i s h e d base f o r f u t u r e improvements i n b r e e d i n g new
12
?
cultivars.
The f i n a l p u r p o s e w a s t o v i s i t f o r e i g n a r b o -
reta, b o t a n i c g a r d e n s , and n u r s e r i e s t o c o l l e c t improved
p l a n t c u l t i v a r s t h a t w e r e o n l y a v a i l a b l e from t h a t
source.
18
Another u n d e r l y i n g p u r p o s e , h e l d by Longwood, w a s
t o t e s t , breed, and evaluate p l a n t s f o r d i s p l a y p u r p o s e s . 19
Through t h i s e f f o r t , improved p l a n t s w e r e t o be made a v a i l *
able t o the h o r t i c u l t u r a l f i e l d ,
The p r i n c i p a l g o a l stated i n t h e agreement and t h e
u n d e r l y i n g p u r p o s e s o f t h e program w e r e a g r e e d upon by
b o t h Longwood and t h e U.S.D,A,
as t h e basis f o r implement-
i n g t h i s c o o p e r a t i v e p l a n t e x p l o r a t i o n program.
The
achievement of t h e s e p u r p o s e s w a s n e c e s s a r y t o f u l f i l l t h e
long-range g o a l - - t h e
i n t r o d u c t i o n of new p l a n t s f o r A m e r -
ican horticulture.
I n t e r a c t i o n s Between t h e A g e n c i e s
The l e g a l document, C o o p e r a t i v e Aqreement between
Lonqwood Gardens of Longwood F o u n d a t i o n , I n c , ,
U,S,D.A.
and t h e
A q r i c u l t u r a l Research Service H o r t i c u l t u r e Crops
Research Branch,20 l a i d down t h e basic framework o f t h i s
combined program and s p e c i f i e d what each agency w a s re-
13
?
q u i r e d t o supply.
I t a l s o d e s c r i b e d t h e c o n t r i b u t i o n each
p a r t y w a s t o make t o t h e program.
According t o t h e document, Longwood w a s o b l i g a t e d
G r a n t s up t o $16,000 w e r e t o b e
o n l y t o s u p p l y funds.
a p p r o p r i a t e d , a s needed, t o pay f o r t h e e x p e d i t i o n s and
Longwood's r e t u r n w a s a s h a r e o f
r e l a t e d expenditures,
all t h e m a t e r i a l a f t e r it had been i n s p e c t e d , q u a r a n t i n e d ,
and p r o p a g a t e d by t h e U.S.D.A.
The material came w i t h no
r e s t r i c t i o n s , b u t w a s " f o r such f u r t h e r propagation, evalu a t i o n , and d i s p l a y as t h e C o o p e r a t o r (Longwood) f i n d s de-
sirable
21
'I
T h e r e f o r e , Longwood c o u l d d e v e l o p r e s e a r c h
and e v a l u a t i o n programs t o a c h i e v e i t s g o a l s .
The U.S.D.A.
was r e q u i r e d by t h i s agreement t o
c o l l e c t , i m p o r t , i n s p e c t , p r o p a g a t e , e v a l u a t e , and d i s -
t r i b u t e t h e new p l a n t s .
They w e r e a l s o t o conduct re-
s e a r c h and t o p r o v i d e t h e equipment and f a c i l i t i e s f o r
t h i s research.
A f u r t h e r r e s p o n s i b i l i t y w a s t o publish a
p r i n t e d i n v e n t o r y of t h e p l a n t m a t e r i a l c o l l e c t e d under
t h i s program,
With t h e o b l i g a t i o n s of each p a r t y u n d e r s t o o d , t h e
framework of t h e program w a s e s t a b l i s h e d ,
S i n c e t h i s was
14
?
a c o o p e r a t i v e program, t h e m u t u a l d e c i s i o n s w e r e a r r i v e d a t
by agreement between b o t h a g e n c i e s . 2 2
The c o u n t r y t o be
e x p l o r e d w a s one of t h e s e j o i n t d e c i s i o n s .
There w e r e a
number of f a c t o r s i n v o l v e d i n s e l e c t i n g a s p e c i f i c c o u n t r y
or r e g i o n t o e x p l o r e ,
The o v e r r i d i n g f a c t o r s w e r e t h e
p l a n t s and p l a n t g r o u p s a v a i l a b l e , b u t o t h e r q u e s t i o n s such
a s ; when t h e c o u n t r y w a s last e x p l o r e d , how t h o r o u g h l y it
had been e x p l o r e d , how t h e p l a n t s growing t h e r e c o u l d be
e x p e c t e d t o perform i n t h e U n i t e d S t a t e s , and t h e d i f f i c u l -
t y of t r a v e l and c o l l e c t i o n , w e r e a l s o c o n s i d e r e d i n t h e
selection,
23
L i k e w i s e , t h e s e l e c t i o n of t h e e x p l o r e r w a s a dec i s i o n t o be a g r e e d upon by b o t h a g e n c i e s .
o f t e n Longwood o r U.S,D.A.
The e x p l o r e r s ,
employees, w e r e chosen on t h e
basis o f t h e i r i n t e r e s t and knowledge of p l a n t m a t e r i a l , of
s p e c i f i c p l a n t g r o u p s I o r of t h e c o u n t r y t o be e x p l o r e d .
Another j o i n t d e c i s i o n w a s t h e t y p e of r e s e a r c h t o
be c a r r i e d o u t by t h e U.S,D,A.
G e n e r a l l y , t h e improvement
of p l a n t s t h r o u g h b r e e d i n g and t h e i n t r o d u c t i o n and e v a l u a t i o n of new p l a n t s w e r e set as t h e g o a l s of t h e i r r e s e a r c h .
T h e r e f o r e , t h e c o o p e r a t i v e agreement s t a t e d t h e
15
major o b l i g a t i o n s o f each agency and l e f t many of t h e p a r -
t i c u l a r d e c i s i o n s f o r e a c h t r i p t o be made by m u t u a l a g r e e ment.
These d e c i s i o n s - - t h e
c o u n t r y and e x p l o r e r t o be
s e l e c t e d and t h e t y p e o f r e s e a r c h t o be completed--were
j o i n t l y r e a c h e d by b o t h a g e n c i e s ,
institution--Erlanson,
U.S.D.A.
I n d i v i d u a l s from each
Creech, and Howard L. Hyland of t h e
and S e i b e r t , E v e r i t L. M i l l e r , and Walter H. Hodge
o f Longwood--all
d e c i s i o n , 24
c o n t r i b u t e d t h e i r views, t o make t h e f i n a l
T h i s w a s done t h r o u g h i n f o r m a l m e e t i n g s and
c o n v e r s a t i o n s and communications by m a i l and t e l e p h o n e . 25
The Mechanics o f t h e Program
A f t e r t h e s e l e c t i o n of t h e c o u n t r y and e x p l o r e r
had been a g r e e d upon by b o t h a g e n c i e s , it w a s t h e n t h e
r e s p o n s i b i l i t y t o organize t h e expeditions.
U,S.D.A,'s
Be-
sides p r e - t r i p p r e p a r a t i o n s , t h e r e w e r e o t h e r u n d e r t a k -
ings--shipping,
i n s p e c t i o n and q u a r a n t i n e , and s p e c i a l and
general distributions--that
U.S.D.A,
w e r e c a r r i e d o u t by t h e
26
The p r e - t r i p p r e p a r a t i o n s t h a t i n c l u d e d t h e d e t a i l s
n e c e s s a r y f o r a s u c c e s s f u l and e f f i c i e n t e x p l o r a t i o n w e r e
o v e r s e e n by Hyland, P l a n t Procurement O f f i c e r of t h e
16
U.S.D.A.
The h a n d l i n g o f governmental and d,plomatic
t i a t i o n s w e r e managed t h r o u g h h i s o f f i c e . 27
nego-
Diplomatic
attaches of the U n i t e d S t a t e s w e r e n o t i f i e d o f t h e e x p l o r a tion.
They i n t u r n s e c u r e d p e r m i s s i o n f o r i n t e r n a l t r a v e l
and p l a n t c o l l e c t i o n w i t h i n t h e f o r e i g n c o u n t r i e s .
The
U n i t e d S t a t e s f o r e i g n embassies w e r e a l s o informed and
a s s i s t e d w i t h communications and s h i p p i n g and p r o v i d e d
h o u s i n g i f needed.
During t h e e x p e d i t i o n s , t h e e x p l o r e r
became a n employee o f t h e government working f o r t h e
Foreign Service.
28
A s P l a n t Procurement O f f i c e r , Hyland had developed
worldwide c o n t a c t s t h r o u g h p r e v i o u s exchange o f seeds and
plants.
The i t i n e r a r y w a s b u i l t around t h e s e c o n t a c t s ;
u n i v e r s i t y p r o f e s s o r s , b o t a n i c garden d i r e c t o r s , a g r i c u l -
t u r a l s t a t i o n personnel, and interested p r i v a t e individuals.
They a s s i s t e d t h e e x p l o r e r s i n p l a n t c o l l e c t i o n and propa g a t i o n and o f t e n p r o v i d e d base s t a t i o n s . 2 9
Hyland also s e n t l e t t e r s t o U n i t e d S t a t e s a r b o r e t a
and b o t a n i c g a r d e n s , r e q u e s t i n g t h e i r needs f o r s p e c i f i c
p l a n t material o f o r n a m e n t a l n a t u r e t h a t might be c o l l e c t e d
during an exploration.
The U.S.D.A.
t h e n compiled a master
17
l i s t from t h e s e r e q u e s t s and from t h e p r e - t r i p i n f o r m a t i o n
assembled by t h e e x p l o r e r ,
30
On t h e basis o f t h e area t o be e x p l o r e d , t h e f o r e i g n c o n t a c t s a v a i l a b l e , and any f o r e i g n t r a v e l r e s t r i c t i o n s , Hyland t h e n completed t h e i t i n e r a r y and t i m e sched-
ule.
w a s t o oversee t h e
Another f u n c t i o n o f the U.S.D.A.
s h i p p i n g and h a n d l i n g o f t h e s t o c k ,
The s h i p p i n g and
h a n d l i n g of p l a n t material had been a weak l i n k i n p l a n t
e x p l o r a t i o n s i n c e i t s beginning.
O f t e n rare and e x o t i c
p l a n t s w e r e c o l l e c t e d a t g r e a t c o s t s i n t h e w i l d only t o
a r r i v e a t t h e i r d e s t i n a t i o n dead o r r o t t e d .
Two innova-
t i o n s , t h e i n v e n t i o n of p o l y - f i l m s and t h e i n c r e a s e d speed
of t r a n s p o r t a t i o n , h e l p e d remedy t h i s problem f o r t h e
U,S,D.A,-Longwood
E x p l o r a t i o n Program,
31
P l a n t s and c u t t i n g s packed i n a s l i g h t l y m o i s t
medium w e r e wrapped w i t h the new m a t e r i a l , which allowed
p l a n t s t o b r e a t h e b u t n o t d r y o u t , made l o n g e r s h i p p i n g
p e r i o d s p o s s i b l e , and i n c r e a s e d t h e p e r c e n t a g e of p l a n t
viability,
Even w i t h t h e use of p l a s t i c f i l m s a l l o w i n g
l o n g e r s h i p p i n g p e r i o d s , it w a s s t i l l i m p e r a t i v e t o u s e t h e
18
f a s t e s t mode of t r a n s p o r a t i o n .
During t h e e a r l y e x p l o r a t i o n s u n d e r t a k e n i n t h i s
program, p r i v a t e and commercial t r a n s p o r t a t i o n systems
w e r e used.
T h i s posed problems i n h e r e n t i n t h e s e s y s t e m s ,
delays and slowdowns which i n c r e a s e d t h e amount of dead
materia 1.32
I n l a t e r t r i p s because of t h e p r o g r a m ' s gov-
e r n m e n t a l a s s o c i a t i o n , d i p l o m a t i c pouches and governmental
air transportation w e r e gtilized.
Shipments i n a d i p l o m a t -
i c pouch had governmental p r i o r i t y and c o u l d bypass slow
f o r e i g n customs and g u a r a n t e e immediate p a s s a g e t o t h e
United S t a t e s .
A i r F o r c e and S t r a t e g i c A i r Command p l a n e s
w e r e u s e d t o d e l i v e r t h e material t o Washington, D. C ,
33
The u s e o f p l a s t i c f i l m s combined w i t h t h e u s e of f a s t
t r a n s p o r t a t i o n meant m o s t p l a n t s would a r r i v e a l i v e and
healthier
(.
The p l a n t materials w e r e c o l l e c t e d and s h i p p e d i n
many d i f f e r e n t w a y s :
l i v e p l a n t s , c u t t i n g s , rooted c u t -
t i n g s , s c i o n wood, b u l b s and seeds. 34
Bringing l i v e p l a n t s
i n t o t h e U n i t e d S t a t e s i n s o i l v i o l a t e s a q u a r a n t i n e law
p r o h i b i t i n g t h e e n t r a n c e of f o r e i g n s o i l i n t o t h e c o u n t r y .
C u t t i n g s w e r e easy t o c o l l e c t and package, b u t b e t t e r
*
19
s u r v i v a l w a s a t t a i n e d 5y r o o t i n g t h e c u t t i n g s p r i o r t o
shipping.
I f s c i o n wood w a s s e n t , Hyland w a s n o t i f i e d , and
h e t h e n located r o o t s t o c k f o r g r a f t i n g .
B u l b s and propa-
g u l e s s h i p p e d packed i n m o i s t m a t e r i a l , w e r e h a n d l e d i n t h e
s a m e manner a s u n r o o t e d c u t t i n g s .
R o t t i n g and d e s s i c a t i o n
w e r e t h e m z i n causes of p l a n t loss. 35
Seed p r e s e n t e d t h e
l e a s t problems i n s h i p p i n g and h a n d l i n g .
I t s o n l y drawback
lay i n t h e r a t h e r precise t i m i n g r e q u i r e d t o c o l l e c t it
after ripening b u t before dissemination.
The method t h e
e x p l o r e r s u s e d when t h e y e n c o u n t e r e d u n r i p e s e e d w a s t o
h i r e a l o c a l p e r s o n t o c o l l e c t and send t h e s e e d from
marked p l a n t s a f t e r it had r i p e n e d . 36
A s t h e p l a n t s w e r e processed through t h e inspection
c e n t e r , Hyland k e p t a c l o s e check on t h e c o n d i t i o n of t h e
p l a n t material.
By a c t i n g as a n i n t e r m e d i a r y between t h e
e x p l o r e r s and i n s p e c t i o n c e n t e r h e w a s a b l e t o n o t i f y t h e
e x p l o r e r s about t h e c o n d i t i o n of t h e s t o c k and s u g g e s t rec o l l e c t i o n i f a g r o u p a r r i v e d dead. 37
S u r v i v a l of t h e s t o c k v a r i e d from one e x p e d i t i o n t o
t h e next w i t h t h e d i f f e r e n c e s being a t t r i b u t e d t o t h e
w e a t h e r , h a n d l i n g , or t o t h e t y p e of m a t e r i a l c o l l e c t e d .
20
Even w i t h t h e improved s h i p p i n g and h a n d l i n g t e c h n i q u e s
u s e d , o n l y 60-70% o f all t h e m a t e r i a l s u r v i v e d t o t h e p o i n t
of d i s t r i b u t i o n . 38
The U.S.D.A.
i s r e q u i r e d t o comply w i t h t h e P l a n t
Q u a r a n t i n e A c t when i n t r o d u c i n g p l a n t material i n t o t h e
country.
I n t h e s e cases, however, a b l a n k e t p e r m i t w a s
i s s u e d f o r t h e o r n a m e n t a l p l a n t s imported from t h e e x p l o r a tions.
I n general, t h e r e are f e w e r s t r i n g e n t quarantine
r e g u l a t i o n s f o r o r n a m e n t a l s t h a n f o r agronomic c r o p s .
Woody o r n a m e n t a l s are required by l a w t o be q u a r a n t i n e d f o r
two growing s e a s o n s o r two years w i t h c o n t i n u e d i n s p e c t i o n
and f i n a l a u t h o r i z a t i o n b e f o r e release,
During t h i s q u a r -
a n t i n e p e r i o d , it i s p e r m i s s i b l e t o i n c r e a s e t h e p l a n t s by
p r o p a g a t i o n and u s e them i n b r e e d i n g progrzms, b u t d i s t r i b u t i o n i s n o t a l l o w e d . 39
The P l a n t I n s p e c t i o n S t a t i o n a l s o i n v e n t o r i e d t h e
p l a n t s and a s s i g n e d a l l v i a b l e p l a n t s and s e e d s a P l a n t
I n t r o d u c t i o n number
(P.I.#)
.4*
( T h i s P. I , # remains w i t h
t h e p l a n t and any s u b s e q u e n t asexual p r o p a g u l e s f o r f u t u r e
i n v e n t o r y and i d e n t i f i c a t i o n p u r p o s e s . )
A f t e r t h e inven-
t o r y and a p r e l i m i n a r y i n s p e c t i o n for d i s e a s e s a n d p e s t s ,
21
t h e p l a n t s w e r e immediately s h i p p e d t o t h e Glenn D a l e
P l a n t I n t r o d u c t i o n S t a t i o n i n Maryland.
Following t h e i n s p e c t i o n a t Washington and quarant i n e a t Glenn D a l e , t h o s e p l a n t s judged h e a l t h y w e r e t h e n
d i s t r i b u t e d t o Longwood,
However, i f Longwood w a s p a r t i c -
u l a r l y i n t e r e s t e d i n a s p e c i f i c p l a n t , a s p e c i a l permit
c o u l d be i s s u e d t o release it t o them under q u a r a n t i n e .
41
T h e r e w a s no s t r u c t u r e d p r o c e d u r e u s e d i n a l l o c a t i n g t h e
p l a n t s t o Longwood,
I d e a l l y , it w a s t o r e c e i v e a s h a r e
of a l l m a t e r i a l s ; i n a c t u a l i t y , it might receive a l i s t
from which t o r e q u e s t p l a n t s , be s e n t a n o t i c e t h a t a
b l o c k o f m a t e r i a l w a s w a i t i n g t o be p i c k e d up, o r be
s h i p p e d t h e t o t a l c o l l e c t i o n of p l a n t s . 42
I f t h e U.S.D.A.
had l i t t l e i n t e r e s t i n t h e m a t e r i a l , t h e t o t a l c o l l e c t i o n
w a s s e n t t o Longwood.
The O r c h i d s , P s i l o t u m , and o t h e r
s p e c i a l i t y i t e m s w e r e s h i p p e d d i r e c t l y t o Longwood from
t h e Inspection Station.
a problem:
T h i s p r a c t i c e sometimes p r e s e n t e d
i t w a s o c c a s i o n a l l y n o t c l e a r whether o r n o t
t h e p l a n t a t Longwood r e p r e s e n t e d t h e s o l e p l a n t of t h a t
a c c e s s i o n i n t h e c o u n t r y . 43
P l a n t s a r r i v e d a t Longwood i n t h e s a m e v a r i e t y of
22
w a y s t h e y w e r e s h i p p e d from a b r o a d ,
U s u a l l y , t h e U.S.D,A,
s e n t propagated o r rooted material, b u t unrooted c u t t i n g s
and s c i o n wood w e r e a l s o r e c e i v e d .
C o l l e c t i o n s of s e e d
w e r e t o be d i v i d e d , w i t h h a l f a p p r o p i a t e d f o r t h e U.S.D.A.
and t h e remainder f o r Longwood.
Longwood a l s o r e c e i v e d
d i v i s i o n s , p l a n t s , b u l b s , and o t h e r t y p e s o f p r o p a g u l e s . 44
A f t e r t h e p l a n t s had been d i v i d e d , b o t h o r g a n i z a -
t i o n s c o n c e n t r a t e d t h e i r e f f o r t s on p r o p a g a t i o n and c u l -
t u r a l i n f o r m a t i o n t o e n a b l e them t o increase t h e b l o c k of
p l a n t s f o r f u r t h e r d i s t r i b u t i o n , e v a l u a t i o n , and b r e e d i n g
programs.
E v a l u a t i o n and D i s t r i b u t i o n
Both t h e U.S.D.A.
and Longwood had developed t h e i r
own d i s t r i b u t i o n programs p r i o r t o t h e e x p l o r a t i o n s .
P l a n t s from t h e s e e x p e d i t i o n s , t h o u g h t t o have some pot e n t i a l o r immediate h o r t i c u l t u r a l v a l u e , w e r e o f t e n plated on t h e s e l i s t s f o r f u r t h e r d i s t r i b u t i o n and e v a l u a t i o n
by b o t a n i c g a r d e n s , a r b o r e t a , a g r i c u l t u r a l s t a t i o n s , and
o t h e r i n s ti t u t i o n s .
Longwood s t a r t e d i t s d i s t r i b u t i o n i n a s m a l l way
o n l y h a v i n g t w e l v e b o t a n i c g a r d e n s and a r b o r e t a on i t s
23
o r i g i n a l mailing.
T h i s scheme o r i g i n a - e d by S e i b e r t and
a d m i n i s t e r e d by Longwood's t a x o n o m i s t , Donald G.
Huttleston,
h a s grown t o i n v o l v e o v e r s e v e n t y i n s t i t u t i o n s and is s t i l l
used t o d i s t r i b u t e m a t e r i a l from t h e e x p l o r a t i o n program.
45
The r e a s o n s s p e c i f i c p l a n t s a r e p l a c e d on t h e d i s t r i b u t i o n l i s t a r e t i e d c l o s e l y w i t h Longwood's e v a l u a t i o n
policy.
A l l p l a n t s new t o Longwood a r e e v a l u a t e d through
a n i n f o r m a l meeting w i t h t h e d i r e c t o r , H o r t i c u l t u r e Dep a r t m e n t r e p r e s e n t a t i v e s , and s t a f f members.
A group of
p l a n t s , g e n e r a l l y i n t h e f l o w e r i n g s t a g e o r a t t h e i r ornam e n t a l b e s t , a r e judged f o r t h e i r h o r t i c u l t u r a l d i s p l a y
w o r t h i n e s s t o Longwood. 46
A t t h i s t i m e a d e c i s i o n i s made
t o d i s c a r d t h e p l a n t , t o u s e it i n a d i s p l a y o r c o l l e c t i o n ,
o r t o grow it on f u r t h e r .
I f it i s d e c i d e d t h e p l a n t h a s
l i t t l e v a l u e t o Longwood, it i s removed from t h e i r inventory.
However, b e f o r e d i s c a r d i n g any p l a n t from t h e ex-
p l o r a t i o n s o r any o t h e r P . I .
is notified.47
numbered p l a n t , t h e U.S.D,A.
I f t h e U.S.D.A.
would r e q u e s t i t s r e t u r n .
desired t h e p l a n t they
I f , on t h e o t h e r hand,
it i s
d e c i d e d t h a t t h e plant has b o t a n i c a l o r h o r t i c u l t u r a l
v a l u e , t h e s u r p l u s p l a n t s a r e p l a c e d on t h e d i s t r i b u t i o n
list.
O f t e n a p l a n t is e v a l u a t e d a s having h o r t i c u l t u r a l
24
v a l u e and i s i n c r e a s e d i n number e s p e c i a l l y f o r d i s t r i b u tion.
48
Other methods of p l a n t d i s t r i b u t i o n e x i s t e d a t
Longwood.
G e n e r a l l y , r e q u e s t s f o r p l a n t material from non-
commercial i n s t i t u t i o n s would be honored-
I f Longwood
p e r s o n n e l knew of someone doing r e s e a r c h o r c o l l e c t i n g i n
a s p e c i f i c taxonomic group t h e y would a l s o s h i p them material.
*'
U n t i l t h e 1970s, Longwood's d i s t r i b u t i o n d i d n o t
i n v o l v e commercial greenhouses o r n u r s e r i e s .
There w a s a
f e a r t h a t f a v o r i t i s m would be claimed and Longwood, a nonp r o f i t o r g a n i z a t i o n , p r e f e r r e d t o a v o i d t h i s p r a c t i c e . 50
S i n c e Longwood i s n o t a p l a n t d e p o s i t o r y , t h e r e
w a s a need t o e v a l u a t e t h e U.S,D,A.-Longwood
collections
f o r Longwood's purposes of h o r t i c u l t u r a l d i s p l a y v a l u e .
Through t h i s e v a l u a t i o n system, Longwood r e t a i n e d t h e
p l a n t s of d i s p l a y v a l u e , and d i s t r i b u t e d them t o i n s t i t u -
t i o n s by way of i t s d i s t r i b u t i o n l i s t . 51
I t a l s o shipped
p o t e n t i a l b r e e d i n g s t o c k and o t h e r s p e c i f i c m a t e r i a l t o
known c o o p e r a t o r s .
According t o t h e agreement, t h e U.S.D.A.
q u i r e d t o e v a l u a t e and d i s t r i b u t e t h i s
w a s re-
The
25
U.S.D.A,
I n s p e c t i o n S t a t i o n a t Glenn D a l e w a s r e s p o n s i b l e
f o r t h e major p o r t i o n of t h e d i s t r i b u t i o n from t h e s e expeditions.
The s t a t i o n h o r t i c u l t u r i s t , w a s a s s i g n e d t o
conduct t h e n a t i o n a l d i s t r i b u t i o n and e v a l u a t i o n program.
A f t e r material w a s r e c e i v e d from t h e i n s p e c t i o n s t a t i o n ,
it w a s f i r s t p r o p a g a t e d and t h e n i n c r e a s e d i n numbers.
In
t h e s a m e manner as a t Longwood, t h e ornamental h o r t i c u l -
t u r e s t a f f o f Glenn D a l e performed t h e p r e l i m i n a r y e v a l u a t i o n which d e t e r m i n e d what p l a n t s w e r e p l a c e d on t h e
distribution-evaluation list. 53
Glenn D a l e carried o u t a v a r i e t y of d i s t r i b u t i o n
programs somewhat m o r e f o r m a l and l a r g e r i n scope t h a n
Longwood's.
Through t h e i r f i l e s t h e y m a i n t a i n e d f o u r t y p e s
of d i s t r i b u t i o n l i s t s :
lists:
(1) g e n e r a l l i s t s :
(2) s p e c i a l i t y
( 3 ) l i m i t e d l i s t s : and ( 4 ) s p e c i a l r e q u e s t l i s t s . 54
The g e n e r a l l i s t , t h e m o s t e x t e n s i v e , i n c l u d e d
u n i v e r s i t i e s , a g r i c u l t u r a l s t a t i o n s , arboreta, b o t a n i c
gardens, and commercial s o u r c e s -
Periodically, l i s t i n g s
w e r e s e n t out t o t h e s e agencies describing t h e a v a i l a b l e
p l a n t s , many of which w e r e from t h e U.S.D.A.-Longwood
E x p l o r a t i o n Program,
The s p e c i a l l i s t s w e r e s e n t o u t t o
26
p l a n t s o c i e t i e s , p l a n t b r e e d e r s , and s p e c i a l p l a n t collec-
tors.
M o s t of t h i s s t o c k - - c o l l e c t i o n s
d e n d r o n s , camellias, e t c . - - w e r e
of h o l l i e s , rhodo-
used by t h e r e c i p i e n t f o r
b r e e d i n g and s c i e n t i f i c r e s e a r c h .
The l i m i t e d d i s t r i b u t i o n
l i s t c o n t a i n e d a s m a l l number of r a r e and e x o t i c p l a n t s ,
o f t e n from t h i s e x p l o r a t i o n program,
B e c a u s e of t h e l i m i t -
ed number o f t h e s e p l a n t s , t h i s l i s t w a s g i v e n t o o n l y a
few organizations.
F i n a l l y , as a t Longwood, t h e r e w a s a
s p e c i a l r e q u e s t l i s t f o r q u a l i f i e d i n s t i t u t i o n s and i n d i v i -
.
duals 5s
A c o o p e r a t o r r e c e i v i n g p l a n t s from t h e g e n e r a l
d i s t r i b u t i o n l i s t w a s obligated t o assist i n evaluation.
The U.S.D.A.
r e g u l a r l y s e n t o u t e v a l u a t i o n forms r e q u e s t -
i n g i n f o r m a t i o n on c u l t u r e , measurements, and v i s u a l observations.
B y c o m p i l i n g t h e i n f o r m a t i o n from t h e s e forms
a good d e a l c o u l d be l e a r n e d a b o u t t h e a d a p t a b i l i t y of each
plant.
U n f o r t u n a t e l y , t h e r e t u r n s from t h e e v a l u a t i o n p r o -
gram w e r e minimal,
Many e v a l u a t i o n forms w e r e n e v e r re-
t u r n e d , and o t h e r s w e r e r e t u r n e d w i t h i n c o m p l e t e information.
T h e r e f o r e , t h e e v a l u a t i o n program, l a c k i n g com-
mitment from t h e r e c i p i e n t s o f t h e material, w a s n o t a
t o t a l success. 56
27
Limited success w a s a c h i e v e d ; some c o o p e r a t o r s ob-
served t h e p l a n t s c l o s e l y and made v a l u a b l e r e p o r t s on
specific plants.
From t h i s i n f o r m a t i o n a f e w p l a n t s w e r e
i d e n t i f i e d as h a v i n g h o r t i c u l t u r a l p o t e n t i a l -
w e r e s e n t back t o t h e U.S.D.A.
c r e a s e d i n numbers.
These p l a n t s
t o be t e s t e d f u r t h e r and i n -
Later, t h e U.S.D.A.
re-released t h e
p l a n t s w i t h a c u l t i v a r name a s a proven p l a n t .
Two ex-
amples of s u c c e s s f u l e v a l u a t i o n a r e C o t o n e a s t e r m i c r o p h y l l a
cv. Emerald Spray a n d Euonymus f o r t u n e i cv. Longwood.
The
C o t o n e a s t e r , o r i g i n a l l y d i s t r i b u t e d as a s e e d l i n g (from
s e e d c o l l e c t e d d u r i n g t h e Nepal 1962 e x p e d i t i o n ) w a s sel e c t e d by Monrovia Nursery i n C a l i f o r n i a a s having h o r t i -
c u l t u r a l v a l u e , 57
A f t e r e v a l u a t i n g t h e Euonymus,
Cunningham Gardens I n c .
U.S.D.A.
i n I n d i a n a recommended t o t h e
the naming and r e - r e l e a s i n g of t h i s p l a n t . 58
B e c a u s e of t h e l a r g e amount of p l a n t material i m p o r t e d d u r i n g t h e s e e x p l o r a t i o n s , t h e r e w a s a need f o r
p r e l i m i n a r y e v a l u a t i o n by t h e U.S.D.A.
and Longwood b e f o r e
a w i d e s p r e a d d i s t r i b u t i o n and e v a l u a t i o n scheme.
After
t h i s d i s t r i b u t i o n it w a s a n t i c i p a t e d t h e s e c o n d a r y r e c i p i e n t would e v a l u a t e t h e m a t e r i a l .
The r e s u l t s from t h i s
s e c o n d a r y e v a l u a t i o n would h e l p d e t e r m i n e t h e h o r t i c u l t u r a l
28
worthiness of t h e p l a n t .
Although t h e b u l k of t h e material
w a s p l a c e d on t h e d i s t r i b u t i o n l i s t f o r s p e c i f i c e v a l u a t i o n ,
some of t h e m a t e r i a l w a s o r i g i n a l l y c o l l e c t e d and l a t e r
d i s t r i b u t e d f o r r e s e a r c h and b r e e d i n g p u r p o s e s .
S i n c e two
a g e n c i e s d i s t r i b u t e d t h i s material, it w a s r e c e i v e d by a
v a r i e t y o f i n s t i t u t i o n s and o r g a n i z a t i o n s .
Breedinq and Research
One of t h e o r i g i n a l p u r p o s e s of t h e program w a s t o
i n t r o d u c e new b r e e d i n g s t o c k t h a t would i n c r e a s e t h e g e n e t i c d i v e r s i t y o f v a r i o u s ornamental s p e c i e s . 59
During a n
e x p l o r a t i o n many p l a n t s w e r e selected n o t f o r t h e i r o v e r a l l
ornamental value b u t f o r a s i n g l e t r a i t , e-g.,
color, o r p o t e n t i a l € o r h a r d i n e s s .
flower s i z e ,
These p l a n t s w e r e i n -
t e n d e d f o r u s e i n r e s e a r c h and b r e e d i n g programs, which
b o t h i n s t i t u t i o n s , Longwood and t h e U.S.D.A.,
conducted.
Although t h e e x p l o r a t i o n program w a s i n i t i a t e d i n
1956, no f o r m a l r e s e a r c h o r b r e e d i n g w a s s t a r t e d a t Longwood u n t i l 1960.
A t t h a t t i m e c o n s t r u c t i o n of t h e e x p e r i -
m e n t a l g r e e n h o u s e f a c i l i t i e s had been completed, and t h e
g e n e t i c i s t R i c h a r d W.
L i g h t y had been h i r e d .
Longwood's
p o l i c y i n breeding, according t h e t h e Experimental Green-
29
h o u s e Summary, s t a t e s t h a t :
The p l a n t s t o be improved a r e selected on
t h e basis of t h e i r presumed p o t e n t i a l v a l u e ,
t h e a b s e n c e of s i m i l i a r improvement b e i n g
p u r s u e d e l s e w h e r e , and t h e v a l u e o f t h e
p r o j e c t p l a n t t o Longwood, 6o
w i t h t h i s e s t a b l i s h e d p o l i c y , Longwood's p r i m a r y endeavor
w a s t o improve p l a n t s f o r d i s p l a y p u r p o s e s .
Through t h i s
b r e e d i n g program, p l a n t s w e r e improved f o r Longwood; howe v e r , t h e r e s u l t s o f t e n led t o improved p l a n t s f o r t h e
h o r t i c u l t u r a l f i e l d i n general.
One o f t h e f i r s t programs developed a t Longwood
u s i n g p l a n t s f r o m t h e U.S,D.A,-Longwood
carnellia b r e e d i n g p r o j e c t .
collections was the
The i n t e n t o f t h i s program w a s
t o p r o d u c e a p l a n t w i t h f o l i a g e a n d bud h a r d i n e s s f o r t h e
P h i l a d e l p h i a area.
Numerous camellias from C r e e c h ' s 1956
Japanese e x p l o r a t i o n , which e x h i b i t e d h a r d i n e s s t r a i t s ,
w e r e u t i l i z e d i n t h e b e g i n n i n g of t h i s p r o j e c t . 6 1
u n d e r t h e p r e s e n t e x p e r i m e n t a l greenhouse g e n e t i -
c i s t , R o b e r t J. Armstrong, a d d i t i o n a l b r e e d i n g programs
developed u s i n g t h e U.S.D.A.-Longwood
collections.
One
p r o j e c t , t h e H i p p e a s t r u m b r e e d i n g program, used t h e imported m a t e r i a l b u t i n a minor way. 62
T h e cream-colored Canna,
30
Canna X q e n e r a l i s (Canna h y b r i d a )
'Moonlight' P . 1 ,
293878,
c o l l e c t e d by Creech d u r i n g t h e 1963 R u s s i a n e x p l o r a t i o n ,
h a s p l a y e d a predominant r o l e i n Longwood's Canna b r e e d i n g
program
.63
The major b r e e d i n g program r e s u l t i n g from t h e
U.S,D,A.-Longwood
I m p a t i e n s Hybrids.
program developed t h e New Guinea
D u r i n g t h e e x p l o r a t i o n t o New Guinea,
Harold F. W i n t e r s and J o s e p h J. Higgens had c o l l e c t e d a
number of t r o p i c a l I m p a t i e n s .
From these c o l l e c t i o n s a
program w a s e s t a b l i s h e d t o i n c r e a s e f l o w e r s i z e , and number
i n t h e a l r e a d y i m p o r t a n t I m p a t i e n s , and t o improve t h e h e a t
t o l e r a n c e of t h e s e h i g h a l t i t u d e p l a n t s .
Twenty named
h y b r i d s have r e s u l t e d from t h i s program.
These I m p a t i e n s
h y b r i d s have been r e l e a s e d by Longwood ar,d d i s t r i b u t e d t o
commercial growers who w i l l t h e n market them t b t h e publ i c . 64
Numerous r e s e a r c h and b r e e d i n g p r o j e c t s u s i n g t h e
u.S.D.A.-Longwood
c o l l e c t i o n s have been implemented a t t h e
v a r i o u s b r a n c h e s o f t h e U,S.D.A.
A t t h e Glenn D a l e I n t r o d u c t i o n S t a t i o n , W i l l i a m L,
Ackerman h a s conducted a program i n t h e h y b r i d i z a t i o n of
31
camellias.
The o b j e c t i v e s w e r e t o i n c r e a s e t h e c o l d h a r d i -
n e s s and t o produce l a r g e f r a g r a n t flowers.
Edward W.
C o r b e t t , who h a n d l e d t h e d i s t r i b u t i o n o f p l a n t s , worked on
t h e g e n e t i c s of f l o w e r c o l o r i n h e r i t a n c e i n Rhododendron
-
japonicum and R. kaempheri p o p u l a t i o n s from C r e e c h ' s 1961
t r i p . 65
S a m u e l L. E m s w e l l e r used d a y l i l y s p e c i e s from t h e
U.S.D,A.
-Longwood c o l l e c t i o n s i n h i s r e s e a r c h a t t h e B e l t s -
v i l l e A g r i c u l t u r a l Research C e n t e r .
The c o l l e c t i o n pro-
v i d e d a s o u r c e o f germ plasm f o r extended f l o w e r i n g p e r iods,
66
W i n t e r s i s p r e s e n t l y working on a b r e e d i n g pro-
gram, u s i n g h i s c o l l e c t i o n s of I m p a t i e n s from t h e New
Guinea e x p l o r a t i o n .
Through t h e U.S.D.A.
he has released
s e v e n named h y b r i d s t o commercial s o u r c e s . 67
The U n i t e d S t a t e s N a t i o n a l Arboretum h a s carried
forward a v a r i e t y o f b r e e d i n g programs.
The viburnum, h o l -
l y , and c r a p e m y r t l e b r e e d i n g p r o j e c t s have a l l u s e d p l a n t s
o r i g i n a t i n g from t h e U.S.D.A.-Longwood
e x p l o r a t i o n s . 68
Although b o t h Longwood and t h e U.S.D.A.
used m a t e -
r i a l from t h e c o l l e c t i o n s t o improve a v a i l a b l e p l a n t s and
release n e w c u l t i v a r s , t h e t o t a l impact t h i s program h a s
32
had on t h e advancement of h o r t i c u l t u r e through b r e e d i n g
w i l l n e v e r be known.
Both a g e n c i e s have i n t r o d u c e d new
p l a n t s through well-documented b r e e d i n g programs.
Con-
s i d e r i n g t h e wide d i s t r i b u t i o n of t h i s material, t h e g r e a t
v a r i e t y of p l a n t s , and t h e p r o b a b l e l o s s of p l a n t r e c o r d s ,
it would be d i f f i c u l t t o e v a l u a t e t h e f u r t h e r s i g n i f i c a n c e
t h i s b r e e d i n g s t o c k h a s had on United S t a t e s h o r t i c u l t u r e .
CHAPTER 111
THE EXPLORATIONS
The U.S.D.A.-Longwood
P l a n t E x p l o r a t i o n Program
h a s conducted t h i r t e e n e x p l o r a t i o n s t o t w e n t y - t h r e e d i f f e r e n t c o u n t r i e s from 1956 t o 1971.
The t e r r i t o r i e s cho-
s e n h a v e been w i d e s p r e a d t h r o u g h o u t t h e world, i n c l u d i n g
r e g i o n s o f Europe, South A m e r i c a , A s i a , A u s t r a l i a , t h e F a r
E a s t , a n d t h e South Seas.
There w e r e s t a t e d r e a s o n s be-
h i n d t h e s e l e c t i o n of t h e c o u n t r y t o be e x p l o r e d , t h e
p l a n t s t o be c o l l e c t e d , and t h e e x p l o r e r t o be h i r e d ,
The
n e x t t h i r t e e n s e c t i o n s w i l l b r i e f l y summarize each of
t h e s e e x p l o r a t i o n s , t h e i r g o a l s , and t h e r e t u r n s t o d a t e .
Southern Japan
-
1956
-
The c o u n t r y s e l e c t e d as t h e f i r s t v e n t u r e f o r t h i s
c o o p e r a t i v e p l a n t e x p l o r a t i o n program w a s Japan,
There
w e r e two basic r e a s o n s S o u t h e r n J a p a n w a s selected f o r t h i s
September-to-December
trip.
First,
it p r o v i d e d a n oppor-
tunity to c o l l e c t seed and t h u s complete t h e e x p l o r a t i o n of
33
34
t h e Y a t s u g a t a k e Mountain area, which had been p a r t i a l l y exp l o r e d t h e y e a r b e f o r e by t h e U.S.D.A.
The second r e a s o n
w a s t h a t S o u t h e r n J a p a n w a s r i c h i n broad-leaved e v e r greens.
A f i n a l p o i n t w a s t h a t t h e r e had n o t been any
p l a n t c o l l e c t i n g i n t h a t r e g i o n s i n c e E , H. W i l s o n ' s work
f o r t h e Arnold A r b o r e t u m i n 1914.
1
The e x p l o r e r selected f o r t h i s e x p e d i t i o n w a s J o h n
I,, Creech,
A s a U.S.D.A.
employee, h e had c o l l e c t e d i n
r e g i o n s of t h i s c o u n t r y t h e y e a r b e f o r e . 2
B e c a u s e of h i s
knowledge of p l a n t e x p l o r a t i o n , of o r n a m e n t a l h o r t i c u l -
t u r e , and of p a r t s of J a p a n , h e w a s c l e a r l y t h e l o g i c a l
choice,
According t o Creech, t h e r e w e r e f i v e major
regions--the
Y a t s u g a t a k e Mountains, S o u t h Shikoku, K i i
P e n i n s u l a , t h e i s l a n d s or" Yakushima a n d Tanegashima, and
t h e S a t s u m a peninsula--where
w a s t o be c a r r i e d o u t .
t h e b u l k of t h e c o l l e c t i n g
The t r i p w a s t o c o n c l u d e w i t h
v i s i t s t o t h e major chrysanthemum e x h i b i t i o n s and c e r t a i n
horticultural institutions. 3
F r o m t h i s f i r s t e x p l o r a t i o n 668 p l a n t s w e r e i n t r o duced, h a l f beir,g from t h e wild.
All w e r e shipped as c u t -
35
t i n g s o r as s e e d .
H o l l i e s , rhododendrons, and o t h e r broad-
l e a v e d e v e r g r e e n s w e r e i n c l u d e d as w e l l as a c o l l e c t i o n of
219 chrysanthemum c u l t i v a r s .
Western Europe
-
4
1957
I n s e l e c t i n g t h e r e g i o n f o r t h e second e x p l o r a t i o n ,
a c o m p l e t e l y d i f f e r e n t approach w a s t a k e n .
According t o
F r e d r i c k G. Meyer, Western Europe and p a r t s of E n g l a n d
w e r e s e l e c t e d " t o o b t a i n ornamental p l a n t s f o r i n t r o d u c t i o n ,
h e r e t o f o r e n o t i n g e n e r a l c u l t i v a t i o n i n t h e U.S.
This
s e c t i o n o f Europe c o n t a i n e d comprehensive p l a n t c o l l e c t i o n s ,
r e s u l t i n g f r o m p a s t e v a l u a t i o n and b r e e d i n g progams and
numerous p l a n t e x p l o r a t i o n s completed o v e r t h e l a s t two
centuries.
T h e r e f o r e , t h e main p u r p o s e of t h i s e x p l o r a t i o n
w a s t o i n t r o d u c e c u l t i v a r s n o t grown i n t h e U n i t e d S t a t e s . 6
On t h e basis of R u s s e l l J. S e i b e r t ' s recommendat i o n , Meyer, a n employee o f t h e M i s s o u r i B o t a n i c Garden,
w a s h i r e d by t h e U.S.D.A.
expedition-
a s t h e e x p l o r e r f o r t h e European
H i s knowledge o f c u l t i v a t e d o r n a m e n t a l s
coupled w i t h h i s p r e v i o u s t r a v e l i n Europe and h i s f a m i l -
i a r i t y w i t h t h e i n s t i t u t i o n s and t h e i r personnel w e r e t h e
necessary c r e d e n t i a l s f o r t h e t r i p . 7
36
During t h i s e x p l o r a t i o n , which lasted from March t o
November of 1957, Meyer surveyed o v e r e i g h t y b o t a n i c g a r d e n s , a r b o r e t a , n u r s e r i e s , p r i v a t e estates, a n d a g r i c u l -
t u r a l stations.
S i x countries--Scotland,
P o r t u g a l , I t a l y , and Spain--were
visited,
England, F r a n c e ,
Over 2,800 p l a n t
i n t r o d u c t i o n s r e s u l t e d from t h i s t r i p : t h e m a j o r i t y of
them w e r e new c u l t i v a r s o r s p e c i e s n o t a v a i l a b l e i n t h e
United States.
8
S o u t h e r n B r a z i l and A r g e n t i n a
-
1958
The t h i r d e x p e d i t i o n c e n t e r e d on t h e s u b - t r o p i c a l
r e g i o n s o f S o u t h e r n B r a z i l and A r g e n t i n a .
The p u r p o s e of
t h i s e x p l o r a t i o n w a s t o c o l l e c t flowering s u b - t r o p i c a l
p l a n t s t h a t showed promise f o r o u t d o o r u s e i n F l o r i d a and
S o u t h e r n C a l i f o r n i a and f o r c o n s e r v a t o r y u s e . 9
An e f f o r t
w a s made t o s e l e c t p l a n t s from t h e w i l d i n areas o f h i g h
altitude,
I t w a s e x p e c t e d t h e s e p l a n t s would have a re-
s i s t a n c e t o c o o l e r temperatures.
Other c o l l e c t i o n s w e r e
s e c u r e d f r o m p r i v a t e , governmental, and o t h e r s o u r c e s . 1 0
Llewelyn W i l l i a m s w a s t h e p l a n t c o l l e c t o r selected
for t h i s southern expedition.
H e w a s chosen because h e w a s
a b o t a n i s t employed by t h e U.S.D.A.,
and w e l l versed i n
37
t r o p i c a l A m e r i c a n f l o r a . 11
This mission,
from March t o May of 1958, e x p l o r e d
t h e B r a z i l i a n s t a t e s of S8o P a u l o , P a r a\ n a , S a n t a G a r t i n a ,
and R i o d e l S u l and a d j a c e n t areas i n Argentina.-
There
w e r e 1 , 1 0 0 i n t r o d u c t i o n s , of which one-half w e r e s e e d . 1 2
Australia
-
1958-1959
The n e x t e x p l o r a t i o n c e n t e r e d on t h e "down-under
continent,
"
A u s t r a l i a and i t s u n u s u a l endemic f l o r a .
goal o f t h i s e x p e d i t i o n was two-fold:
The
t o collect native
s p e c i e s from t h e w i l d ; and, t o c o l l e c t c u l t i v a r s a n d
h y b r i d s from commercial s o u r c e s . l3 I t w a s e x p e c t e d t h e s e
p l a n t s c o u l d be used i n c o n s e r v a t o r y s i t u a t i o n s and be of
v a l u e i n t h e s o u t h w e s t e r n r e g i o n s of t h e U n i t e d S t a t e s , 1 4
The s e l e c t i o n of t h e e x p l o r e r f o r t h i s e x p e d i t i o n
produced t h e f i r s t c o n f r o n t a t i o n o f t h i s j o i n t program.
B r i e f l y , t h e civil s e r v i c e r e g u l a t i o n s g o v e r n i n g U,S.D,A.
employees r e q u i r e d a d o c t o r a l degree f o r p l a n t e x p l o r e r s
t r a v e l i n g abroad.
The e x p l o r e r s u g g e s t e d by Longwood,
George H. S p a l d i n g , t h e s u p e r i n t e n d e n t o f L o s Angeles
s t a t e and County A r b o r e t u m , d i d n o t m e e t t h i s r e q u i r e m e n t ;
though h e w a s w e l l - q u a l i f i e d
f o r such a n u n d e r t a k i n g
38
t h r o u g h h i s knowledge o f t h e A u s t r a l i a n f l o r a .
Seibert was
convinced o f S p a l d i n g ' s c a p a b i l i t i e s and e v e n t u a l l y t h e
m a t t e r w a s s e t t l e d t o t h e s a t i s f a c t i o n of both p a r t i e s .
15
Walter H, Hodge o f Longwood accompanied S p a l d i n g f o r t h e
first six weeks.
B e c a u s e of A u s t r a l i a ' s immense s i z e , t h e e x p l o r a t i o n w a s c o n c e n t r a t e d on s p e c i f i c areas of W e s t A u s t r a l i a ,
South A u s t r a l i a , V i c t o r i a , t h e A u s t r a l i a n C a p i t a l T e r r i t o r y ,
New South Wales, Q u e e n s l a n d , and B r i s b a n e which w e r e ex-
p e c t e d t o y i e l d t h e most w o r t h w h i l e material.
From Septem-
ber 1958 t o F e b r u a r y 1959, o v e r 400 i n t r o d u c t i o n s w e r e
s h i p p e d , p r a c t i c a l l y a l l from w i l d s o u r c e s and c o l l e c t e d
a s s e e d . 16
N o r t h e r n Europe
-
1959
N o r t h e r n Europe, i n c l u d i n g England, F r a n c e , Belgium,
Germany, and t h e N e t h e r l a n d s , w a s s e l e c t e d a s t h e area f o r
t h e 1959 e x p l o r a t i o n .
T h i s t r i p had t h e same o b j e c t i v e s as
t h e S o u t h e r n Europe e x p e d i t i o n o f 1957: t o c o l l e c t s p e c i e s ,
c u l t i v a r s , a n d h y b r i d s of p l a n t s n o t b e i n g grown i n t h e
U n i t e d States.
High p r i o r i t y w a s g i v e n t o c o n i f e r s and
broad-leaved e v e r g r e e n s , p a r t i c u l a r l y d w a r f and e l i t e
39
s e l e c t i o n s . 17
Meyer w a s s e l e c t e d as e x p l o r e r f o r t h i s J u l y - t o -
November e x p e d i t i o n .
With h i s knowledge of o r n a m e n t a l
p l a n t s and h i s p r e v i o u s t r a v e l s i n Europe, Meyer w a s now a
s e a s o n e d p l a n t c o l l e c t o r . 18
As i n 1957, m o s t of Meyer's c o l l e c t i n g w a s c a r r i e d
o u t i n n u r s e r i e s , b o t a n i c gardens, a r b o r e t a , p r i v a t e
e s t a t e s , and e x p e r i m e n t s t a t i o n s .
A new method of c o l l e c t -
i n g w a s used which i n s u r e d a h i g h e r r e t u r n of v i a b l e p l a n t
materials.
P l a n t s w e r e selected by Meyer, c u t t i n g s t a k e n
and t h e n rooted by a u t h o r i z e d n u r s e r i e s . 1 9
The m a j o r i t y
o f t h e c o l l e c t i o n s w e r e r e c e i v e d i n t h e U n i t e d States a s
complete p l a n t s .
institutions,
Over 1 , 2 0 0 p l a n t s w e r e c o l l e c t e d from 45
Unique c o n i f e r s c o n s t i t u t e d t h e b u l k of t h e
.
c o l l e c t i o n 20
N o r t h e r n Japan
-
1961
The s i x t h e x p e d i t i o n o f t h e U.S.D.A.
E x p l o r a t i o n Program t r a v e l e d t o Japan.
-Longwood P l a n t
The colder c l i m a t i c
r e g i o n s o f N o r t h e r n J a p a n , c o n t a i n i n g broad-leaved e v e r g r e e n s , w e r e selected f o r e x p l o r a t i o n .
S i n c e t h e 1956 t r i p
w a s b a s i c a l l y p l a n n e d for t h e c o l l e c t i o n of p l a n t s new t o
40
United S t a t e s h o r t i c u l t u r e , t h i s e x p e d i t i o n w a s formed w i t h
t h e c o l l e c t i n g o b j e c t i v e s of i n t r o d u c i n g a broad range of
germ plasm f o r u s e i n ornamental b r e e d i n g programs,
The
i n t r o d u c e d s t o c k w a s expected t o c o n t r i b u t e t r a i t s t h a t
would improve t h e h a r d i n e s s , h a b i t , and f l o w e r s i z e and
c o l o r i n broad-leaved
evergreens.
21
Creech w a s a g a i n chosen a s t h e e x p l o r e r f o r t h i s
expedition,
U,S,D,A.
H i s c o l l e c t i n g e x p e r i e n c e in Japan on t h e 1955
t r i p and t h e 1956 U.S.D.A,-Longwood
t r i p and h i s
broad i n t e r e s t i n t h i s c o u n t r y made him t h e n a t u r a l c h o i c e .
During t h i s four-month e x p l o r a t i o n , A p r i l t o J u l y ,
Creech c o l l e c t e d i n f o u r a r e a s , Kyushu, Honshu,
s i d e ) , Honshu ( n o r t h e r n t i p ) , and Hokkaido,
(Pacific
A t o t a i of 347
i n t r o d u c t i o n s r e s u l t e d d i r e c t l y from t h e t r i p , and a r r a n g e -
m e n t s w e r e made t o c o l l e c t and send r i p e seed from s p e c i f i c
localities later,
The m i s s i o n ' s major accomplishments were
c o l l e c t i o n s of n a t i v e a z a l e a s , c a m e l l i a s , h o l l i e s , and dayl i l i e s , a l l w i t h p o t e n t i a l f o r u s e i n b r e e d i n g programs. 2 2
L i t t l e of t h i s m a t e r i a l was a v a i l a b l e f o r g e n e r a l d i s t r i b u -
t i o n , most b e i n g d i s p e r s e d t o b r e e d e r s , 23
A n important
group of c u l t i v a t e d p l a n t s o b t a i n e d was a c o l l e c t i o n of
41
"Hirado" a z a l e a s , famous f o r t h e i r l a r g e showy f l o w e r s
Nepal
-
24
I
1962
The s e v e n t h e x p e d i t i o n of t h e program c e n t e r e d on
t h e s m a l l kingdom of Nepal.
Nepal had n o t been t h o r o u g h l y
e x p l o r e d by a plantsman s i n c e Joseph D. Hooker's t r a v e l s of
1858 and though it had o f t e n been c l o s e d t o f o r e i g n t r a v e l ,
t h e b o r d e r s had r e c e n t l y been opened, making such a n exp e d i t i o n p o s s i b l e 25
While Nepal l i e s on t h e same l a t i t u d e
a s F l o r i d a , t h e a l t i t u d e of t h e Himalayas h a s l e d t o a
f l o r a c o n t a i n i n g a broad r a n g e of t e m p e r a t e zone p l a n t s .
26
There a r e f l o r i s t i c s i m i l a r i t i e s between t h i s r e g i o n and
I n n e r Mongolia and Northern China, where p l a n t e x p l o r a t i o n
w a s impossible.
The g o a l of t h i s t r i p was t h e c o l l e c t i o n
o f p l a n t m a t e r i a l i n t h e w i l d t h a t could be i n t r o d u c e d
d i r e c t l y t o United S t a t e s h o r t i c u l t u r e o r i n d i r e c t l y ,
t h r o u g h b r e e d i n g programs
27
.
)
A new approach, u s i n g two e x p l o r e r s , was used f o r
t h i s exploration.
Because of t h e l a c k of t i m e and t h e poor
means of t r a n s p o r t a t i o n a v a i l a b l e ,
it w a s f e l t t h a t t h i s
method would e x p e d i t e c o l l e c t i n g .
Creech, an e x p e r i e n c e d
and q u a l i f i e d e x p l o r e r , and F r a n c i s deVos, a s s i s t a n t d i r e c -
42
t o r of t h e U n i t e d S t a t e s N a t i o n a l A r b o r e t u m , w e r e s e l e c t e d
for t h i s t r i p ,
S i n c e most o f t h e t r a v e l w a s done on f o o t ,
t h e e x p l o r e r s w e r e accompanied by a government o f f i c i a l ,
two S h e r p a s , and f i f t e e n p o r t e r s .
28
The t w o e x p l o r e r s made f o u r major c o l l e c t i n g f o r -
ays, a l l i n t h e w e s t e r n p a r t of Nepal.
The areas t h e y ex-
p l o r e d w e r e i n t h e f o o t h i l l s of t h e Annapurna Range, a l o n g
t h e K a l i Gandaki and Mardi Khola r i v e r s and i n t h e h i l l
c o u n t r y n e a r Kathmandu. 29
200 i n t r o d u c t i o n s .
The e x p e d i t i o n produced over
Among t h e i n t r o d u c t i o n s c o n s i d e r e d p a r -
t i c u l a r l y i m p o r t a n t w e r e s e e d s from a p o t e n t i a l l y h a r d y
Magnolia c a m p b e l l i i , a c o l l e c t i o n o f o r c h i d s i n c l u d i n g
s e v e r a l of t h e genus P l e i o n e , and a specimen o f t h e
winter-flowering
Russia
-
c h e r r y , Prunus c e r a s o i d e s . 30
1963
R u s s i a w a s t h e n e x t h u n t i n g ground s e l e c t e d f o r
p l a n t exploration.
The t r i p w a s s a n c t i o n e d by t h e
C u l t u r a l Exchange Program agreed upon by b o t h c o u n t r i e s . 3 1
T h i s a p p r o a c h , however, w a s less t h a n s a t i s f a c t o r y t o t h e
p u r p o s e s o f t h e program; t h e e x p l o r e r s w e r e c o n s i d e r e d
exchange d e l e g a t e s whose m i s s i o n w a s t o exchange h o r t i c u l -
43
t u r a l information w i t h t h e Russian s c i e n t i s t s .
The
R u s s i a n M i n i s t r y o f A g r i c u l t u r e d e c r e e d t h e r e would be n o
v i s i t s t o t h e c o l l e c t i v e f a r m s b u t d i d allow s o m e collecting i n t h e wild,
The exchange agreement w a s t h a t two
United S t a t e s e x p l o r e r s w e r e t o v i s i t R u s s i a f o r f o r t y -
f i v e d a y s and t h r e e R u s s i a n s w e r e g u e s t s of t h e United
Stated government f o r t h i r t y days.
T h i s allowed a t o t a l
o f n i n e t y d a y s f o r each t e a m , 32
T h i s e x p e d i t i o n a l s o employed two e x p l o r e r s ,
Creech o f t h e U.S.D.A,'s
New Crops Research Branch, and
Donald H. S c o t t from t h e S m a l l F r u i t and Grape I n v e s t i g a t i o n Branch.
Creech w a s a g a i n chosen because of h i s ex-
p l o r a t i o n e x p e r i e n c e and background i n o r n a m e n t a l s ; S c o t t ,
funded by t h e U.S.D.A.,
w a s t o make c o l l e c t i o n s of t h e
s m a l l f r u i t s developed by t h e R u s s i a n s . 33
Since t h i s w a s t h e f i r s t United States p l a n t
c o l l e c t i n g e x p e d i t i o n behind t h e I r o n C u r t a i n t h e r e w e r e ,
a s w o u l d be e x p e c t e d , problems,
T i m e w a s s h o r t , and t h e
i n f l e x i b l e s c h e d u l e drawn up by t h e R u s s i a n s o f t e n wasted
time.
C o l l e c t i n g i n t h e w i l d o r from g a r d e n s w a s l i m i t e d ,
a l t h o u g h , a c c o r d i n g t o Creech, enough w a s c o l l e c t e d " t o
44
j u s t i f y o u r e f f o r t . 34
11
Only 140 i n t r o d u c t i o n s w e r e brought back by t h e
e x p l o r e r s , a l t h o u g h many p l a n t s were marked f o r l a t e r
shipment pending Russian a p p r o v a l ,
later received,
Numerous p l a n t s were
A number of f r u i t s w i t h presumed d r o u g h t
t o l e r a n c e and h a r d i n e s s were c o l l e c t e d .
O f immediate
ornamental i n t e r e s t was a creamed-colored h y b r i d Canna,
' M o o n l i g h t ' and t h e rare Russian l o t u s Nelumbo caspicum.
C o l l e c t i o n s of C r a t a e g u s m i c r o p h y l l a and Acer s t e v e n i i ,
p r e v i o u s l y n o t i n c u l t i v a t i o n i n t h e United S t a t e s were
a l s o introduced,
35
Sikkim ( W e s t Bengal)
-
1965
The Himalayan r a n g e i n Sikkim w a s t h e n e x t r e g i o n
selected f o r plant exploration.
r i v a l i n Darjeeling,
U n f o r t u n a t e l y , upon a r -
I n d i a , permission f o r p l a n t c o l l e c t -
i n g i n e i t h e r Sikkim o r Nepal was d e n i e d : t h e r e f o r e , t h i s
e x p l o r a t i o n c e n t e r e d on t h e s t a t e of W e s t Bengal. 36
The
o r i g i n a l purpose of t h e Sikkim e x p e d i t i o n , a s e q u e l t o t h e
1962 Nepal t r i p , was t o e x p l o r e t h e more humid r e g i o n s of
t h e Himalayas.
The e x p l o r e r s expected t o p l a c e emphasis
on rhododendrons and r a r e s p e c i e s of I l e x , Rosa, P r u n u s ,
45
and Maqnolia known t o grow t h e r e ,
F. deVos and Edward G.
37
Corbett, the explorers
s e l e c t e d for t h e e x p e d i t i o n , were b o t h employees of t h e
U.S.D.A.;
deVos w a s t h e a s s i s t a n t d i r e c t o r o f t h e N a t i o n a l
Arboretum and C o r b e t t a r e s e a r c h h o r t i c u l t u r i s t a t t h e
G l e n n D a l e Research S t a t i o n .
38
Although t h e Sikkim e x p l o r a t i o n had been t h w a r t e d ,
W e s t Bengal proved t o be a p r o d u c t i v e r e g i o n f o r c o l l e c t -
ing.
The r e t u r n s from t h i s A p r i l - t o - J u n e
195 i n t r o d u c t i o n s ,
e x p l o r a t i o n were
136 of them c o l l e c t e d a s seed.
Seed
from 1 3 s p e c i e s of Rhododendron were c o l l e c t e d a l o n g w i t h
such p l a n t s a s Enkianthus h i m a l a i c u s , Buddleia c o l v i l l e i ,
and A r i s a e m a Hookeri.
South Korea
-
39
1966
The t e n t h e x p e d i t i o n a g a i n s e l e c t e d a remote
r e g i o n of t h e w o r l d , South Korea, f o r p l a n t e x p l o r a t i o n .
T h i s c o u n t r y had n o t been e x p l o r e d s i n c e t h e 1930s.
Korea
n o t o n l y h a s a c l i m a t e comparable t o t h a t of t h e E a s t e r n
United S t a t e s b u t also c o n t a i n s many s p e c i e s t h a t a r e
a l l i e d w i t h t h o s e growing there, 40
P l a n t s from t h e genera
LiPium, S y r i n q a , Rhododendron, and Q u e r c u s were of primary
46
i n t e r e s t f o r collecting.
Besides t h e p e n i n s u l a of Korea,
t h e Korean i s l a n d s of Ullung-do and Cheju-do w e r e a l s o
p l a c e d on t h e i t i n e r a r y , 4 1
S e l e c t e d as e x p l o r e r s f o r t h e w i l d s o f Korea w e r e
R i c h a r d W.
L i g h t y and C o r b e t t .
L i g h t y , a g e n e t i c i s t and
e x p e r t on t h e genus L i l i u m , w a s t h e f i r s t Longwood
employee t o p a r t i c i p a t e i n a complete e x p l o r a t i o n . 42
C o r b e t t , a h o r t i c u l t u r i s t a t t h e Glenn D a l e Research S t a t i o n , had j u s t r e t u r n e d t h e year b e f o r e from c o l l e c t i n g i n
W e s t Bengal, 43
T h i s t e a m w a s a s s i s t e d by P r o f e s s o r Tchang
Bok L e e o f t h e S e o u l N a t i o n a l U n i v e r s i t y C o l l e g e of Agri-
culture.
44
The r e t u r n s from t h i s e x p l o r a t i o n w e r e more t h a n
400 p l a n t i n t r o d u c t i o n s .
P l a n t s of s p e c i f i c m e r i t w e r e a
p r o s t r a t e s p e c i e s o f C a r y o p t e r i s which had p o t e n t i a l as a
sun groundcover, a w h i t e form of Rhododendron mucronulatum,
and L i l i u m h a n s o n i i , a p l a n t i n t r o d u c e d t o t h e U n i t e d
S t a t e s o n l y once b e f o r e . 45
This c o l l e c t i o n provided a
number o f new and i n t e r e s t i n g p l a n t s f o r A m e r i c a n h o r t i -
culture.
47
Taiwan
-
1967-1968
Taiwan, s e l e c t e d as t h e e l e v e n t h r e g i o n f o r p l a n t
c o l l e c t i n g , had n o t been e x p l o r e d o r n a m e n t a l l y s i n c e E. H.
The i s l a n d was known t o have a
W i l s o n ' s t r i p i n 1918.
r i c h f l o r a , c o n t a i n i n g endemic p l a n t s a s w e l l as s p e c i e s
common t o mainland China a n d Japan. 46
November-to-January
The g o a l s o f t h i s
t r i p w e r e t o i n t r o d u c e p l a n t s new t o
U n i t e d S t a t e s h o r t i c u l t u r e and t o c o l l e c t p l a n t s t h a t
would i n c r e a s e t h e p o o l o f p l a n t germ plasm.
This w a s t o
be accomplished by c o l l e c t i n g such materials a s f l o w e r i n g
c h e r r i e s , camellias, a z a l e a s , h o l l i e s , n e e d l e d e v e r g r e e n s ,
and h e r b a c e o u s p l a n t s .
47
Creech, s e l e c t e d because o f h i s knowledge o f t h e
p l a n t material, w a s now on h i s f i f t h e x p e d i t i o n o f t h i s
program.
Two t a x o n o m i s t s from t h e T a i w a n N a t i o n a l Univer-
s i t y , C. H s u and T. Huang, and a f u l l - t i m e J a p a n e s e - t r a i n ed p l a n t c o l l e c t o r , M.
f i e l d t r i p s . 48
Koa, accompanied Creech on h i s
The major areas of c o l l e c t i n g w e r e c e n t e r -
ed i n t h e r e g i o n s of Mount Morrison, W u - l a i ,
Kna Kow,
Mount Hohuan, Mount Tungpinghan, Sun-moon Lake, and
Cha i k a i
.49
Approximately 150 c o l l e c t i o n s w e r e made, p r i m a r i l y
o f broad-leaved e v e r g r e e n s and c o n i f e r s .
Significant
c o l l e c t i o n s o f Rhododendron, P i e r i s , J u n i p e r u s , and
Euonymus w e r e p r o c u r e d ,
Of p a r t i c u l a r i n t e r e s t w e r e t h e
seeds and p l a n t s o f t h e rare Taiwania c r y p t o m e r i o i d e s and
a c o l l e c t i o n of Camptotheca a c u m i n a t a (Nyssaceae) i n t r o d u c ed f o r a cancer r e s e a r c h program. 50
New G u i n e a
-1970
The w o r l d ' s second l a r g e s t i s l a n d , New G u i n e a , w a s
s e l e c t e d f o r t h e t w e l f t h e x p l o r a t i o n o f t h e series,
The
p r i m a r y r e a s o n f o r s e l e c t i n g t h i s area w a s t h a t it h a s
b e e n , from t h e s t a n d p o i n t of o r n a m e n t a l s , one o f t h e m o s t
n e g l e c t e d r e g i o n s o f t h e world.
Much o f t h e area w a s un-
known t o t h e W e s t u n t i l a f t e r World W a r 11, 51
The m i s s i o n
o f t h i s e x p l o r a t i o n w a s t o i n t r o d u c e germ plasm from t h e
w i l d and t o c o l l z c t c u l t i v a t e d ornamental p l a n t s .
Spe-
c i f i c a l l y , a c o l l e c t i o n o f Rhododendron s p e c i e s w a s s o u g h t
f o r breeding purposes.
Emphasis w a s a l s o p l a c e d on f o l i -
age p l a n t s , h e r b a c e o u s - f l o w e r i n g p l a n t s , s h r u b s and v i n e s ,
and f r u i t s and v e g e t a b l e s . 5 2
Harold F. W i n t e r s w a s selected a s t h e leader of
49
W i n t e r s , a h o r t i c u l t u r i s t a t t h e New
t h i s expedition,
Crops R e s e a r c h Branch, B e l t s v i l l e , Maryland, w a s knowle d g e a b l e i n t r o p i c a l b o t a n y and h o r t i c u l t u r e from p r e v i o u s
experience i n t h e t r o p i c s .
J o s e p h J. Higgens, a p l a n t
physiologist f o r the U.S.D.A.,
w a s t o accompany W i n t e r s .
53
These e x p l o r e r s a l s o r e c e i v e d a s s i s t a n c e t h r o u g h a working
r e l a t i o n s h i p w i t h t h e D i v i s i o n of Botany, Department of
F o r e s t s i n Lae. 54
B e s i d e s t h e t e n weeks s p e n t i n New G u i n e a , t h i s
January-to-April
expedition stopped b r i e f l y a t H a w a i i , t h e
P h i l i p p i n e s , I n d o n e s i a , New C a l e d o n i a , J a v a , and A u s t r a lia.
55
The t o t a l c o l l e c t i o n from t h i s e x p l o r a t i o n ex-
ceeded 850 p l a n t s .
The g o a l f o r rhododendron c o l l e c t i o n s
w a s w e l l served by t h e 137 rhododendrons i n t r o d u c e d .
C o l l e c t i o n s o f a r o i d s , f e r n s , g e s n e r i a d s , g i n g e r s , hoyas,
and i m p a t i e n s w e r e also made.
''
The l a s t genus, I m p a t i e n s ,
proved t o be t h e most immediately v a l u a b l e of t h e g r o u p s
b r o u g h t back. 57
Russia
-
1971
The f i n a l e x p l o r a t i o n of t h e U.S.D,A.-Longwood
P l a n t E x p l o r a t i o n Program journeyed a g a i n t o R u s s i a .
As
50
a r e s u l t of t h e U n i t e d States-U.S.S.R.
s c i e n t i f i c exchange
f o r 1970, Creech w a s a l l o w e d t o accompany t h e S o v i e t s i n a
S i b e r i a n p l a n t c o l l e c t i n g e x p l o r a t i o n . 58
The emghasis f o r
t h e c o l l e c t i n g w a s on p l a n t s p o t e n t i a l l y u s e f u l i n s t a b i l i z i n g e r o d e d areas, on s p e c i e s of U l m u s w i t h a p o t e n t i a l
r e s i s t a n c e t o t h e Dutch E l m Disease, on s p e c i e s of M a l u s
and P y r u s f o r p o s s i b l e s t r e e t tree u s e and on a c o l l e c t i o n
of germ p l a s m f o r t h e p u r p o s e o f b r e e d i n g woody o r n a m e n t a l
p l a n t s r e s i s t a n t t o disease, c o l d , d r o u g h t , and p o l l u tion.
59
Creech, s t i l l an employee of t h e U.S.D.A.,
was
chosen as t h e e x p l o r e r f o r t h i s t h i r t e e n t h e x p l o r a t i o n ,
h i s s i x t h f o r t h e U.S.D.A.-Longwood
P l a n t Exploration
Program.
B e s i d e s c o l l e c t i n g i n r e g i o n s of S i b e r i a , Creech
a l s o v i s i t e d t h e Main B o t a n i c Garden of t h e Academy of
S c i e n c e s , t h e U n i v e r s i t y o f Moscow B o t a n i c Gardens , t h e
S h r e d e r B o t a n i c Gardens, t h e N i k i l s k y B o t a n i c Gardens,
and o t h e r s , 6o
T h i s June-to-August
plant introductions,
t r i p produced o v e r 210
Among them w e r e c o l l e c t i o n s of l i l i e s ,
rhododendrons, j u n i p e r s , and b i r c h e s . 6 1
CHAPTER I V
RESULTS OF THE PROGRAM
The sum o f t h e r e s u l t s of t h i s program cannot
p r e s e n t l y be evaluated:
it w i l l t a k e many y e a r s b e f o r e t h e
f i n a l achievements o f t h i s program w i l l be a p p a r e n t .
Pyrus
c a l l e r y a n a ' B r a d f o r d ' , a 1919 i n t r o d u c t i o n , i s a c a s e i n
point.
T h i s p l a n t w a s i n t r o d u c e d as s e e d from China f o r
f i r e b l i g h t resistance and r o o t s t o c k s t u d i e s ,
One vigor-
ous s e e d l i n g was observed arid s e l e c t e d a s having p o t e n t i a l ,
B u t it w a s n o t u n t i l 1960 t h a t i t was named a n d i n t r o d u c e d
by t h e Crops Research D i v i s i o n , A g r i c u l t u r a l Research Serv-
ice.
Only r e c e n t l y h a s it been a c c e p t e d a s a v a l u a b l e
street tree and made w i d e l y a v a i l a b l e .
Thus, f i f t y y e a r s
were r e q u i r e d t o r e a l i z e t h e p o t e n t i a l of t h i s t r e e , 1
O n e of t h e o r i g i n a l p u r p o s e s of t h e program was t o
i n t r o d u c e p l a n t s new t o American h o r t i c u l t u r e , 2
The fol-
lowing a r e a few examples of i n t r o d u c e d p l a n t s t h a t have
become commercially a v a i l a b l e from t h e U.S,D,A.
51
-Longwood
52
Ornamental P l a n t E x p l o r a t i o n Program.
The most i m p o r t a n t r e c e n t r e t u r n s from t h e program
a r e t h e 27 h y b r i d I m p a t i e n s .
Both t h e U.S.D.A.
and Long-
wood a r e c o n d u c t i n g b r e e d i n g programs w i t h t h e o r i g i n a l
c o l l e c t i o n from t h e New Guinea e x p l o r a t i o n and have t o d a t e
r e l e a s e d t h e s e p l a n t s t o commercial growers. 3
John L. Creech i n t r o d u c e d a c o l l e c t i o n of Chrysanthemum h y b r i d s from h i s 1956 J a p a n e s e e x p l o r a t i o n .
Al-
though a number o f t h e s e p l a n t s w e r e grown commercially,
one,
'White S p i d e r Tokyo', h a s g r o s s e d o v e r one m i l l i o n
d o l l a r s i n t h e f l o r i s t trade. 4
A g r o u p of t h i r t y - t h r e e
named Coleus c u l t i v a r s i n -
t r o d u c e d from Europe by F r e d r i c k G , Meyer w a s r e p o r t e d as
o f c o n s i d e r a b l e v a l u e t o t h e f l o r i s t and bedding t r a d e . 5
Another c o l l e c t i o n from Europe i n c l u d e s C o t o n e a s t e r
dammeri 'Shogsholmen' and C o t o n e a s t e r X w a t e r e r i
' H e r b s t f e u e r ' b o t h s p r e a d i n g e v e r g r e e n groundcovers t h a t
have been s u c c e s s f u l l y i n t r o d u c e d i n t h e n u r s e r y trade. 6
Creech r e p o r t e d t h a t E u r y a e m a r g i n a t a v a r ,
m i c r o p h y l l a from h i s 1956 J a p a n e s e e x p l o r a t i o n i s b e i n g
53
grown by n u r s e r i e s i n t h e s o u t h e r n U n i t e d S t a t e s ,
7
J u n i p e r u s c o n f e r t a ' E m e r a l d Sea' w a s c o l l e c t e d i n
This s a l t -
1967 and released f o r c u l t i v a t i o n i n 1 9 7 2 ,
t o l e r a n t p l a n t i s o f v a l u e f o r s t a b - i l i z i n g c o a s t a l and i n l a n d areas. 8
A p l a n t c o l l e c t e d a s seed i n Nepal i n 1962 w a s
l a t e r r e l e a s e d a f t e r t e s t i n g , by t h e U,S.D.A.
C o t o n e a s t e r m i c r o p h y l l a 'Emerald S p r a y ' .
as
I t is noted f o r
i t s r e s i s t a n c e tQf i r e b l i g h t a n d unique a r c h i n g h a b i t . 9
One p l a n t w a s g i v e n a c u l t i v a r name i n r e c o g n i t i o n
o f t h e s u p p o r t of Longwood Gardens,
The h a r d y , v i g o r o u s
groundcover Euonymus f o r t u n e i 'Longwood' w a s c o l l e c t e d by
Creech i n J a p a n i n 1 9 6 1 and r e l e a s e d i n 1965, 1 0
Although a number of t h e s e p l a n t s w e r e i n t r o d u c e d
d i r e c t 1 . y a f t e r e v a l u a t i o n , o t h e r s w e r e used f o r b r e e d i n g
p u r p o s e s , r e s i l l t i n g i n a n i n d i r e c t i n f l u e n c e on t h e f i e l d .
I t w o u l d be d i f f i c u l t a t best t o document t h e numerous
b r e e d i n g programs c a r r i e d o u t by i n s t i t u t i o n s o t h e r t h a n
Longwood and t h e U.S,D.A.
e x p l o r a t i o n program.
t h a t have used p l a n t s from t h i s
I t can be surmised t h a t t h e s e p l a n t s
54
have had importance i n o t h e r b r e e d i n g programs because
many p l a n t s were i n t r o d u c e d t h a t r e p r e s e n t e d major h o r t i c u l t u r a l groups,
The U,S,D,A.-Longwood
P l a n t E x p l o r a t i o n Program
has c l e a r l y had a n impact on American h o r t i c u l t u r e .
From
t h e numerous a r e a s of t h e world e x p l o r e d , o v e r 10,000
p l a n t s have been i n t r o d u c e d : some o f t h e s e p l a n t s a r e
a v a i l a b l e t o d a y , o t h e r s a r e b e i n g used i n b r e e d i n g programs, and s t i l l o t h e r s w i l l be a v a i l a b l e i n t h e f u t u r e .
CHAPTER V
SUGGESTIONS
From m y r e s e a r c h ( r e v i e w i n g t h e a v a i l a b l e material
and i n t e r v i e w i n g t h e people i n v o l v e d ) and by a c r i t i c a l
e v a l u a t i o n , w i t h h i n d - s i g h t , of t h e t o t a l program, I have
g a i n e d some i n s i g h t i n t o t h e e s t a b l i s h m e n t and management
of a p l a n t e x p l o r a t i o n program.
I f such a p r o g r a m w e r e
t o be r e - i n s t i t u t e d by Longwood o r a n o t h e r agency, t h e s e
recommendations might be o f v a l u e .
The f o l l o w i n g i n -
f o r m a t i o n w i l l emphasise s o m e of t h e i m p o r t a n t f a c e t s o f
t h e U.S.D,A.-Lonwood
Program and h i g h l i g h t o t h e r a s p e c t s
o f importance.
F i r s t , because o f t h e s t r u c t u r e o f t h e U n i t e d
S t a t e s government, t h e s t r i n g e n t q u a r a n t i n e l a w s , and t h e
r e g u l a t i o n s of f o r e i g n governments, it i s i m p e r a t i v e t h a t
a n y o r g a n i z e d f o r e i g n p l a n t e x p l o r a t i o n program have a l i n k
w i t h t h e f e d e r a l government, p r e f e r a b l y w i t h t h e U.S.D.A.
T h i s bond with t h e U.S.D.A.,
a s u s e d by Longwood, e x p e d i t e s
55
56
governmental n e g o t i a t i o n s , p e r m i t s f o r e i g n t r a v e l and
p l a n t c o l l e c t i n g i n c o u n t r i e s where t r a v e l would o t h e r w i s e
be r e s t r i c t e d , and f a c i l i t a t e s t h e s h i p p i n g and p l a n t
-
quarantine process.
Once t h e n e c e s s a r y a s s o c i a t i o n is a c h i e v e d w i t h
t h e U.S.D.A.,
it i s t h e n e s s e n t i a l , f o r a c o o p e r a t i v e pro-
gram, t o have a w e l l d e f i n e d and c a r e f u l l y thought-out
agreement.
Each agency m u s t know i t s o b l i g a t i o n s and l i m -
i t a t i o n s and t h e program's g o a l s , a l l based on a r e a l i s t i c
a p p r a i s a l of a v a i l a b l e r e s o u r c e s .
T h i s should be s p e l l e d
o u t i n a s p e c i f i c c o n t r a c t t h a t would d e f i n e t h e a b s o l u t e
r e s p o n s i b i l i t i e s of each agency.
A cooperative contract
t h a t is d e t a i l e d enough w i l l o u t l i n e t h e working r e l a t i o n s h i p s between b o t h a g e n c i e s .
A f t e r a w e l l - d e f i n e d program and a d e t a i l e d cont r a c t , r e p r e s e n t a t i v e s from both a g e n c i e s s h o u l d meet f o r m a l l y a t scheduled i n t e r v a l s t o d i s c u s s t h e s e l e c t i o n of
t h e c o u n t r y t o be e x p l o r e d , t h e p l a n t s t o be c o l l e c t e d ,
and t h e e x p l o r e r t o do t h e c o l l e c t i n g .
U.S.D.A,-Longwood
A s with the
Program, t h e r e needs t o be a g o a l o r
s p e c i f i c r e a s o n behind these major d e c i s i o n s .
I n p l a n n i n g a c o n t i n u i n g program, a two-to-four-
year i n t e r v a l between e x p l o r a t i o n s s h o u l d be m a i n t a i n e d .
With a n i n t e r v a l o f t h i s l e n g t h , t h e overcrowding o f t h e
g r e e n h o u s e f a c i l i t i e s w i t h p l a n t material, as happened a t
b o t h a g e n c i e s d u r i n g t h e U,S.D.A.-Longwood
be a v o i d e d ,
Program, would
With t h i r t e e n e x p l o r a t i o n s i n f i f t e e n years,
t h e b a c k l o g g i n g of p l a n t s became a problem.
The U.S.D.A.
s t i l l h a s s e e d s s t o r e d from t h i s program, because t h e y
lacked t h e time and f a c i l i t i e s f o r g e r m i n a t i o n .
Russell
J, S e i b e r t r e a l i z e d t h e problem of overcrowded f a c i l i t i e s ,
and, i n a l e t t e r t o C a r l 0. E r l a n s o n h e s u g g e s t e d t h e
c e s s a t i o n o f a l l t r i p s f o r 1961-1962,
t o a l l o w more t i m e
t o p r o c e s s t h e p r e s e n t material. 1
Another s u g g e s t i o n is t h a t t h e e x p l o r e r s s h o u l d be
h i r e d f o r a period two-to-three
trip.
t i m e s as long as t h e a c t u a l
T h i s extra t i m e w i l l p r o v i d e t h e o p p o r t u n i t y f o r
comprehensive p r e - t r i p p r e p a r a t i o n s and f o r a n extended
period following each e x p l o r a t i o n f o r d e b r i e f i n g ,
Time
s h o u l d be a l l o t t e d a f t e r t h e t r i p s p e c i f i c a l l y f o r t h e
documentation o f t h e e x p l o r a t i o n and of t h e p l a n t c o l l e c tion,
The m a t e r i a l from f i v e e a r l y e x p l o r a t i o n s p r e v i o u s l y
p u b l i s h e d by t h e A g r i c u l t u r a l Research Service can b2
c i t e d as v a l u a b l e documentary works.
S i n c e most of t h e
e x p l o r e r s under t h i s program w e r e U.S.D.A.
employees, t h e y
were allowed some t i m e f o r p r e - t r i p and p o s t - t r i p work.
The most i m p o r t a n t element of t h e program i s t h e
plant collecting.
Emphasis should be p l a c e d on t h e s p e c i f -
i c c o l l e c t i n g g o a l s of t h e t r i p .
The f i r s t e v a l u a t i o n of a
p l a n t s h o u l d be made i n t h e f i e l d , t h e r e b y l i m i t i n g t h e
t o t a l collection.
There should be a s p e c i f i c r e a s o n f o r
t h e c o l l e c t i o n of each p l a n t .
The need t o l i m i t t h e
c o l l e c t i o n s should b e s t r e s s e d t o t h e e x p l o r e r s .
t h e U,S,D.A,-Longwood
Some of
explorers limited collections t o l e s s
t h a n 500 p l a n t s : w h i l e o t h e r s made c o l l e c t i o n s i n t h e thousands,
The c o l l e c t i o n of p l a n t s f o r b r e e d i n g purposes
s h o u l d be s c r u t i n i z e d .
Only p l a n t s €or a s p e c i f i c program,
p r e f e r a b l y one a l r e a d y s t a r t e d o r a w e l l d e f i n e d one t o be
implemented s h o u l d be c o l l e c t e d ; p l a n t s should n o t be c o l l e c t e d f o r p o s s i b l e f u t u r e b r e e d i n g programs,
Besides t h e
problems a s s o c i a t e d w i t h t h e p r o p a g a t i o n , e v a l u a t i o n , and
d i s t r i b u t i o n , t h a t m u l t i p l y as t h e nunber of p l a n t s i n c r e a s e s , b o t h i n s t i t u t i o n s had t h e problem of i n a d e q u a t e
r e s o u r c e s f o r growing l a r g e numbers of p l a n t s f o r b r e e d i n g
purposes.
If a l a r g e g o l l e c t i o n i s a n t i c i p a t e d , a g r e a t e r
59
l e n g t h of t i m e between e x p l o r a t i o n s w i l l be r e q u i r e d t o
handle t h e material properly.
N o m a t t e r how w e l l a n e x p e d i t i o n i s o r g a n i z e d and
e x e c u t e d , t h e e v a l u a t i o n and d i s t r i b u t i o n o f t h e c o l l e c t i o n
i s most i m p o r t a n t f o r t h e a t t a i n m e n t of t h e p r o g r a m ' s
goal--to
i n t r o d u c e new p l a n t s t o t h e g e n e r a l h o r t i c u l t u r a l
public.
The U,S.D.A,-Longwood
scheme p r o v i d e d a d u a l
e v a l u a t i o n and d i s t r i b u t i o n program.
volvement o f o t h e r a g e n c i e s ,
I suggest t h e i n -
A t h i r d and independent
e v a l u a t i o n s h o u l d be h a n d l e d by a committee of h o r t i c u l t u r i s t s and informed nurserymen,
T h i s group s h o u l d e v a l u a t e
t h e p l a n t s a c c o r d i n g t o a p r e s c r i b e d and c o n t r o l l e d pro-
cedure.
A d d i t i o n a l d i s t r i b u t i o n c o u l d a l s o be handled i n
c o o p e r a t i o n w i t h o u t s i d e a g e n c i e s such a s t h e A m e r i c a n
A s s o c i a t i o n of B o t a n i c Gardens and A r b o r e t a , and t h e
Arnerican N u r s e r y m e n ' s A s s o c i a t i o n ,
One i m p o r t a n t require-
ment of t h i s d i s t r i b u t i o n i s t h a t t h e r e c i p i e n t s - - b o t a n i c
g a r d e n s , a r b o r e t a , a g r i c u l t u r a l s t a t i o n s , n u r s e r i e s , and
other institutions--be
r e q u i r e d t o compile a c c u r a t e r e c o r d s
o f t h e p l a n t ' s performance,
The r e s u l t s from t h e s e e v a l -
60
r
u a t i o n s w i l l h e l p d e t e r m i n e t h e a d a p t a b i l i t y of t h e p l a n t ,
i t s p o t e n t i a l h o r t i c u l t u r a l worth, and t h e d e s i r a b i l i t y of
its release t o t h e general public.
A f t e r t h e program's t e c h n i c a l a s p e c t s are c a r r i e d
o u t , i n c l u d i n g t h e f i n a l e v a l u a t i o n and d i s t r i b u t i o n ,
t h e r e needs t o b e a method t o market t h e p l a n t s .
First, a
program t o p u b l i c i z e t h e e x p l o r a t i o n s and t h e r e t u r n i n g
p l a n t s s h o u l d be implemented.
Next, t h e p r e s e n t h o r t i c u l -
t u r a l market s h o u l d be expanded,
Then, w i t h t h e cooper-
a t i o n of p l a n t s o c i e t i e s , a r b o r e t a , b o t a n i c g a r d e n s , q u a l i f i e d n u r s e r y m e n and f l o r i s t s , t h e product--a
new p l a n t - -
c o u l d be i n t r o d u c e d and made a v a i l a b l e ,
I n a d d i t i o n t o t h i s p r o c e s s , a p e r i o d i c review of
t h e total program i s needed by unbiased s o u r c e s .
They can
gauge t h e e f f e c t i v e n e s s of t h e program, d e t e r m i n e whether
t h e goals a r e b e i n g accomplished, and make f u r t h e r suggestions
While t h e U.S.D,A.-Longwood
Ornamental P l a n t Ex-
p l o r a t i o n Program has r e s u l t e d i n a number of w o r t h w h i l e
p l a n t s and has s t i m u l a t e d American h o r t i c u l t u r e , a c a r e f u l
review of i t s p r o c e d u r e s with t h e view of i n c o r p o r a t i n g
61
*
some o f t h e s u g g e s t i o n s p r e s e n t e d above might i n c r e a s e t h e
e f f i c e n c y a n d r e t u r n s of f u t u r e programs,
FOOTNOTES FOR THE INTRODUCTION
' I n t e r v i e w w i t h John L. C r e e c h , U.S.
A r b o r e t u m , Washington D.C.,
2 2 J u n e 1976.
62
National
?
FOOTNOTES FOR CHAPTER I
Meyer, "A P r o p o s a l f o r t h e I n t e r p r e t a t i o n
,of John B a r t r a m ' s Garden" (Masters t h e s i s , U n i v e r s i t y of
D e l a w a r e , 1977), p. 3 .
'Paul
W.
2Nelson K l o s e , America's Crop H e r i t a q e (Ames:
S t a t e C o l l e g e Press, 1950), p. 3 .
Iowa
3Walter H. Hodge and C a r l 0. E r l a n s o n , " F e d e r a l
P l a n t Introduction--A Review, I' Economic Botany, OctoberDecember 1956, p. 301,
4 K l o s e , A m e r i c a ' s Crop H e r i t a q e , p.
HH 5Hodge and E r l a n s o n ,
A R e v i e w , " p. 301.
43,
"Federal P l a n t Introduction--
61bid.
71bid.,
8
Ibid./
p.
302.
p. 303.
9 1 n t e r v i e w w i t h Harold L. Hyland, A g r i c u l t u r a l
R e s e a r c h C e n t e r , B e l t s v i l l e , Maryland, 27 J a n u a r y 1976,
'OS. B. S u t t o n , The Arnold Arboretum: The F i r s t
C e n t u r y (Boston: N i m r o d Press, 1 9 7 1 ) , p . 18-20.
63
FOOTNOTES FOR CHAPTER I1
'Nelson K l o s e , A m e r i c a ' s C r o p H e r i t a s e (Ames:
I o w a College P r e s s , 1 9 5 @ ) , pp. 120-129.
2B. J. H e a l y , The P l a n t Hunters (New York: C h a r l e s
S c r i b n e r ' s Sons, 1975) , pp. 169-193.
3 1 n t e r v i e w w i t h R u s s e l l J. S e i b e r t , Longwood
G a r d e n s , K e n n e t t S q u a r e , P e n n s y l v a n i a , 2 2 J a n u a r y 1976,
.
'Interview
w i t h S e i b e r t , 30 October 1976
'Interview
w i t h S e i b e r t , 2 2 J a n u a r y 1976.
'
61bid.
Ibid,
*George E. Thompson S r . , A Man and H i s Garden
(Kennett S q u a r e , Pennsylvania: Longwood Gardens, I n c . ,
1 9 7 6 ) , pp. 17-19.
9
Lonqwood Gardens (Kennett Square, Pennsylvania:
Longwood Gardens , I n c , 1976)
.
"Interview
.
w i t h S e i b e r t , 2 2 J a n u a r y 1976.
11
I n t e r v i e w w i t h John L, Creech, U.S.
Arboretum, Washington D.C.,
2 2 J u n e 1976.
National
l2I n t e r v i e w w i t h Seibert, 22 J a n u a r y 1976,
1 3 1 n t e r v i e w w i t h S e i b e r t , 30 October 1976.
64
65
151nterview w i t h H o w a r d L. Hyland, A g r i c u l t u r a l
R e s e a r c h C e n t e r , B e l t s v i l l e , Maryland, 27 January 1976.
%nterview
w i t h S e i b e r t , 2 2 J a n u a r y 1976.
-I-
I/
U.S., Department o € A g r i c u l t u r e , Cooperative
Aqreement between Longwood Gardens of Lonqwood Foundation,
Inc. and U n i t e d S t a t e s Department of A g r i c u l t u r e , A q r i c u l t u r a l Research S e r v i c e , H o r t i c u l t u r a l Crops Research
Branch, Document N o . 12-14-100-761- (32) (1956)
18
Harold F. W i n t e r s , "New P l a n t I n t r o d u c t i o n s , "
A r b o r e t u m and B o t a n i c a l Garden B u l l e t i n 4 (January 1969):
29-32.
191nterview w i t h J o s e p h C a r s t e n s , Longwood Gardens,
K e n n e t t Square, P e n n s y l v a n i a , 10 J a n u a r y 1977.
2oU. S., D e p a r t m e n t of A g r i c u l t u r e , C o o p e r a t i v e
A g r e e m e n t between Longwood and U.S.D.A.,
Document N o .
12-14-100-761- (32) (1956)
211bid.
221bid.
23
24
25
26
I n t e r v i e w w i t h Creech, 22 J u n e 1976.
I n t e r v i e w w i t h S e i b e r t , 2 2 J a n u a r y 1976.
I n t e r v i e w w i t h S e i b e r t , 1 F e b r u a r y 1977.
I n t e r v i e w w i t h Hyland, 26 J u n e 1976.
271bid.
28
I n t e r v i e w w i t h Creech, 2 2 J u n e 1976.
"Interview
w i t h Hyland, 26 J u n e 1976.
301bid.
31
I n t e r v i e w w i t h S e i b e r t , 30 October 1976,
321nterview w i t h S e i b e r t , 22 J a n u a r y 1976.
331nterview w i t h Hyland, 26 J a n u a r y 1976.
351bid.
36John L, Creech, " P r e l i m i n a r y R e p o r t t o Longwood
Gardens-Ornamental
E x p l o r a t i o n t o J a p a n and Hong Kong,"
1961, D i r e c t o r ' s F i l e s , Longwood Gardens, K e n n e t t Square,
Pennsylvania.
371nterview w i t h Hyland, 26 J a n u a r y 1976.
381nterview w i t h W i l l i a m L. Ackerman, U.S.D.A.
I n s p e c t i o n S t a t i o n , Glenn D a l e , Maryland, 22 J u n e 1976.
391bid,
40Walter H, Hodge and C a r l 0. E r l a n s o n , " F e d e r a l
P l a n t I n t r o d u c t i o n - - A Review," Economic Botany, OctoberD e c e m b e r 1956, p. 310.
411nterview w i t h Ackerman, 2 2 J u n e 1976.
4 2 1 n t e r v i e w with C a r s t e n s , LO J a n u a r y 1977
.
431nterview w i t h R i c h a r d W. L i g h t y , U n i v e r s i t y of
D e l a w a r e , N e w a r k , D e l a w a r e , 18 F e b r u a r y 1977.
441nterview w i t h C a r s t e n s , 10 J a n u a r y 1977.
451nterview w i t h Donald G. H u t t l e s t o n , Longwood
Gardens, K e n n e t t S q u a r e , P e n n s y l v a n i a , 10 F e b r u a r y 1977.
461nterview w i t h R o b e r t 5. Armstrong, Longwood
Gardens, K e n n e t t Square, P e n n s y l v a n i a , 1 7 February 1977.
471nterview w i t h C a r s t e n s , 10 J a n u a r y 1977 ,
481bid.
491bid.
67
501bid.
"Interview
w i t h H u t t l e s t o n , LO F e b r u a r y 1977.
52U.S., Department of A g r i c u l t u r e , C o o p e r a t i v e
Aqreement between Lonqwood and U.S.D.A.,
Document N o .
12-14-100-761-(32)
(1956)
.
531nterview w i t h Ackerman, 22 J u n e 1976.
541bid.
551bid.
561bid.
Notice of R e l e a s e , C o t o n e a s t e r
571U.S.D.A. -A.R,S.,
m i c r o p h y l l a 'Emerald S p r a y ' , ' ' 18 J u n e 1971, D i r e c t o r ' s
F i l e s , Longwood Gardens.
58
Cunningham Gardens t o U.S. P l a n t I n t r o d u c t i o n
S t a t i o n , 6 J u l y 1965, D i r e c t o r ' s F i l e s , Longwood Gardens.
59Winters,
"New P l a n t I n t r o d u c t i o n s ,
p.
303.
6 0 1 ' S u m a r y of t h e E x p e r i m e n t a l Greenhouse of
Longwood G a r d e n s , " J o s e p h C a r s t e n s F i l e s , Longwood Gardens.
61
I n t e r v i e w w i t h L i g h t y , 18 F e b r u a r y 1977.
6 2 1 n t e r v i e w w i t h Armstrong, 1 7 February 1977
.
631bid.
641bid.
6sJohn L. Creech, "Summary of Accomplishments,
A,R.S,-Longwood
Gardens Ornamental E x p l o r a t i o n Program, I'
November 1964, D i r e c t o r ' s F i l e s , Longwood Gardens.
661bid.
67Harold F. W i n t e r s , "New I m p a t i e n s from New
Guinea, American H o r t i c u l t u r i s t 5 2 ( 1 9 7 3 ) : 16-22,
'I
FOOTNOTES FOR CHAPTER I11
'John L. C r e e c h , P l a n t E x p l o r a t i o n s - O r n a m e n t a l s i n
S o u t h e r n J a p a n ARS-34-1 ( A g r i c u l t u r a l R e s e a r c h Service,
U.S.D.A.,
1957): 1.
' I n t e r v i e w w i t h John L, C r e e c h , U . S .
b o r e t u m , Washington D.C.,
2 2 J u n e 1976,
3Creech,
P l a n t E x p l o r a t i o n s , p.
N a t i o n a l Ar-
1.
% a l t e r H. H o d g e , " T h e Longwood G a r d e n s - U . S . D . A .
C o o p e r a t i v e Program of P l a n t I n t r o d u c t i o n - - A C r i t i c a l R e v i e w , " 1 0 J u l y 1959, D i r e c t o r ' s F i l e s , Longwood G a r d e n s ,
K e n n e t t S q u a r e , P e n n s y l v a n i a , p. 3
.
5
F r e d r i c k G. Meyer, P l a n t E x p l o r a t i o n s - O r n a m e n t a l s
i n I t a l y , S o u t h e r n F r a n c e , S p a i n , P o r t u q a l , E n q l a n d , and
S c o t l a n d ARS 34-9 ( A g r i c u l t u r a l R e s e a r c h S e r v i c e , U.S.D,A.,
1959): 1.
'Hodge,
" T h e Longwood-U.S.D.A.
Program,
'I
7 R u s s e l l J. S e i b e r t t o H o w a r d L. H y l a n d ,
1956, D i r e c t o r ' s F i l e s , Longwood G a r d e n s .
'Meyer,
9
Hodge,
P l a n t E x p l o r a t i o n s , p.
1.
"The Longwood-U.S.D.A.
Program,
I'
p.
3.
8 October
p. 1.
"Llewelyn
W i l l i a m s , "Synopsis of P l a n t E x p l o r a t i o n
i n S o u t h e r n B r a z i l and A r g e n t i n a , " 28 May 1958, D i r e c t o r ' s
F i l e s , Longwood G a r d e n s , p. 1.
"Interview
w i t h Howard L. H y l a n d , A g r i c u l t u r a l
R e s e a r c h C e n t e r , B e l t s v i l l e , Maryland, 26 J a n u a r y 1976.
69
70
'*Hedge, "The Longwood-U.S.D.A.
Program, p. 4.
I'
13George H. Spalding, Plant Explorations-Ornamentals in Australia ARS 34-33 (Agricultural Research Service,
U.S.D.A,,
September 1962) : 1.
14Hodge, "The Longwood-U.S.D.A.
Program, p. 4,
'I
''Interview
with Russell J. Seibert, Longwood Gardens, Kennett Square, Pennsylvania.
l6Spalding, Plant Explorations, pp. 1-3,
"Fredrick G. Meyer, Plant Explorations-Ornamentals
in the Netherlands, West Germany, and Belgium ARS 34-32
(Agricultural Research Service, U.S.D,A.,
April 1963) : 1.
18Seibert to Hyland, 8 October 1956.
19Eoward L. Hyland, "Sumary Report 1959-1960, New
Crops-Longwood Ornamentals Project, Director's Files,
Longwood Gardens, p. 1.
I'
20
Meyer, Plant Explorations, p. 1.
21John L. Creech, "Preliminary Report to Longwood
Gardens-Ornamental Explorations to Japan and Hong Kong,"
1961, Director's Files, Longwood Gardens,
22John L. Creech, Ornamental Plant ExplorationsJapan ARS 34-75 (Agricultural Research Service, U.S.D.A,,
May 1966): 5 23Creech, "Preliminary Report,
I'
p . 5.
24Creech, Ornamental Plant Exploration, p. 2.
25Francis deVos, "Plant Exploring in Nepal,"
Director's Files, Longwood Gardens, p - 11.
26
U.S.D.A.,
News Release, 171-63, 17 January 1963,
Document No.3865, Director's Files, Longwood, .Gardens.
71
27
'9.J.S.D.A.-Longwood
G a r d e n s O r n a m e n t a l P l a n t Exp l o r a t i o n t o N e p a l , " D i r e c t o r ' s F i l e s , Longwood G a r d e n s .
28John L. C r e e c h , "U.S.
Plant Scientists E x p l o r e
t h e H i m a l a y a s " ( A g r i c u l t u r a l R e s e a r c h Service, March 1 9 6 3 ) ,
p. 2 ,
29deVos,
" P l a n t Exploring,
I'
pp.
11-14.
30U.S.D.A.,
N e w s R e l e a s e , 171-63, 1 7 J a n u a r y 1963,
D o c u m e n t N o . 3865, D i r e c t o r ' s F i l e s , Longwood G a r d e n s .
31John L. C r e e c h , Memorandum on U.S.S.R.
Trip Rep o r t , 18 O c t o b e r 1963, D i r e c t o r ' s F i l e s , Longwood G a r d e n s .
321bid.
331bid.
34John L. C r e e c h t o R u s s e l l J. S e i b e r t , 31 O c t o l j e r
1963, D i r e c t o r ' s F i l e s , Longwood G a r d e n s .
3 6 F r a n c i s d e V o s t o R u s s e l l 3 . S e i b e r t , 22 J u n e 1965,
D i r e c t o r ' s F i l e s , Longwood G a r d e n s .
3 7 1 1 P l a n t E x p l o r a t i o n s - S i k k i m H i m a l a y a s ,I' D i r e c t o r ' s
F i l e s , Longwood G a r d e n s , p 1.
3 8 ' p I t l n e r a r y on Proposed F o r e i g n T r a v e l f o r F.
G, C o r b e t t , " D i r e c t o r ' s F i l e s , Longwood
d e V o s and E.
Gardens.
39deVos
t o S e i b e r t , 22 J u n e 1965.
40''Plant Explorations-South K o r e a ,
F i l e s , Longwood G a r d e n s , p. 1.
41''Summary
Ibid.
Director's
of K o r e a n E x p l o r a t i o n , 'I D i r e c t o r ' s Files,
1
L o n g w o o d G a r d e n s , p.
42
'I
72
4 4 " P l a n t E x p l o r a t i o n s - S o u t h Korea,
F i l e s , Longwood Gardens, p. 1.
I'
Director's
451nterview w i t h R i c h a r d W. L i g h t y , U n i v e r s i t y of
D e l a w a r e , N e w a r k , D e l a w a r e , 16 March 197746John L. Creech, "Summary T r i p R e p o r t - P l a n t Exp l o r a t i o n t o Taiwan," D i r e c t o r ' s F i l e s , Longwood Gardens,
p. 1.
47
" P l a n t Exploration-Taiwan,
Longwood Gardens, p. 1.
48Creech,
49
I'
Director s F i l e s ,
"Summary T r i p R e p o r t , " p . 2.
Ibid. pp.
1-3.
501bid. pp.
2-4.
5 l l l P l a n t E x p l o r a t i o n s - P a p u a and New G u i n e a , Java,
D i r e c t o r ' s F i l e s , Longwood Gardens, p. I.
'I
52Harold F. W i n t e r s and J o s e p h J. Higgens, " F o r e i g n
T r a v e l R e p o r t " (A.R.S.-Crops
Research D i v i s i o n , U . S . D . A . 1 :
1.
53
" P l a n t Explorations-Papua and New G u i n e a , J a v a ,
I'
p . 4.
'%aroid
F. W i n t e r s , "New G e r m P l a s m from New
G u i n e a , " D i r e c t o r ' s F i l e s , Longwood Gardens, pp. 1-4.
55Winters and Higgens, " F o r e i g n T r a v e l R e p o r t ,
pp. 4-5.
56
Ibid. pp. 1-3,
''Harold
F. W i n t e r s , "New I m p a t i e n s from New
G u i n e a , " American B o r t i c u l t u r i s t 5 2 ( 1 9 7 3 ) : 16-22.
5 8 " P l a n t E x p l o r e r s t o t h e S o v i e t Union,
F i l e s , Longwood Gardens, p. 1.
'I
Director s
I
73
60John L, C r e e c h , " F o r e i g n T r a v e l R e p o r t " (A.R.S.
P l a n t Science R e s e a r c h D i v i s i o n , U,S.D.A.),
pp. 1-8,
6 1 t 1 B o t a n i s t C o l l e c t s 290 S o v i e t Plants, I t New Y o r k
Times,
9 January 1972.
-
FOOTNOTES FOR CHAPTER I V
'
H
. H. F i s h e r , E v a l u a t i o n of O r n a m e n t a l P l a n t
I n t r o d u c t i o n s ARS 34-128 ( A g r i c u l t u r a l R e s e a r c h Service,
U.S.D.A.,
1972):
3.
2 1 n t e r v i e w w i t h R u s s e l l J. Seibert, Longwood
G a r d e n s , K e n n e t t S q u a r e , P e n n s y l v a n i a , 2 2 J a n u a r y 1976.
Gardens,
31ntervcliew w i t h R o b e r t J. A r m s t r o n g , Longwood
1 7 February 1977.
'Fisher,
d u c t i o n s , p. 3,
E v a l u a t i o n of O r n a m e n t a l P l a n t I n t r o -
511Summary of A c c o m p l i s h m e n t s , A.R.S. -Longwood
G a r d e n s O r n a m e n t a l E x p l o r a t i o n Program 1956-1964," D i r e c t o r ' s F i l e s , Longwood G a r d e n s , K e n n e t t S q u a r e , Pennsylvania.
'Francis d e V o s , "New P l a n t s f r o m E x p l o r a t i o n s ,
P l a n t s and G a r d e n s , May 1964, p. 61.
"
7''Summary of A c c o m p l i s h m e n t s , A.R.S. -Longwood E x p l o r a t i o n Program 195611964," D i r e c t o r ' s F i l e s , Longwood
Gardens.
8
"U.S.D.A.
-A.R.S.,
c o n f e r t a ' E m e r a l d Sea',
Longwood G a r d e n s .
l1
N o t i c e of R e l e a s e , J u n i p e r u s
1 9 May 1 9 7 2 , D i r e c t o r ' s F i l e s ,
g"U.S.D.A.
-A.R,S.,
N o t i c e of R e l e a s e , C o t o n e a s t e r
r n i c r o p h y l l a ' E m e r a l d Spray' ,'l 18 J u n e 1 9 7 1 , D i r e c t o r ' s
F i l e s , Longwood G a r d e n s .
10
"U.S.D.A.-A.R.S.,
f o c t , u n e i 'Longwood',"
N o t i c e of R e l e a s e ,
Euonymus
1 7 September 1965, Director's F i l e s
74
75
Longwood Gardens,
FOOTNOTES FOR CHAPTER V
J - Seibert t o C a r l 0. E r l a n s o n , 4 August
1961, Director's F i l e s , Longwood Gardens, K e n n e t t Square,
Pennsylvania
'Russell
76
APPENDIX
ENUPllERATION OF PLANT INTRODUCTIONS
The i n f o r m a t i o n b e l o w l i s t s e i t h e r t h e P l a n t I n t r o d u c t i o n ( P O I , ) numbers t h a t have n o t been p r e v i o u s l y publ i s h e d i n t h i s manner o r t h e r e f e r e n c e c i t i n g where t h e
P.I.
numbers and c o r r e s p o n d i n g c o l l e c t i o n s have been pub-
lished,
Each number c o r r e s p o n d s t o a c o l l e c t i o n i n t r o d u c e d
by t h e U,S,D,A,-Longwood
E x p l o r a t i o n Program.
A specific
p l a n t name and v a l u a b l e c o l l e c t i o n i n f o r m a t i o n c a n be obt a i n e d by cross r e f e r e n c i n g t h e s e P.1,
P.I.
numbers l i s t e d i n t h e U.S.D.A.
numbers with t h e
' s P l a n t Inventory
Series.
Southern Japan
-
1956
P u b l i s h e d , John L. Creech, P l a n t E x p l o r a t i o n s Ornamentals i n S o u t h e r n J a p a n ARS 34-1 { A g r i c u l t u r a l Res e a r c h S e r v i c e , U.S.D.A.,
1957): 24-48,
Western Europe
-
1958
P u b l i s h e d , F r e d r i c k G. Meyer, P l a n t E x p l o r a t i o n s Ornamentals i n I t a l y , S o u t h e r n F r a n c e , S p a i n , P o r t u q a l ,
England, and S c o t l a n d ARS 34-9 ( A g r i c u l t u r a l Research
1%9) : 102-180.
S e r v i c e , U.S.D.A.,
77
78
Southern Brazil and Argentina
246420
246465
246601
246653
246668
246814
247008
247122
247138
Australia
-
-
-
-
246460
246475
246647
246925
247020
247134
247271
-
1958
247959
248170
248491
249150
249285
249424
249685
251779
253474
-
-
-
248145
249206
249419
249525
1958-1959
P u b l i s h e d , G e o r g e H. S p a l d i n g , P l a n t E x p l o r a t i o n s O r n a m e n t a l s i n A u s t r a l i a ARS 34-33 ( A g r i c u l t u r a l Research
Service, U.S.D.A.,
September 1 9 6 2 ) : 68-158.
-
Northern Europe
1959
P u b l i s h e d , F r e d r i c k G, Meyer, P l . a n t E x p l o r a t i o n s O r n a m e n t a l s i n t h e N e t h e r l a n d s , W e s t Germany, a n d B e l q i u m
ARS 34-32 ( A g r i c u l t u r a l Research S e r v i c e , U.S.D.A.,
April
1963) : 68-158.
Northern Japan
-
1961
P u b l i s h e d , J o h n L. Creech, O r n a m e n t a l P l a n t E x p l o r a t i o n s - J a p a n ARS 34-75 ( A g r i c u l t u r a l R e s e a r c h S e r v i c e ,
U . S . D . A . , May 1966) : 43-65.
Nepal
-
1962
285310
285371
285386
285410
285443
-
-
-
285369
285284
285391
285441
285463
285465
285480
285506
285517
-
285478
285500
285515
,
79
Russia
-
1963
-
293752
293761
293767
293815
293834
293852
-
293759
293765
293813
293832
293848
Sikkim ( W e s t Bengal)
-
306378
-
South Korea
316364
316400
316592
316611
316628
316640
316688
316958
317188
Taiwan
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
293854
293859
293869
293877
293891
-
-
293870
293878
293898
307189
-
307377
293857
1965
1966
316367
316410
316609
316622
316631
316656
316719
316992
317314
317353
318512
319162
319240
319272
320396
320886
320896
-
-
317387
318592
319164
319271
319331
320409
320887
320910
-
325583
-
-
1967-1968
323942
324940
New G u i n e a
-
347235
347255
347642
347644
347646
347721
347844
-
323943
325078
325581
1970
-
-
347256
-
347695
-
347845
348924
349273
349500
352554
353391
354111
354154
-
348936
349314
349631
352627
353393
354316
354428
8G
355297
355309
Russia
-
-
-
355307
355384
-
355386
370273
-
370275
355310
1971
369164
-
369337