Bonanza Years


 FAIRCHILD AND LATHROP
 David G. Fairchild, because of his extensive explorations, his
writings, and his leadership, is foremost among the American
plant explorers. He began work in the Department in the early
1890's. Aboard ship en route to Europe for study, Fairchild met
Barbour Lathrop, world traveler. This was the beginning of an
association which proved to be of great value to Fairchild and to
the Department, for Lathrop explored at his own expense for
nearly six years with Fairchild as his expert. From the Malay
Archipelago and China they sent hundreds of specimens to the
United States for trial. Among these was the mangosteen, a
tropical fruit which attracted much attention.
 In the winter of 1898, Fairchild made his first stop to study
foreign products at Kingston, Jamaica. He visited market places,
tasting new fruits and vegetables to determine what should be
sent to the United States. The trip continued via Panama and
the west coast of South America. (1) From Peru he sent back the
Hairy Peruvian Alfalfa, which by 1920 was recognized as the
most productive variety for irrigated lands in the Southwest.
Fairchild also collected fruiting cacti for the Southwest, and in
La Plata found spineless cacti. A hardy variety of avocado proved
to be of value in giving growers experience in avocado raising
in California.
 From Rio de Janeiro the party proceeded to England and the
countries of Central Europe. In Austria they secured the Maliner
Kren, a flavorful horseradish which was later grown in New
Jersey. Large plantings of the "Sultania Rosea Seedless Raisin
Grape" were made in California from plants procured in Padua.
 Later, varieties of okra, red pepper, vegetable marrow, pump-
kin, cucumber, and peanuts, of special interest to the cultivators
of the new, irrigated regions of the West, were obtained from
Egypt. Onion seeds of a variety grown on the islands of the Upper
Nile and exported to England came to be grown extensively in
Texas. Hundreds of lebbek trees are growing in Florida today
from seeds of the trees on the boulevard between the Nile and
the Great Pyramids. Berseem clover, also introduced for its ability
to thrive in hot, alkali desert areas, is grown in limited areas of
the West.
 After leaving Egypt, Lathrop and Fairchild visited islands in
the East Indies and traveled in the interior of China and Ceylon
before returning to London. Fairchild brought home about five