A letter from David Fairchild, the Agricultural Explorer in Charge at the United States Department of Agriculture, in Washington, D.C. to Grover T. Russell in Los Angeles, California. 11 July 1918.
A letter from David Fairchild, the Agricultural Explorer in Charge at the United States Department of Agriculture, in Washington, D.C. to Grover T. Russell in Los Angeles, California. 11 July 1918.
Entry/Object ID
2017.41.1.1466
Description
A letter from David Fairchild, the Agricultural Explorer in Charge at the United States Department of Agriculture, in Washington, D.C. to Grover T. Russell in Los Angeles, California. 11 July 1918. A typed letter on a letterhead for the Burea of Plant Industry at the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Mr. Fairchild states that his department has secured several thousand avocado seeds from Guatemala within the past two years due to the work of Wilson Popenoe, an agricultural explorer. Mr. Fairchild states that his department aimed to raise stock plants and conduct fruit tests in the U.S., and then ultimately distribute the varieties to growers. Mr. Fairchild states that the department is in possession of many of plants that budded but failed to grow. Mr. Fairchild offers to send 20 young seedlings to Mr. Russell. Mr. Fairchild notes that there is a quarantine against the private importation of South American avocado seeds, which makes the seedlings very valuable, but that the plants can be defoliated and shipped to Mr. Russell at no cost. Mr. Fairchild encourages Mr. Russell to respond if he would like to acquire the seedlings and advise the department. With creases, a minor acid burn, minor discoloration, and early signs of foxing, the object is in good condition overall
