Hunt Institute Archives Text Discovery Platform

Page transcription

THE MAINTENANCE OF LIVING PLANT COLLECTIONS*
Paul K. Soderholm
Plant Introduction Station
Miami, Florida, U.S.A.

HISTORY

The Subtropical Horticulture Research Unit of the Agricultural
Research Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture, formerly known as
the U.S. Plant Introduction Station of Miami, has been engaged in intro-
ducing and maintaining living plant materials (germplasm) for 75 years.
In 1898 the Department rented seven acres of land in the area that is now
downtown Miami. In a few years the site became inadequate to contain
the flood of plant "immigrants", as they were called at that time, and a
new 25-acre site was chosen. This too, became crowded before long
and in 1923 the present site was opened on what had been a U.S. Army
airfield during World War I. This site was chosen by Dr. David Fairchild,
a well-known horticulturist and plant explorer, because of the location on
the ocean. Temperatures here were generally 5° to 10°F (3° to 6°C)
warmer than inland, a factor which he recognized could mean the difference
between saving and losing some of the more tender tropical plants. Indeed,
his reasoning was well founded for over the years there have been times
during severe winters when the Hevea, Theobroma and other more
tropical germplasm approached the threshold of their tolerance to chilling,
but always survived.

As first conceived, the object was not so much to amass a collection
of plants per se, but to distribute them to any citizen who was willing to
try new species. By this means it was hoped that the new plants would
become established and eventually find their place in agriculture, industry,
or home landscaping. As each introduction was grown in the Station's
facilities, a plant or two was put in the field forming a nucleus of plant
germplasm that finally developed into the collection of about 3,000 intro-
ductions that are not being maintained. About 23,000 accessions have
been received in the 50 years at our present location.

PHYSICAL PLANT

We have four greenhouses with a total of 7,000 square feet under
glass, a lath covered area of 8,000 square feet, a work building of "head"
structure as we call it, laboratory, and an office and records building.

* Internal document: Not for general distribution.