Hunt Institute for Botanical Documentation
A Research Division of Carnegie Mellon University

Hunt Institute Archives Text Discovery Platform

Search a large and growing portion of our online collections, including handwritten documents.
PROTOTYPE

This prototype uses state-of-the-art artificial intelligence, including a vision-language model (VLM) capable of reading handwritten documents as well as typed and printed text, to create searchable transcriptions of digitized materials in the Hunt Institute Archives. This makes it possible to search the textual contents of individual pages, including material that may not be described in the archival catalog.

Use Keyword search for specific words, names, dates, scientific names, or phrases. Try Semantic search (experimental) to describe a topic, question, or kind of material when you do not know the exact wording used in the documents.

About the AI-generated transcriptions

The transcriptions are generated automatically from page images and may contain errors, especially with difficult handwriting, unusual names, multiple languages, image-quality problems, or complex layouts. They are intended primarily as a discovery aid rather than authoritative transcriptions.

Each result provides the generated transcription and links to the original digitized material and associated archival description so that readings can be checked against the source. The transcription workflow uses AI models run locally by the Hunt Institute.

About Keyword and Semantic search

Keyword search is the default and matches the wording in the transcriptions. Results contain all your terms. Use quotes for an exact phrase. Substring matching is supported, so aceae can find plant-family names ending in -aceae.

Semantic search (experimental) is useful when you know what kind of material you are looking for but do not know the words used in the documents. It ranks transcribed passages by similarity of meaning, so relevant results may not contain the exact words in your query.

Semantic queries can be broad research topics, descriptions of activities or relationships, or natural-language questions. For example:

Semantic search is not a chatbot: a question is used as a search query, and the system returns archival passages that appear conceptually related to it rather than generating an answer or summary. Short descriptions and ordinary research questions generally work better than lists of disconnected keywords. Quotation marks have no special meaning in Semantic mode. Cross-language matching may work in some cases, but it should not be treated as translation.

Keyword and Semantic search are complementary. Keyword search lets you require particular wording; Semantic search can surface differently worded passages about the same subject. Depending on the research question, trying both can reveal different useful material.

Open a result: use the prominent page-and-transcription link to see the metadata, PDF, and full transcription. Keyword-search terms are highlighted in the transcription.

Archives Collections Database (ArchivesSpace): the Collection, Item/Folder, and Digital Object links open the corresponding archival records. Collection-level dates describe the collection as a whole, not necessarily the specific item or page.

If a PDF does not load: on the detail page, use the Digital Object link, click “Go to file” in ArchivesSpace, and navigate to the page number shown here.

Current limitations
  • Automated transcriptions can contain missing or incorrect text or unintended repetition. Difficult handwriting, image quality, unusual layouts, and multiple languages can reduce accuracy. Always consult the original page image when an exact reading matters.
  • Semantic search remains experimental. Its rankings are an additional discovery aid, not a complete or definitive set of relevant results, and highly ranked pages can sometimes be only broadly related.
  • This is an active prototype. Search coverage, transcriptions, functionality, and the interface may continue to change as additional archival material is processed and the system is improved.

← Back to results

Page 64 · DO #478 · 204_Popenoe_Bx33FF48r

Collection
Wilson Popenoe (1892–1975) family papers
Item/Folder
Cinchona Cultivation in Guatemala - manuscripts, notes, copies, n.d.
Digital Object
DO #478, page 64
Collection-level dates
1882–1975
Open PDF at page 64 ↗

Page transcription

14.

at the time they are moved, and the program to be fall wed later:
if spaced closely a second transplanting is necessary, six 6 x 6
inch spacing is required during the last few months before the trees
are ready to be transferred to permanent locations in the field.

Fortunately, Cinchona seedlings, if properly grown and "hardened off", transplant very readily, even when moved with bare roots.

Grafting. The technique at present employed in Guatemala is
that which has been developed by Jorge M. Benitez, Plant Propagator
of Experimental Plantations Inc. at Finca El Naranjo, Chicacao -
principal base of experimental Cinchona cultivation in this republic. It differs slightly from standard practice in Java if one
can judge by published descriptions of the latter.

The essentials of grafting seem to be these: stock plants
(invariably of the species pubescens or succirubra) must be strong
and vigorous, with stems one-half to three-quarters of an inch in
diameter at the ground. Scions must be of sound, half-ripened wood.
And the work should be done in damp weather if best results are
expected.

In other words, the principles are the same as with other
trees, and are familiar with experienced horticulturists. Fortunately,
trees of the genus Cinchona are not difficult to propagate by
grafting. The percentage of success varies, however, with different
varieties, the strong-growing hybrids such as those known in
several countries as "robustas" being much easier to graft than
the more delicate Ledgers.

Young trees in vigorous growth provide better scions than
older trees. Blossoming wood should not, of course, be used. The
scions should be about four inches in length, and of the thickness