Now this looks like a fun and possibly worthwhile enterprise! I would like to hear about member's experiences and misadventures obtaining native and alien germplasm
http://www.ars.usda.gov/Main/d.....docid=7456
http://www.ars-grin.gov/npgs/index.html
I am including several links in case they don't work for you. Try 'fig' for keyword in this one. Another fun one to try is 'banana' and with the price of tobacco these days...
http://www.ars-grin.gov/npgs/a.....eries.html
Looks like Corvallis Oregon and Pullman Washington are closest. I did know about the extensive and great hops collection 'we' have in Corvallis
http://www.ars.usda.gov/Servic.....ocid=11896
This was found - Distribution Priorities
We ask that a statement concerning the intended use for the germplasm be provided by the requester. Timely, seasonal requests from bona fide researchers are given first priority. Requesters seeking plant material for a germplasm exchange or because NCGR is the sole source are filled next. Other requests are honored as plant material is available.
I am a little surprised that no one here has requested plants from the various sites especially Corvallis.
I thought this was interesting too
The "Doomsday" Seed Vault
What does "Doomsday" and the coldest place on earth have to do with the National Germplasm Resources Laboratory (NGRL)?
The NGRL is helping the National Plant Germplasm System provide plant material to the "Doomsday" Seed Vault in the remote arctic mountains in Svalbard, Norway. The URL for this seed vault is: http://www.croptrust.org/main/.....itemid=211
Just a guess, but the more people that hop on this taxpayer funded bandwagon, the tighter the ars-grin resources get stretched. I have already witnessed a shutdown in ficus distributions one or more years, and that was when gardenweb enthusiasts really jumped on it. The ARS simply does not have the cash to express mail all those cuttings to the many. Not to mention the manual labor and accounting personnel. Their budgets are pretty tight. Their resources are not unlimited. So something has to give, and it was denial of cuttings to the many.
When I get pear scions from Corvallis, I make the effort to drive to pick them up. Saves them postage, and I am not the only one to do so. Others do too. I try to make their budget go farther because I appreciate what they do. And I realize that not everybody from back east can do what I do.
I have seen enough posts on other forums to the effect "I got these cuttings from ARS, now what do I do? Can I root them or something?" that I know people are abusing the service. This is a squander of rare resources, IMO.
My take is this: those who know what to do with these cuttings likely already know how to get them, or rub shoulders already with those who are proficient, and will get all they want by merely networking with others. People that have networked with me have gotten ARS stuff second-hand this way, without adding any burden to ARS directly. Probably the less said, and the less posted about such, the better.
Your mileage may vary. Batteries not included. Do not take before driving.
I was in Corvallis last weekend during DaVinci Days, and toured the NCGR blueberry fields and a bit of the OSU ag experiment station. My family really liked one un-named blueberry (in other words, a variety not selected for commercial development). Staff members at NCGR gave us a few cuttings to try propagating now, and advised us to request more later (at a more suitable time of year) if we're not successful. (We also liked some of the named varieties we tried, and will look into buying them from area nurseries.)
My point? First, the people at NCGR are very helpful and generous, and second, let's not abuse their generosity. Most important -- if you get a chance to visit one of these sites on an Open House day, do it!
[quote="RobinS":wrne8u69]I was in Corvallis last weekend during DaVinci Days, and toured the NCGR blueberry fields and a bit of the OSU ag experiment station. My family really liked one un-named blueberry (in other words, a variety not selected for commercial development). Staff members at NCGR gave us a few cuttings to try propagating now, and advised us to request more later (at a more suitable time of year) if we're not successful. (We also liked some of the named varieties we tried, and will look into buying them from area nurseries.)
My point? First, the people at NCGR are very helpful and generous, and second, let's not abuse their generosity. Most important -- if you get a chance to visit one of these sites on an Open House day, do it![/quote:wrne8u69]
Thank You Robin S!
If you look into some of the other threads - you will note our 'mutual agreement' to not speak much on this thread and that I could not possibly agree more... with PlumFun. Agreeing w/PlumFun means agreeing w/what you have just said btw. 
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