REPORT OF THE SECRETARY OF AGRICULTURE. XXXVII 



make a careful study of the varieties under cultivation. Happily we 

 may determine methods of pruning, cultivating-, fertilizing, and com- 

 bating disease which will render the production of these valuable fruits 

 in this country quite satisfactory 



CATALOGUE OF FRUnXS AND COOPERATIVE WORK. 



The card catalogue of fruits described in standard American publi- 

 cations has been finished, and so soon as all the fruits can be catalogued, 

 will att'ord copy for the most complete index in pomology. 



Cooperative work with the Section of Seed and Plant Introduction, 

 Division of Botan}-, in the distribution of fruit-bearing trees, plants, 

 and vines was continued during the year. Over 700 lots have been 

 placed with about 125 experimenters, and 200 varieties, representing 

 22 species, have been thus distributed. 



DIVISION OF AGROSTOLOGY. 

 CLASSIFICATION OF DIVISION WORK. 



The growth in the work of this Division has necessitated reorganiza- 

 tion, and it has been divided into four sections, each under the charge 

 of a specialh' qualified assistant. These sections are: First, experi- 

 mental, which has charge of all experimental operations carried on 

 outside of Washington, D. C, in cooperation with the State experi- 

 ment stations; second, seed and field, which has charge of the col- 

 lection of seeds, roots, and specimens, and useful native grasses and 

 forage plants, and the distributing of the same, as well as the making 

 of field studies with these plants in various parts of the country; 

 third, grass garden, which includes the care and maintenance of grass 

 gardens and experiments in the District of (Jolumbia; fourth, the 

 herbarium section, in charge of the collections of the Division and the 

 naming of material or specimens sent in for identification. These 

 sections also prepare reports and bulletins along their various lines of 

 work. The investigation of animal foods was also assigned to this 

 Division by Congress at its last session, but as no appropriations were 

 made for conducting this w^ork, it has not been taken up. This 

 organization or classification of the Division work has increased its 

 effectiveness along all lines, but especialh" in the field investigations 

 and experiments. 



COOPERATIVE EXPERIMENTAL WORK. 



The work in Texas, which has been carried on in cooperation with 

 the citizens of Abilene, in that State, was originally designed to demon- 

 strate the possibility of improving the worn-out cattle ranges and pas- 

 tures by practical methods. The grazing of pastures has been so 



