EXPERIMENTAL GARDENS AND GROUNDS. '277 



tropical plants may be made, and at the same time the medium in 

 which to determine, as far as possible, the conditions ])est suited to 

 the growth and propagation of the plants thus handled. 



GENERAL HORTICULTURAL WORK. 



It is planned to give special attention to the broader lines of horti- 

 cultural work. The aim will l)e to develop an interest in tlie study 

 of living j)lants with reference to their behavior and variation under 

 domestication. Horticultural varieties and garden plants generally 

 are well worthy of systematic study to obtain light on lines along 

 which future imj)rovements must be made. 



A collection or herbarium of economic plants would be a valuable 

 adjunct to this work, and if properly managed would be of great aid 

 to a number of Divisions. Vegetable culture, which includes both 

 market gardening and truck growing, has received little attention 

 by the Department in the past. It is hoped in the near future to 

 inaugurate some lines of work which will be of value to this important 

 industry. One of the fli'st problems in this field which will receive 

 attention is a study of the soil with relation to the trucking interests. 

 This will naturally be followed by a study of the crops themselves, 

 including methods of handling, marketing, diseases, etc. Cooperation 

 in the work can be secured with the Division of Soils and the other 

 Divisions interested in the special phases of the work. 



THE ARLINGTON EXPERIMENTAL FARM. 



The Department has been handicapped by lack of sufficient ground 

 to carry on its experimental work on plants. It would be of great 

 advantage to have an orchard of the leading varieties of apples, pears, 

 peaches, and other fruits, and also a vineyard and gardens where full 

 opportunity for experimenting along the lines here laid down would 

 be afforded. The Arlington Experimental Farm, recently secured to 

 the Department by an act of Congress, will probably be the means of 

 furnishing the much-needed ground. 



ORGANIZATION OF THE OFFICE OF PLANT INDUSTRY. 



In order to bring about a closer union of the different branches of 

 the Department engaged in plant industrial work, arrangements have 

 been perfected and approved by j^ou for the affiliation of the Division 

 of Vegetable Physiology and Pathology, the Division of Agrostology, 

 the Division of Pomology, the Experimental Gardens and Grounds, 

 and the Section of Seed and Plant Introduction. The group will be 

 known collectively as the Office of Plant Industr}^ and the general 

 object is set forth in your order of October 1, which is as follows: 



For the purpose of unifying the work of certain branches of the Department, it 

 is hereby ordered that the chief of the Division of Vegetable Physiology and 

 Pathology, the chief of the Division of Agrostology, and the chief of the Division 

 of Pomology confer upon all matters of general policy and plan with the Superin- 

 tendent of Experimental Gardens and Grounds, who is hereby designated as 

 Director of Plant Industry. In carrying out this order tbe several branches of 

 the Department named will maintain their present integrity and organization. 



By a subsequent order the Section of Seed and Plant Introduction 

 has been included in the group under the same conditions as outlined 

 in the first order. 



The desirability of a better coordination of allied lines of work has 

 long been recognizedan the Department. For some time the Divisions 



