29G ANNUAL REPORTS OF DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 



under study. The climate of this vicinity seems to be adapted to a 

 wider range of species than that of any of our other gardens. A hop 

 garden has been begun in Avhich it is hoped to collect for detailed 

 comparison as many as possible of the commercial hop sorts. The 

 application of the principles of plant improvement to the most im- 

 portant medicinal plants under trial promises to yield far-reaching 

 results. 



The testing garden in South Carolina carries a relatively small 

 number of kinds of plants, attention having been given rather to test- 

 ing on a larger scale the commercial possibilities of some of the more 

 promising things. Paprika pepper of the Hungarian style has been 

 grown by Mr. T. B. Young, Scientific Assistant, in cooperation with 

 a number of farmers. A favorable yield was obtained this year, 

 aggregating about 45,000 pounds of dried peppers, which were dis- 

 posed of to spice millers at a fair price. This crop seems likely not 

 to need much further attention from the Department. The more 

 pungent sorts used in making cayenne, for which a wider market 

 exists, need a similar study in the hope that this much larger market 

 may be supplied as a result of home industry. 



Camphor and other investigations in Florida. — At the Florida 

 testing garden a considerable number of plants are being tested, 

 among others ginger, turmeric, oil-bearing grasses, and other fragrant 

 plants. Lemon grass seems to promise good results, as far as thrifti- 

 ness and oil content are concerned, but seems to suffer somewhat from 

 frost. Several native mints when cultivated thrive very well and 

 deserve careful consideration. The future of the volatile-oil experi- 

 ments seems to be very promising. 



In the investigation of camphor, the progress of an experiment 

 which depends on the growing of trees is of necessity not very rapid. 

 The seedlings grown from trees of high camphor content have in 

 large part been transferred to the nursery in the open, and planting 

 to the field will soon be begun by Mr. S. C. Hood, Scientific Assistant, 

 in charge of the experiment. The equipment of the experimental 

 factory is also receiving attention, a new form of condenser being 

 among the features of greatest interest. Rather severe frosts have 

 been experienced during the year, but apart from some temporary 

 injury to the tops no harm was done. 



Neav testing garden in Wisconsin. — Arrangements have been 

 made with the University of Wisconsin wherebj^ a drug-plant testing 

 garden has been established at Madison. This is the only garden 

 located in the colder part of the country and it will supply conditions 

 for the testing of plants demanding rigorous conditions. About 

 thirty sorts of drug and related plants were grown and observed 

 during the year. It seems probable that many of the most important 

 drug plants, belladonna, for instance, will not survive the winter 

 under commercial conditions, but others are more promising. 



Perfumery-plant investigations. — Field and laboratory work on 

 native and imported plants yielding volatile oils used in perfumery 

 making, the scenting of soaps, etc., has been continued by Mr. Frank 

 Rabak, Chemical Biologist, in cooperation with the testing gardens 

 in Florida and at Arlington, Va. Some weeds and other wild plants 

 have received attention. The work in Florida with lemon grass and 



