BUREAU OF PLANT INDUSTRY. 343 



justified in devoting a great amount of time and attention to it, yet 

 the aggregate value of the industry is suiRcient to warrant a thor- 

 ough study of it. It is hoped that work of this kind can be under- 

 taken in the near future. 



POMOLO,GICAL COLLECTIONS. 



The Pomological Collections, including the identification of fruit 

 varieties and the revision of the nomenclature of fruits, have con- 

 tinued in charge of Col. G. B. Brackett, Pomologist. About 300 

 herbarium specimens of fruit varieties have been added to the col- 

 lections, which will be of value in the identification and description 

 of varieties by foliage and flowers. 



Simplification of fruit nomenclature. — Investigations in this 

 direction have been considerably retarded through the death of Prof. 

 W. H. Ragan, so long in direct charge of the work ; but considerable 

 progress has been made during the past few months. The manu- 

 script of a bulletin on peach nomenclature, following the lines of 

 those previously issued on the apple and other fruits, is nearing 

 completion. Much valuable material has been collected in connection 

 with this work. 



Identification of fruits. — The number of fruits received for 

 identification and description has exceeded that for several previous 

 years. Of a total of 3,224 varieties received, 1,323 were for identifi- 

 cation and 1,901 for comparison and examination. The new varieties 

 of fruits received numbered 216. Descriptions of 524 varieties were 

 obtained for the reference files of the office, and 453 water-color 

 paintings, 28 models of new and rare fruits, and 14 drawings, charts, 

 and lantern slides were obtained. 



Varietal studies of fruits on the farm at Arlington. — About 

 1.500 varieties of fruits are under experimental observation in cooper- 

 ation with the Arlington Experimental Farm, and the heavy crop of 

 the present season has made it possible to secure valuable notes, espe- 

 cially on peaches, that will be of interest to fruit growers. Seeds, 

 scions, and plants of 11 species of fruits, representing 137 different 

 varieties, were received during the past year and placed on trial on 

 the Arlington Experimental Farm. Varieties were also sent for trial 

 to several of the state experiment stations and to cooperators in 

 various sections. 



FIELD INVESTIGATIONS IN POMOLOGY. 



The field work of the Bureau with reference to the culture and 

 handling of fruits has continued along the same general lines as here- 

 tofore, under the direction, until February 1, 1910, of Mr. Wm. A. Tay- 

 lor, Pomologist, and of Mr. G. Harold JPowell. Upon the appoint- 

 ment on that date of Mr. Powell as Pomologist and Assistant Chief of 

 Bureau, Mr. A. V. Stubenrauch, Expert, assumed general charge of 

 the fruit transportation and storage investigations. Good progress 

 has been made in the various lines of investigation during the past 

 year. 



