350 ANNUAL EEPOETS OF DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 



VITICTJLTURAL INVESTIGATIONS. 



The investigations of the culture and utilization of the grape have 

 continued in charge of Mr. George C. Husmann, PomoTogist, and 

 good progress has been made. Mr. Ilusmann has been assisted by 

 Messrs, Charles Dearing, Scientific Assistant; F. L. Ilusmann, Viti- 

 culliiral Superintendent; and J. E. Buck and Eichard Schmidt, 

 Special Agents. 



Pacific coast investigations. — In the nursery of the Oakville, 

 Cal., experimental vineyard 47 new introductions of grape varieties 

 received through the Office of Foreign Seed and Plant Introduction, 

 together with 04 additional Vinifera varieties and 123 resistant-stock 

 varieties from other sources, are being grovt^n for future use. As all 

 of the resistant-stock varieties under test are growing in the Fresno 

 and Oakville experimental vineyards and an early determination of 

 their relative resistance is important, phylloxera have been artificially 

 placed upon their roots to insure a uniform distribution of the insect. 

 These " inoculations " were made in coojDeration with the Bureau of 

 Entomology. 



Additional plantings have been made of 84 grape varieties in the 

 Chico vinej^ard, 76 in the vineyard at Colfax, 9 at Cucamonga, 61 at 

 Lodi, and 99 at Oakville to ascertain the relative congeniality of 

 Vinifera varieties to resistant stocks; the value and behavior of 

 varieties with reference to soil types, climatic, and other conditions; 

 and the relative value of particular Viniferas not heretofore grown 

 in the United States. Along these lines valuable results and impor- 

 tant conclusions are being secured from the older plantings in the 

 experimental vineyards. Cuttings of Vinifera and resistant varieties 

 have been sent to cooperators in various sections. 



RoTUNDiroLiA INVESTIGATIONS. — In the work on Potundifolia 

 grapes 1,152 seedlings have been transplanted from the Arlington 

 Experimental Farm of this Bureau to the Pender farm of the North 

 Carolina Department of Agriculture, at Willard, N. C. Of those 

 that have blossomed about one-third are pistillate vines. The other 

 Rotundifolia plantings are thriving and the A^nes are being trained 

 to various systems on specially constructed trellises. Observations 

 on pruning experiments at Ronnoc Grove, near New Smyrna, Fla., at 

 the Medoc vineyards, near Enfield, N. C, and at other points were 

 continued and previous results were corroj)orated. In cooperation 

 with the Bureau of Chemistry, experiments in making unfermented 

 grape juice from Rotimdifolia varieties were continued and much 

 valuable data were obtained. Further research along this line is 

 necessary and is projected. 



Grape investigations in New Jersey. — The grape pruning and 

 training experiments on the farm of the Training School for the 

 Feeble-Minded, at Vineland, N. J., have been continued. The results 

 are showing that Concord grapes can be successfully grown in that 

 section. The restoration of old, run-down vines to full bearing and 

 vigor by proper training methods and care is also being fully demon- 

 strated. These investigations have given new life to the industry of 

 this and other sections, and as a result a considerable acreage of new 

 vineyards has been planted. 



