352 ANNUAL REPORTS OF DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 



MISCELLANEOUS POMOLOGICAL WORK. 



The work on the adaptability of pecan varieties and also that with 

 reference to the improvement of citrus fruits have made good prog- 

 ress during the i)ast year. 



Pecan investicatioxs. — Work having for its object the determi- 

 nation of the relative merit and cultural adaptability of pecan vari- 

 eties to cultivation in the South Atlantic and (lulf States has been 

 conducted by Mr. C. A. Reed, Special Agent, along lines followed in 

 previous years. The work is growing in imj)ortance and extent, and 

 n large quantity of data is being accumulated. Many inquiries from 

 nut growers and pr()S])ective planters are answered through corre- 

 spondence, as well as by addresses and consultation. Field experi- 

 ments are being conducted to ascertain the imjiortance of cross-polli- 

 hation in pecan orchai'ds, with special reference to the influence on 

 the yield and quality of the crops. Cracking experiments with lead- 

 ing varieties were made during the past year to determine the com- 

 parative merits of the nuts of different varieties. 



Citrus-fruit improvement through bud selections. — Investiga- 

 tions now being prosecuted by Mr. A. D. Shamel, Physiologist, have 

 for their object the improvement of citrus fruits, especially oranges, 

 lemons, and pomelos, by bud selection. Previous observations in con- 

 nection with the fruit transportation and storage work of the Bureau 

 in California have indicated that there is great variability in yield, 

 quality, and value of product of individual trees of the important: 

 commercial varieties and strains of citrus fruits. During the past 

 year careful records were made of the yield of selected individual 

 trees, and also of selected blocks of trees in typical groves. Records 

 of the crop of each tree and the number of each size of fruit were 

 carefully made, together with observations on the habit, vigor, type 

 of growth, and quality of the fruit. In this way records were made 

 of 207 orange trees and 75 pomelo trees, all 12 years old. The results 

 show marked differences in the yields of trees growing under the same 

 conditions. The yields of oranges in the same grove ranged from 14 

 fruits weighing 7 pounds to 816 fruits weighing 432 pounds per tree. 

 The yields of pomelos ranged from 5 to 520 pounds to the tree, with 

 fruits ranging from perfectly seedless to an average of 50 seeds per 

 fruit. These records must be continued through a series of years, in 

 order to determine whether the differences in yield persist. 



GREENHOUSES, GARDENS, AND GROUNDS. 

 GENERAL MAINTENANCE AND OPERATION. 



The work of caring for the greenhouses, gardens, and grounds of 

 the Department has been continued by Mr. E. M. Byrnes, Assistant 

 in Charge. 



Greenhouse operations. — In the Department range 26 green- 

 houses are now devoted to general propagation, hybridization, and 

 plant-breeding work; to experimental work with vegetables and with 

 florists' crops; to seed-testing work; and to various other lines of 

 investigation of the Bureau of Plant Industry. The propagation of 

 plants, both for distribution and for the ornamentation of the Depart- 



