BUREAU OF PLANT INDUSTRY. 353 



ment grounds, is a part of this greenhouse work. The experimental 

 work with florists' crops included the growing of 1,702 roses, in 6 

 varieties; 5,615 carnations, in 8 commercial varieties and 728 seedling 

 plants resulting from crosses made during the past winter; and 3,200 

 chrvsaiithemums, in 322 varieties and 428 seedling plants, which are 

 the result of crosses made last autumn. The chr^'santhemums were 

 grown for the annual exhibition, which was opened to the public on 

 October 27 and closed on Xoveml^er 3, 1909. Great interest in these 

 exhibitions is shown by the public both inside and outside of Wash- 

 ington. At the close of the exhibition the flowers were cut and dis- 

 tributed to all of the hospitals in Washington. 



Construction and repair of greenhouses. — To take the place of 

 the old range of greenhouses which formerly stood at the south end 

 of the Department grounds, 8 new greenhouses have been erected at 

 the northeast corner of the grounds at a total cost of $8,728.16, or 

 an average cost per house of $1,091.02. Seven of these houses, includ- 

 ing a quarantine greenhouse, are 100 feet long, 20 feet wide, and 14 

 feet high; while one house, designed for pathological work, is 50 

 feet long, 20 feet wide, and 25 feet high. Facing the north end of 

 these housas a frame shed on brick foundation, 120 feet long, 16 feet 

 wide, and 16 feet high, was constructed for a storage and workroom, 

 at a cost of $1,330.80. A similar shed was also erected facing the 

 north end of a range of greenhouses in the northwest section of the 

 Department grounds, being 155 feet long, 16 feet wide, and 16 feet 

 high, and costing $1,765. This shed is being used for storage and 

 workrooms and also for protecting the steam pipes carrying heat to 

 the greenhouses. In the northeast corner of the grounds a fumigat- 

 ing house, 18 feet long, 16 feet wide, and 13 feet high, was constructed 

 at a cost of $230. 



Such repairs were made to the older range of greenhouses as were 

 necessary to keep them in first-class condition. Eleven greenhouses 

 were given a coat of paint, inside and outside, at a cost of $600. The 

 old range of greenhouses on the north front of the west wing of the 

 new Department building were torn doAvn and removed. 



General improve:ments in the grounds. — The ground on the site 

 of the old range of greenhouses which were removed was graded and 

 sown in grass. A galvanized-iron pipe railing was constructed at 

 the west end of the main Department building. In the Department 

 grounds 882 square yards of cement pavements were laid and 705 

 square yards of asphalt roads and walks were resurfaced; worn por- 

 tions of the macadam road were repaired and all of the macadam 

 roads were sprinkled with waste sulphite liquor and an oil emulsion 

 for the purpose of laying the dust and binding the surface so as to 

 preserve it. A portion of the lawns was treated with 540 cubic yards 

 of thoroughly decomposed stable manure. During the season the 

 lawns were mowed an<l the edges trimmed as often as required to 

 maintain them in good condition, the bare spaces being spaded and 

 reseeded. The asphnlt roads and walks were cleaned and swept 

 daily, and the macadam roads were watered daily during the dry 

 weather, previous to applying the waste sulphite. During the year 

 1,291 feet of galvanized-iron water pipe and 839 feet of sewer pipe 

 "were laid in the grounds. 



73477"— AGE 1910 23 



