354 ANNUAL EEPORTS OF DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 



Ornamental plantings. — A collection of 12,500 standard sorts of 

 crocus, hyacinth, tulip, and narcissus bulbs and 3,500 pansy plants 

 were planted in the beds in the autumn for disphiy in the early 

 sprino^. A collection of 10,270 bedding plants in 38 species and 

 varieties and 834 tropical plants in 20 species and varieties Avere 

 planted in beds in the spring. On the trial grounds a collection 

 of hybrid grasses and cowpeas was planted for testing. The collec- 

 tion of ornamentals in the grounds was increased by the planting 

 of 17 3'Oung evergreen trees and 124 young flowering shrubs; and 11 

 young evergreen trees were planted at the east end of the new heat- 

 ing plant to form a screen. The shrubs and hedges were pruned 

 as often as required, and dead trees and branches were removed from 

 the grounds. 



HYBRIDIZATION AND PROPAGATION OF PLANTS. 



Mr. George W. Oliver, Expert, has continued his work in the 

 hybridization and propagation of forage crops and other plants. 



Production of hybrid alfalfas and cowpeas. — Numerous crosses 

 have been made between the new types of cold and drought resistant 

 yellow-flowered alfalfas sent by Prof. N. E. Hansen from Siberia 

 and the hardiest of the cultivated forms of Medicago sativa in the 

 United States. Crosses have also been made between Medicago gluti- 

 nosa, recently obtained by Mr. Frank N. Meyer in the Caucasus, and 

 the Grimm and other alfalfas. All of the seed grown as a result of 

 crossing which has been sown has produced hybrids. The method 

 of crossing used with these minute flowers is described in Bulletin 

 167 of the Bureau of Plant Industry. It may be stated that as a 

 result of two and one-half hours spent in manipulating the flowers 

 in crossing, the number of seeds produced was 531, showing that the 

 method of depending upon insect pollination for the production of 

 hybrids is a fallacious one. 



More than 900 new forms of the cowpea developed by crossing 

 have been planted at the Arlington Experimental Farm. Two 

 months after planting, a goodly number had ripe pods. Most of 

 the plants now growing are of the third generation, while some 

 promising lots are of the fourth and fifth generations. All of the 

 standard varieties are being grown for comparison. A series of 

 crosses between some of the standard varieties and what is evidently 

 a very distinct variety from South Africa having very thick stems 

 and branches are very promising. 



Propagation of varietal apple stocks. — The rapid propagation 

 of varietal apple stocks whereby any variety may be grafted on its 

 own roots has been the subject of investigation during the past year. 

 It is generally conceded that seedling stocks are unreliable, no two 

 of them being alike. It is now an easy matter to multiply stocks of 

 any variety so that they may be used as the stock on which to graft 

 the same or other varieties. A bulletin on the subject is now being 

 prepared. 



A bulletin dealing with some recent investigations on the rapid 

 propagation of certain plants is now in the hands of the printer. 



