280 ANNUAL REPORTS OF DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 



of a number of plantings with the object of eventually reaching a 

 commercial scale. It is hoped that this feature of the work can be 

 extended to include points in eastern Texas and in the arid Southwest. 

 This will make it possible to observe under suitable conditions impor- 

 tant medicinal and related plants which are at present not grown 

 in the United States. These testing gardens would be in position not 

 only to carry on work with medicinal plants, but also to handle per- 

 fumery plants and volatile-oil plants, spice plants, tannin and dye 

 plants, and other related crops. 



The physiological work on lemons with special reference to the 

 forced-curing process has developed important conditions which 

 should be given a practical test on a commercial scale. It is desir- 

 able to make a cooperative arrangement with one or more lemon 

 houses to install special experimental sweat rooms. 



Poisonous-plant investigations. — Poisonous-plant investigations 

 cover a wide field of study and in order not only to continue effect- 

 ively the original investigations but also to give application to them 

 it will be necessary to increase somewhat the now overtaxed facilities 

 of the office. Owing to the limited help available for field and 

 laboratory work it has been found difficult to give full effectiveness 

 to the results already obtained. 



Crop utilization. — Attention is once more called to an important 

 line of work, at present to a considerable extent unappreciated, which 

 has for its object the bringing together of the farm crop as produced 

 by the grower and the special requirements of the consumer. The 

 farm produces many crops which are crude materials for the manu- 

 facturer, and certain qualities in these crops are desired by the util- 

 izer. Investigations concerned solely with the growing and produc- 

 tion of the crop fall short of completing the work. It is important 

 that investigators familiar with the agricultural aspects of the crops 

 and also familiar in a technical way with the requirements of the 

 manufacturers should aid in correlating agricultural activities with 

 technical demands. The work of this office to a certain extent deals 

 with problems of this nature, but there seems to be an opportunity 

 for broadening this aspect of the work, to the great advantage of 

 both farmer and manufacturer. In view of these facts such an 

 amplification of the investigation in this direction is urged, the 

 requirements for such an extension being the means wherewith to 

 man and equip necessary special laboratories. 



Denatured alcohol. — The attempt to make the production of 

 denatured alcohol an isolated self-sustaining feature of American 

 agriculture has thus far not succeeded. In Germany, where the 

 greatest success has been achieved, alcohol production forms rather 

 one feature in a system of diversified aji'riculture and is not at- 

 tempted as a separate enterprise. It is highly desirable that the 

 possibilities of alcohol production in mixed farming operations in 

 this country should be investigated. Such an experiment must of 

 necessity involve considerable expense and time and will probably 

 be best undertaken in cooperation with organizations or individuals 

 able to furnish effective help. 



