332 ANNUAL REPORTS OF DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 



ology and Breeding; propagation of plants for ornamenting the 

 grounds of the department, for miscelhineous experimental work, and 

 for special and congressional distribution; experimental work with 

 vegetables; and plant-breeding work, which is satisfactorily proceed- 

 ing with gratifying results. A bureau bulletin was published during 

 the year as the result of this work. In one of the houses the chrysau 

 themums for the annual exhibition were grown. The exhibition was 

 opened to the public on the morning of November 2, 1910, and closed 

 on the evening of November 9, the house being open from 10 a. m. to 

 9 p. m. daily. Interest in these shows increases each year, and they 

 are looked forward to by the public both in and out of Washington. 

 After the exhibition was closed the flowers were cut and distributed 

 to the hospitals in the city, as heretofore. 



Propagation and distribution. — During the year 110,843 plants, 

 representing 64 species and varieties, were propagated and dis- 

 tributed; 95.000 strawberry plants and 25,090 grapevines were packed 

 and forwarded from the packing room for congressional distribution. 



General improvements in the grounds. — Worn-out asphalt walks 

 measuring 1,600 square yards were removed and relaid with concrete 

 and 55 square yards of concrete walks repaired. Worn portions of 

 the macadam roads were repaired and all macadam roads were 

 sprinkled with waste sulphite liquor and an oil emulsion for the pur- 

 pose of laying the dust and binding the surface so as to preserve it. 

 The lawns were treated with 144 cubic yards of thoroughly decom- 

 posed stable manure, T tons of shredded cattle manure, and 6 tons of 

 bone meal; 508 cubic yards of topsoil was used on a portion of the 

 north front of Laboratory B to bring it to grade and the graded 

 .surface was seeded in grass. During the season the lawns were 

 mowed, and such other work was done on the grounds as was required 

 to maintain them in good condition. 



Ornamental plantings. — A collection of 13,400 standard sorts of 

 crocus, hyacinth, tulip, and narcissus bulbs, and 5,700 pansy plants 

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

 spring. A collection of 15,463 bedding plants, in 32 species and 

 varieties, and 963 tropical plants, in 29 species and varieties, were 

 planted in beds in the spring; also 106 seedling roses which originated 

 in our greenhouses were planted for trial. 



Work during the present fiscal year. — It is proposed to extend 

 the frame shed at the north end of the greenhouses 32 feet to pro- 

 tect the steam pipes heating the citrus house; lay a concrete floor in 

 the new building for the boilers, and 60 by 10 feet of concrete road- 

 way for delivery of fuel to the boiler house; paint 17 greenhouses 

 inside and outside; paint the paroid roofs of offices and work rooms 

 and storage sheds ; remove the worn-out asphalt walk, the oyster-shell 

 and ash walks on the site of the old trial grounds and north front 

 of Laboratory B; fill in the walks with topsoil and grade and seed 

 in grass. 



The work of hybridization, the experimental work with florists' 

 crops and vegetables, the propagation of trees, plants, and shrubs, 

 and the general care of the grounds are to be continued along the 

 same lines as heretofore. 



