408 ANNUAL KEPORTS OF DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 



at Bard, Cal., in the fall of 1911. The plants were extremely vigor- 

 ous and grew to mdch larger size than under native conditions in 

 Palestine. The numb(;r of stalks produced by stooling was also very 

 large, with a dense growth of herbage th^t may be valuable for forage 

 or grazing purposes. The individual plants were extremely diverse 

 in all their charactei'S. The results indicate that the importation is 

 worthy of further attention. 



First-generation hybrids or corn. — The importance of first- 

 generation hybrids as a means of increasing the yield of corn has 

 made it necessary to develop a more reliable and accurate method for 

 determining the percentage of increase resulting from different com- 

 binations of varieties. The improved method when applied proved 

 that the hybrid yielded 10 per cent more than either parent, and 

 showed the method of comparison to be sufficiently accurate to detect 

 a difference of 3 per cent. 



The value of first-generation hybrids of a drought-resistant Chinese 

 variety of corn has been demonstrated in a yield test made in the 

 season of 1911 at San Antonio, Tex., under extreme conditions of 

 drought. Though the yield of the pure Chinese variety Avas much 

 less than any of the American varieties, hydrids of the Chinese corn 

 with four American varieties considered most promising for that 

 region gave yields of 20 to 90 per cent more than their American 

 parents. 



DBUG-PLANT, POISONOUS-PLANT, PHYSIOLOGICAL, AND 

 FERMENTATION INVESTIGATIONS. 



The work of the past year has retained the same general features 

 end organization as during the preceding year, Dr. R. H. True in 

 general charge. 



DRTJG-PLANT INVESTIGATIONS. 



The work with drug plants consists chiefly in the development of 

 the possibilities of producing them and their products in this country. 

 They are now derived in part from foreign sources and in part from 

 our native flora. The preliminary tests are conducted on a small scale 

 at a number of points in order to ascertain the most favorable condi- 

 tions of soil and climate. Larger experiments on a commercial scale 

 are then undertaken, usually in cooperation with private parties who 

 are able to furnish favorable conditions. 



Work at Arlington farm. — The work at Arlington farm under 

 the direction of Dr. Walter Van Fleet has been considerably in- 

 creased through the planting of many new drug plants and related 

 kinds. A planting of about 40 sorts of roses of types yielding attar 

 of roses or the rose oil of commerce may be mentioned. The blooms 

 of these bushes furnished sufficient material during the past spring 

 for the distillation of small quantities of oil for experimental study. 

 This collection will be increased as facilities for plucking and distil- 

 ling the petals can be provided. The work on the improvement of 

 belladonna and of other solanaceous drugs through breeding and se- 

 lection has been continued with very promising results. The ma- 

 terial grown at Arlington is verified botanically, thus affording 

 standard drugs of known origin. This collection of growing plants 

 will be ma(?e reasonably complete as future development takes place. 



