BUREAU OF PLANT INDUSTRY. 455 



general care of the grounds will be continued along the same lines 

 as heretofore, 



HORTICULTURAL INVESTIGATIONS AND ARLINGTON FARM. 



The general maintenance and development of the Arlington Farm, 

 as well as the investigations with truck crops, in landscape garden- 

 ing, floriculture, etc., have been continued under the direction of 

 Prof. L. C. Corbett. Marked progress has been made in all the 

 important projects. 



ARLINGTON FARM. 



Under the immediate supervision of Mr. E. C. Butterfield, there 

 has been a decided increase in the demand for land and facilities for 

 work at tlie Arlington Farm by the various offices of the department 

 during the past year, and although it has been thus far possible to 

 furnish such facilities, all of the available area, greenhouse space, 

 and equipment for such work have noAV been assigned. Field inves- 

 tigations at the farm during the year have been conducted by the 

 Bureau of Entomology, the Bureau of Soils, the Forest Service, and 

 also by numerous offices of the Bureau of Plant Industry. 



General improvements. — The extent of ground for experimental 

 use at the farm has been increased by installing a 42-inch concrete 

 conduit, which takes the place of one of the large open ditches. A 

 complete survey of the farm, embodying plans for the drainage of 

 areas not already tiled, has been made. Arrangements have been 

 perfected for the installation of apparatus to permit the use of the 

 electric current for lighting purposes in addition to power. The 

 equipment has been enhanced by the purchase of horses, farm wagons, 

 power spray pump, stone crusher, concrete mixer, collapsible steel 

 concrete forms, fire extinguishers, watchman's clock, and needed 

 agricultural implements. 



Soil nrrnovEMENT. — The improvement of the soil is indicated by 

 the annual increase in the variety and yield of the crops grown. 

 This gratifying result has been attained by the use of soil-improving 

 mixtures supplemented by a winter cover crop of rye and hairy vetch. 

 During (he year 2,195 loads of manure were hauled from Fort Myer 

 to the faruL 



Lawns, nursery, and greenhouses. — A collection of plants for the 

 cooperative work with the Forest Service at the ranger stations was 

 sent out and arrangements have been perfected for an additional sup- 

 ply of material for next season's distribution. Two greenhouse units 

 are devoted to general propagation purposes, tliree to the selection 

 and breeding of carnations, two to roses, four to lettuce, four to cauli- 

 flower, two to tomatoes, two to nutrition and pathological tests, and 

 one to tests of forest-tree seeds. 



FAR:\r NEEDS. — The greatest need of the farm is a suitable labora- 

 tory building with equipment for meeting the requirements of tlie 

 scientific work now centered in field researches. The congested con- 

 dition of tlie present buildings and the inadequate facilities alFoided 

 the investigators greatly handicap their work. Additional land will 

 be necessary for the increase of field work. The handling of sup- 



