4G0 ANNUAL REPORTS OF DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 

 LANDSCAPE GARDENING, FLORICULTURE, AND SCHOOL-GARDEN WORK 



Landscape nARDENiNC. — Much attention has been given to prob- 

 lems connected with hmdscape gardening. The work under way con- 

 sists of tlie develoj)n)ent oi ornamental phmtings at the Arlington 

 Farm and the maintenance of nurseries for the propagation of orna- 

 mental trees, shrubs, and herbaceous plants. A portion of the plants 

 propagated are used in the cooperative work with the Forest Service 

 in connection with the study of the adaptation of various species to 

 intermountain conditions. A study of street tree planting in Wash- 

 ington and other cities is being prosecuted. 



It is proposed to extend the plantations at the Arlington Farm to 

 include all hardy ornamental shrubs and herbaceous perennials which 

 can be grown in this climate and as rapidly as possible to prepare 

 bulletins descriptive of herbaceous perennials, deciduous shrubs, 

 broad-leaved evergreen shrubs, coniferous evergreens, ornamental 

 trees, street and roadside trees, bulbs, house plants, roses, ornamental 

 vines, plants for special-purpose planting, planting of the farmstead, 

 planting of city yards, and the care of trees and shrubs. If the 

 work is to be extended it will be necessary to increase the trained 

 office force. 



Floriculture. — Floricultural investigations have been confined 

 (1) to varietal tests of peonies; (2) to the hybridization of carna- 

 tions to test the value of the first-generation hybrids and to deter- 

 mine the influence of two parents in transmitting color values; and 

 (3) to the continuation of the investigations to determine the value 

 of cuttings from blind and flowering wood as a means of propagating 

 roses and to determine their value as stock plants for propagation. 



Owing to tlie fact that this work has been carried on as a side line 

 to other investigations, it has not received the attention that its im- 

 portance warrants. It is hoped that funds may be made available 

 for continuirg and enlarging the work. No line of work that can 

 be undertaken would be of greater direct benefit to those engaged in 

 forcing flowers and vegetables than careful efficiency tests of the 

 heating plants and of the fuel used. As soon as funds are made 

 available, a competent engineer and horticulturist is to give attention 

 to these problems. 



School-garden work. — The usual plan of distributing collections 

 of flower and vegetable seeds at the request of schools maintaining 

 gardens has been continued. Requests for these seeds have been 

 received from every State, and many Members of Congress have used 

 a considerable proportion of their allotments of seeds for school- 

 garden purposes. The results indicate that an increased quantity 

 of seeds will be needed in the future. 



CONGRESSIONAL SEED DISTRIBUTION. 



During the fiscal year 1912, on congressional and miscellaneous 

 requests, 10,158,358 packages of vegetable seed and 2,158,608 pack- 

 ages of flower seed, a total of 12,316,966 packages, each containing 

 5 packets of different varieties, were distributed; 13,478 one-peck 

 packages of improved varieties of cotton seed ; 5,240 packages of im- 



