BUREAU OF PLANT INDUSTRY. 147 



in several seasons, so that it is now possible to name varieties that 

 are best adapted to the different purposes in the several districts. 

 Important conclusions have also been reached as to the relative 

 adaptability of the different districts to fruit growing. Conditions 

 in one or more of them are such as to render commercial orcharding 

 inadvisable, and in others it should not be undertaken with a view 

 to its becoming a main dependence as a source of income. The prob- 

 lems of fruit growing, that is, the technique of orchard management, 

 have received considerable attention. An effort is being made to 

 prepare as rapidly as data can be accumulated a comprehensive series 

 of publications treating of the culture of the different fruits. Dur- 

 ing the past year particular attention has been given in this connec- 

 tion to cherries, figs, dewberries, strawberries, currants, gooseberries, 

 oranges in the Gulf coast region and California, avocados, mangos, 

 and limes. 



STUDIES OF NEW CROP PLANTS AND CROP EXTENSION. 



Seed distribution. — During the fiscal year 1916 there were distrib- 

 uted on congressional and miscellaneous requests 12,417,972 packages 

 of vegetable seed and 3,754,870 packages of flower seed, or a total of 

 16,172,842 packages, each containing 5 packets of different kinds. 

 There were also distributed 14,202 packages of lawn-grass seed, 819 

 packets of tobacco seed, 10,364 boxes of narcissus and tulip bulbs, and 

 96,000 strawberry plants, comprising 16 varieties. 



A distribution of new and rare field seeds was made throughout the 

 entire United States, having for its object the dissemination of seed 

 of new and rare forage crops, seed of improved strains of staple 

 forage crops, and high-grade seed of crops new to sections where 

 the data of the department indicate such crops to be of considerable 

 promise. Each package contained a sufficient quantity of seed for a 

 satisfactory field trial, and the recipient was urged to use the seed, 

 if feasible, for the production of stocks for future plantings. A re- 

 port card and circular giving full directions for the culture of the 

 crop accompanied each package of seed. This distribution included 

 the following : Grimm, Baltic, Canadian Variegated, Peruvian, Kan- 

 sas-grown, Dakota-grown, and Montana-grown alfalfas; Sudan 

 grass; Dwarf Yellow milo; Dwarf hegari; Dakota Amber and 

 Sumac sorghums ; Kursk, Siberian, and Turkestan varieties of millet ; 

 Kaiser, Bangalia, Bluebell, French June, and Golden Vine varieties 

 of field peas; Brabham, Groit, Catjang, and Early Buff varieties of 

 cowpeas; Black Eyebrow, Haberlandt, Mammoth Yellow, Manchu, 

 and Tokyo varieties of soy beans ; Chinese, Early Florida, and Yoko- 

 hama varieties of velvet beans; Natal grass and Rhodes grass; and 

 Columbia, Dixie, Durango, Holdon, Lone Star, and Trice varieties 

 of cotton. During the year 339,742 packages of new and rare field 

 seeds were distributed, including 120,943 packages of cotton seed. 

 Such a distribution enables a farmer to procure seed of new and im- 

 proved crops in sufficient quantities to produce stocks for future 

 seeding, the general effect of which is gradually to improve the crops 

 of the country. 



