BUEEAU OF PLANT INDUSTRY. 71 



GRAIN INSPECTION AND NOMENCLATURE. 



The grain-inspectiou work of this of&ce is in charge of Mr. C. S. Sco- 

 field, and has for its object (1) the stud}^ of methods and cliaracters used 

 in the determination of different varieties of wheat and (2) the study of 

 commercial grades of cereals. The investigations on varieties, espe- 

 cially the factors influencing deterioration in transit and storage, 

 have had to do chiefly with arranging for exiDcriments at a number of 

 experiment stations for work on classification of wheats in which these 

 stations are j)articularly interested. 



The work on commercial grades consisted in gathering data on 

 methods now in vogue of sampling and grading grain and in collect- 

 ing samples of carloads and cargoes for accurate mechanical analysis 

 and moisture determinations. The results of these analyses will 

 probably furnish a more accurate basis for commercial grades than 

 the printed rules now used by inspectors in various markets. 



TESTING GARDENS. 



The testing gardens have been carried on, under the direction of 

 the Botanist, by Mr. W. R. Beattie. The i^rincipal work has been 

 along the lines of general trials or variety comparison work. Aside 

 from the testing of Congressional seeds, a large number of samples of 

 lettuce, radishes, beets, cucumbers, melons, etc., have been planted 

 and compared. About 360 samples of foreign melons and cucumbers 

 were noted and compared, and hand-pollinated seeds of the promis- 

 ing sorts saved in many cases. These seeds have been sown this 

 season for further comjjarison with native varieties. Several varieties 

 of so}^ beans and cowpeas lately imported from Japan and Korea were 

 planted last year with a view to determining earliness in maturing; 

 also to secure a larger amount of seed. The seed thus obtained has 

 been resown this season for the purj)ose of further study of the varie- 

 ties and the production of a quantity of seed sufficient for trial on a 

 larger scale by experimenters. During the year special attention was 

 given to the celery industry, including cultural methods, variety com- 

 parisons, and the preparation of a bulletin giving simple directions 

 how to grow the crop. The cultivated varieties of okra have all been 

 grown and compared, and in most cases their syuonomy determined. 



CURRENT WORK. 



The increased work in the seed laboratory has made it necessary to 

 secure additional quarters, and to accomplish this, arrangements have 

 been made for a new laboratory building which will greatly facilitate 

 the work. The pure seed investigations of this laboratorj^ will be con- 

 tinued, and, in addition, special efforts will be put foith in the matter 

 of encouraging the production of certain kinds of seed in this country. 

 The fiber investigations will be extended to include some special 

 studies of flax, hemp, and other plants, in line with the suggestions 

 already made under the notes given on the work of the 3^ear. Owing 

 to the importance of the drug and medicinal ijlant investigations, a 

 special effort will be put forth to enlarge the scope of this work, and 

 experiments will be inaugurated to determine the practicability of 

 growing promising drug and medicinal plants in various parts of the 

 country. It is to be regretted that the funds now at command will 

 not permit of very extended work in this direction, as it is believed 



