BUREAU OF PLANT INDUSTRY, 87 



viticultural investigations planned for the future comprise the main- 

 tenance of the existing stations and experimental plots, together with 

 the thorough investigation of the native grape production in the 

 Southern States, and a preliminary survey of the important commer- 

 cial grape sections of the Pacific coast. The fruit district investi- 

 gations will be extended to cover a larger area, and it is expected 

 that in addition to the work now under way in the Allegheny Moun- 

 tain region work will be begun in the Ozark region of Missouri and 

 Arkansas. 



HORTICULTTJRAL INVESTIGATIONS. 

 GARDENS AND GROUNDS. 



This work is in charge of Prof. L. C. Corbett, the Horticulturist of 

 the Bureau, who submits the accompanying statement of results accom- 

 plished during the year: 



The area occupied by the gardens and grounds of the Department 

 of Agriculture comprises nearly 33 acres. A large portion of this 

 reserve is park area, planted for the most part with native ornamental 

 and economic trees and shrubs, arranged in groups according to their 

 botanical affinities as well as to conform to the princijiles of landscape 

 gardening. The care and maintenance of a park area of this extent 

 requires careful judgment and skill on the part of the superintendent 

 as well as the labor of a considerable force of workmen. 



LAWNS. 



The maintenance and reconstruction of lawns on areas either fully 

 exposed to the sun or those densely shaded bj' overhanging branches 

 is a problem of interest to every place holder as well as park superin- 

 tendent. Because of the exceptional soil conditions of t]m District of 

 Columbia the maintenance of a creditable lawn is rendered difficult. 

 In ordei", therefore, to throw some light upon tins problem, different 

 methods of preparing the soil and of sowing the seed, as well as the 

 time of seed sowing, are being tested on the grounds. In this connec- 

 tion, the vital points of time and manner of applying water to the lawns 

 are receiving attention, 



ECONOMIC PLANTS UNDER GLASS. 



In addition to the outdoor plantation of trees and shrubs, a large 

 collection of tropical and subtropical plants is maintained under glass. 

 As opportunity and means will permit, it will be the aim to bring 

 together in this collection all the economic plants of the dependencies 

 of this country, as well as from various horticultural regions of the 

 United States. 



FOREIGN GRAPES. 



In addition to the general collection of economic plants above 

 referred to, a house 26 by 136 feet in extent is devoted to foreign 

 grapes, representing among its varieties some of the best wine, des- 

 sert, and raisin grapes of Europe. This collection, although a valu- 

 able one, contains many sorts which du]-ing late years have been 

 sujiplanted by more valuable new ones, and it is proposed to modify 

 the present collection by eliminating some of the less valuable and 



