88 DEPARTMENTAL REPORTS. 



substituting therefor the newer and more desirable sorts not onlj^ for 

 the purpose of showiiiii' the best that Europe has to offer, but in order 

 tliat we ma}' test them under house conditions in the United States. 

 The collection will be modified in another important feature bj' graft- 

 ing a large number of new sorts on the vines already established, 

 the object being to test the various methods of top grafting the grape 

 and at the same time double or trel>le the existing variety collection 

 without extending the area. 



The prol)lem of growing grapes in jDots, as a catch crop for houses 

 devoted to the forcing of flowers and vegetables during the winter 

 season, is now receiving attention. 



TROPICAL FRUITS. 



In addition to the grapery, there is upon the grounds a house, 24 by 

 101 feet in extent, devoted to the growth of subtropical tree fruits. In 

 this collection are a number of sorts of oranges, the most noteworthy 

 among which is a Bahia or Washington navel tree, one of the original 

 importations upon which the whole citrus industry of California has 

 been built up. The collection also contains lemons, grape fruit or 

 shaddocks, and mandarin and tangerine oranges from Japan. There 

 are also two bearing guava plants, one bearing loquat and a large col- 

 lection of the choicest foreign varieties of this fruit brought in through 

 the office of Seed and Plant Introduction. 



ROSES. 



Another house, 24 by 101 feet, is now given up to the culture of 

 roses. The work here consists of a study of the best methods of prop- 

 agating the rose. This involves a test of the comparative merits of 

 flowering and blind wood, as well as a studj^ of the best character of 

 wood of each sort, the best season of the year for making cuttings 

 for continuous bloom, as well as an investigation of the comparative 

 merits of various devices and mediums in which to strike the cuttings. 

 The value of crown and root-grafted roses is also made a part of this 

 study. As an incident to the rose work, the development of new 

 forms is constantly under way. 



CARNATIONS. 



With this valuable commercial plant the work is being pushed along 

 on much tlie same plan above outlined for the ro.se. New methods of 

 culture which shall secure earlier, larger, and more abundant bloom 

 for a given area are being tested. The results indicate that much less 

 loss from disease will follow than when oi-dinary field culture is prac- 

 ticed. A more extended test of the plan under varying conditions is 

 contemplated before it is recommended for commercial concerns. For 

 the amateur, however, it will prove far superior to the ordinary- plan 

 now in vogue. As a side issue to the cultural work, new seedling sorts 

 are constantlj' being developed, with the hope of securing something 

 which shall be superior to the sorts now in general cultivation. The 

 importance of the work along floricultural lines is shown by the com- 

 mercial returns. Cut flowers wholesaled in the city of New York 

 alone during 1901 amounted in value to $2,750,000, and it is .safe to 

 say that one-half of this sum was expended for roses and carnations. 

 The value of these crops would justify the expenditure of an amount 

 greater than is annually set apart for the entire maintenance of the 

 Experimental Gardens and Grounds. 



