90 DEPARTMEl^TTAL REPORTS. 



border of the various ornamental grasses, wliich serve well to illus- 

 trate the value of these plants for decorative purposes. These two 

 plantations form educational exhibits of more than ordinary interest. 



PLANT INFIRMARY. 



In order tO' facilitate the work of vegetable pathology, one of the 

 plant houses of the range upon the grounds is devoted to plants grown 

 for t^ie purpose of studying the diseases which affect them, as well as 

 the j)hysiological influence of these diseases upon the health, vigor, 

 and fruitf ulness of the host plant. Foi* want of a better term this 

 house has been designated the infirmar5^ 



SEED AND PLANT INTRODUCTION. 



Annually a large variety of i)lants of value are brought to the prop- 

 agating houses of Gardens and Grounds through the activity of the 

 office of Seed and Plant Introduction. Usual]}' these plants, seeds, 

 and cuttings are sent in small quantity — sometimes a single scion or 

 cutting forms the only starting point — and as these are too frequently 

 in poor condition after a journey perhaps extending halfwa}' around 

 the world, it requires the utmost care, skill, and judgment to insure 

 the growth of such material. Mr. George W. Oliver, the expert in 

 charge of this branch, has been exceptionallj' successful with this 

 material, and a great majority of the importations have been i3reserved 

 and increased. Among the more noteworthy importations of the j'ear 

 are a large and choice collection of loquats from northern Africa. 

 Several hundred plants have already been secured from this stock, 

 and the work is still in progress. These sorts are said to be much 

 superior to those now cultivated in the United States. If the varie- 

 ties prove equal to the claim made for them by our foreign agents, 

 the loquat industry, which is already of decided economic importance, 

 will be entirely revolutionized and made much more remunerative. 



The question of the best method of proj)agating these foreign finiits 

 is one of great imi^ortance, for the commercial success of an industry 

 frequentlj' hinges on this point. Up to the present time the difficul- 

 ties connected with the successful proijagation of the more desirable 

 sorts of the mango have defeated the successful commercial cultiva- 

 tion of this fruit in America. Our work A\'ith this plant leads us to 

 believe that the difficulty has in great part been overcome and that 

 desirable sorts will soon replace the indifferent seedlings. 



In addition to the loquats above mentioned extensive additions have 

 been made to the collection of foreign grapes, figs, and citrus fruits, 

 over 50 varieties of the latter having been successfully propagated 

 and distributed during the year. 



The candle nut {Aleurites triloba) has been grown and distributed 

 in those portions of the United States and the Hawaiian Islands con- 

 sidered best suited to its development. If a success, this vnW add 

 another nut of economic value to our already long list. 



The carob, or St. John's bread, one of the drought-resisting trees of 

 the Orient, has been successfully propagated in large numbers, about 

 10,000 young seedlings having heen grown. It is believed that this 

 tree will prove of special value as a shade and ornamental tree through- 

 out the dry regions of the Southwest, particularly through southern 

 California, Arizona, and New Mexico. 



The jack fruit {Artocarpus iniegrifolia) has been propagated and 

 disseminated in southern Florida, southern Texas, and southern Cali- 



