84 DEPARTMENTAL REPORTS. 



will uot admit the purchase of rare and beautiful plants, to produce 

 equally as pleasing effects without cost and with the expenditure of 

 a minimum amount of labor. 



The study of special crops and their requirements will be made a 

 still larger feature of the work as soon as facilities for its prosecution 

 can be provided. This will include the commercial crops grown by the 

 florist, such as roses, carnations, violets, etc., and vegetables, such as 

 lettuce, radishes, tomatoes, cucumbers, etc., which form important 

 commercial crops during the winter months. 



We now have in our collection many plants which are of more than 

 ordinary interest and value, because they are the parent stock from 

 which an industry has sprung up. The Washington navel orange may 

 be noted as an example. The unusual interest which centers about 

 plants of this kind is sufficient reason for justifying the expenditure 

 of time and money in their preservation, and to this end a house will 

 be erected in which such interesting specimens may be cared for. 



With the growing interest in the cultivation of the European grape 

 on resistant stocks, both in Eastern and Western America, it seems 

 desirable that the collection of varieties of this class now at the Depart- 

 ment be considerably increased. It is therefore the purpose to collect 

 such varieties as show desirable qualities and test them in pots in the 

 greenhouse, not only to afford material for studying the sorts, but in 

 order that a supply of wood for grafting may be easily available. 



ARLINGTON EXPERIMENTAL FARM. 



WORK OF THE YEAK. 

 LOCATION AND CHARACTER OF THE FARM. 



The work of the Arlington Experimental Farm is conducted under 

 the office of the chief of Bureau, with Mr. L. C. Corbett in direct charge. 

 The farm is that portion of the former Robert E. Lee estate between 

 the Arlington National Cemetery Reservation and the Potomac River. 

 It can be reached by either of two lines of electric cars in twenty 

 minutes, or by carriage. 



The plot set aside for experimental use consists of some 400 acres 

 of rolling land, made up chiefly of a clay loam, underlaid at a depth 

 of 3 to 5 feet with an impervious clay subsoil, except the tops of the 

 knolls, which consist largely of gravel. As a whole, the laud lies 

 well for the purposes to which it is to be devoted. In mechanical con- 

 dition, it is all that could be desired — it is easily cultivated, responds 

 readily to good treatment, yet carries a sufficient amount of sand 

 to allow of cultivation soon after heavy rains. In general, it is in 

 a fair state of fertility, the more elevated portions alone showing a 

 lack of available plant food; this, however, will be corrected by the 

 use of green nuinures and mineral fertilizers before i^ermanent plant- 

 ings are made. The diversity in the surface provides suitable locations 

 for the various fruits adapted to this latitude, as well as facilities for 

 studying the influence of slight elevations upon frost zones. 



Since this parcel of land came under the control of the Department 

 it has been thoroughly grubbed, all brusli, briars, and tree growth hav- 

 ing been removed, thus fitting the ground for the work of draining 

 and cultivation. 



DRAINING. 



Several large streams of water reach tlie boundary of this property 

 from the Arlington National Cemetery. These streams are too large 



