EEPOET OF THE COMMISSIONER OF AGRICULTURE. 11 



950,000 garden and flower seeds ; about 120,000 tobacco seed, and tlie re- 

 mainder cotton, flax, &c. 



The anxiety of the people of the country to obtain the seeds, and the satis- 

 faction manifested at their reception and the resulting productions, are a 

 sufficient attestation that the distribution of valuable seeds by the department 

 is a recognized custom and duty which may not be abandoned, the complaints 

 of captious or interested parties to the contrary notwithstanding; and I hazard 

 nothing in saying that in no department of this government does the expenditure 

 of a like sum confer upon so large a proportion of the people anything like 

 the same amount of pleasure and substantial enjoyment. 



The propagating and experimental garden, a most important branch of this 

 department, in former years suffered much through incompetency and neglect. In 

 order to remedy these evils, and in so far as it may be possible to make up for lost 

 time, I have taken great pains to secure the services of a gentleman eminently 

 well known in that department of science needed to carry on successfully the 

 experiments to be made. 



During the year there have been distributed from the garden of the depart- 

 ment about 25,750 articles, comprising vines, bulbs, cuttings, and plants. About 

 one-half of these were distributed through members of Congress ; the remainder 

 has been sent for dissemination by agricultural and other rural associations. 



While the introduction and propagation of new and valuable plants will always 

 command a large share of attention as one of the principal objects of the garden, still 

 it is believed that investigations having in view a more thorough knowledge of the 

 diseases of plants, especially with reference to those of our more valuable and 

 generally cultivated fruits, should receive more attention than formerly. Acting 

 upon this belief, and being convinced of the immense importance of the grape 

 crop as a fruit for general consumption, and more particularly in view of the 

 extraordinary increasing interest now developing in regard to the production of 

 native wines, an extensive correspondence has been opened with vineyardists 

 in all parts of the country, for the purpose of comparing the results of experi- 

 ence and observation in regard to the influences of soil and climate, as also the 

 effects of varied treatment and the estimation of varieties. Much valuable in- 

 formation has thus been contributed, embracing a collection of facts without 

 which it would be imposbible to reach intelligent conclusions. 



It has been considered advisable, as one of the best modes of extending in- 

 terest in pomological and horticultural pursuits, to establish examples in order 

 to exhibit practically the results of varied modes of treatment and applications 

 of systems. This feature is being extended, and is found to be of peculiar and 

 special interest to visitors, and its results have already been repeatedly acknowl- 

 edged by those most capable of appreciating such efforts. 



The limited facilities of the present garden greatly retard the full develop- 

 ment of this object. It is highly necessary to establish specimen orchards of 

 the best fruits, in order to illustiate the best modes of culture, and arrive at a 

 correct knowledge of the nomenclature of varieties of fruits. This want is now 



