REPORT OF SUPERINTENDENT OF GARDENS AND 



GROUNDS. 



Sir : I beff to submit the following report on matters pertaining to 

 tbi.s divisiou. Although alluded to in former reports, I may again re- 

 ])cat that the very limited area of ground available for field work pre- 

 vents oi)crations in that line except upon a very small scale. Even the 

 testing of the merits of the various new kinds of fruits, such as straw- 

 berries, grapes, figs, &c., has become very unsatisfactory in consequence 

 of the unprotected condition of the grounds, owing to the absence of 

 suitable fencing to prevent intruders who disarrange labels, extract 

 fruits from i)lants under test, and otherwise interfere with the work on 

 the grounds. 



With plants under glass the conditions are more favorable, and with 

 such plants as oranges, lemons, &c., the work of testing new or rare 

 kinds, and propagating them, is prosecuted to the extent of the facilities 

 at command. The work of the Department in this line is highly appre- 

 ciated by those whom it serves. 



My time has been much occupied during the present year and during 

 the latter portion of 1884: in preparing exhibits for the Cincinnati, Louis- 

 ville, and New Orleans expositions. The exhibit at New Orleans was 

 the most important, and proved to be satisfactory and interesting. The 

 leading principle I kept in view in the preparation of material for these 

 expositions was that of presenting, as far as practicable, the operations 

 of the various divisions of the Department and their relations to the 

 industries represented. 



In the performance of this duty I was ably assisted by the heads of 

 the different divisions ; notably by the entomologist, statistician, bot- 

 anist, microscopist, and the chemist. By consulting with these gentle- 

 men I was enabled to mature plans, and by their earnest co-operation 

 these plans were executed, so far as time and means would permit. The 

 time was exceedingly limited, and the amount of money appropriated 

 for the work had to be considered at every step. 



The reports, when completed, will present details of the exhibits rep- 

 resenting the divisions ; briefly, they were as follows : 



The entomological division was represented by a collection made up 

 of various sections, such as : 



(1) Insects injurious to agriculture, arranged according to the particu- 

 lar plant and the particular part of the plant affected, and containing, 

 as far as possible, the different stages of growth of the insect, its ene- 

 mies and i)arasites, a statement of the remedies or preventives availa- 

 ble, and a reference to the chief articles where full information can be 

 found upon it. 



(2) Insecticide substances, with a statement of the methods of using 

 them, and the particular substance recommended for particular insects. 



(3) Insecticide machinery and contrivances for destroying insects. — This 

 consisted principally of the many useful contrivances which have been 

 designed and perfected by the entomologist. 



3 AG — ^'85 (33) 



