DIYISION OF OAHDEKS AilD aSOUNDS. 35 



plauting of nsefal timber trees in parte of the United States where tree- 

 planting is recommended. 



The manifold uses of certain kinds of timber are popularly well 

 known, but there are many of what may be termed minor manufactures, 

 for which rarious trees are employed, not usually considered as worthy 

 of special notice, but which, in the aggregate, reach to surprising quan- 

 tities, using largely of certain trees which may be exi)ected in the near 

 future to become scarce, unless the natural supply is supplemented by 

 artificial plantings or stringent measures adopted for the preservation 

 of young forest growths. In connection with this portion of the gen- 

 eral exhibit, I hare made an effort, through special circulars sent to 

 wood-working establishments, to collect staMstics regarding the amounts 

 of woods used, the various species employed, the prices given for each 

 kind, and whether the supply is diminishing and cost increasing, the 

 best age of wood for particular purposes, and much other information 

 not usually published, but which will be found to possess considerable 

 value. 



In the line of pomology I secured a series of plates of fruits, colored 

 from specimens taken from the trees and accurately portrayed. Alto- 

 gether something over 800 plates were prepared, comprising grapes, 

 strawberries, raspberries, gooseberries, currants, apples, peart, plums, 

 and peaches. These, supplemented by several cases of models of fruits 

 furnished by the museum of the Department, formed an instructive 

 display to all interested in pomology. 



These pomological specimens, together with such exhibits of cotton 

 and fibers of various kinds as were procured from the Department, 

 have been returned. The exhibits of wood industries, entomological 

 exhibits, and the microscopical representation have been turned over 

 to the National Museum in this city. The statistical exhibit wa« do- 

 nated to the Missouri University. 



MILDEWS AND BLIQHTS. 



Every person who has had any lengthened experience in fhiit culture 

 must be strongly convinced that the greatest drawbacks to success are 

 those diseases designated as mildews and blights. 



While this is now freely conceded, it is somewhat singular that the 

 true cause of repeated failures in almost every fruit-growing section of 

 this country has been so long and persistently ignored, seemingly on thie 

 ground that such apparently insignificant causes were altogether inad- 

 equate to account for the disastrous consequences that occasionally 

 befell the fruit crops. 



In no instance has this been so marked as in the case of the grape- 

 vine. The injury, and sometimes the destruction, of the entire amount 

 of foliage on many of the best-flavored varieties, due to mildew, was. 

 only a few years ago, generally stated to proceed from some cause then 

 unknown. 



Sometimes it would be explained by giving it the name of sunscald, 

 iiuder the supposition that, in some way not clearly understood, it was 

 produced by the action of the sun on the foliage. The peculiar appear- 

 ance of diseased leaves gave strength to this opinion, and it was ulti- 

 mately explained that the injury proceeded from the lenses formed by 

 dew-drops, or rain-drops, which burned holes in the leaves, and thus 

 endangered the fruit crop. 



Although there does not seem to be the slightest evidence that the 

 leaves of plants are injured in the manner suggested, yet it is not 

 unusual to find sober warnings in regard to wetting or watering plant* 



