62 DEPARTMENTAL REPORTS. 



THE PAN-AMERICAN EXPOSITION. 



The remarkable success of our exhibit at the Paris Exposition made 

 it seem desirable to reproduce certain features at the Pan-American 

 Exposition at Buffalo, among these being exhibits showing the cereals 

 for milling and transportation, new varieties of cereals produced in 

 the United States, etc. A new feature of the exhibit is a large col- 

 lection of wood, showing the parasites causing the decay of construc- 

 tion timber and forest and shade trees. The wood was carefully 

 prepared, and the parasites causing the decay are in most cases clearly 

 shown. This exhibit is designed to give those interested a clear idea 

 of what investigations the Department is carrying on in this line. 

 Another portion of the exhibit illustrates the methods of treating the 

 most injurious plant diseases. This has proved to be a very popular 

 feature. The plant-breeding work of the Department is also repre- 

 sented by photographs and specimens, the subject being presented in 

 such a way as to convey a good general idea of the work being done. 



REPORT OF THE BOTANIST, FREDERICK V. COVILLE, ON WORK OF THE YEAR. 

 SEED-TESTING WORK. 



During the year ended June 30, 1901, more samples of clover and 

 grass seeds have been sent in by seedsmen and farmers for testing 

 than ever before. In a number of cases seedsmen have sent samples 

 for examination and have depended upon our report to guide them in 

 the purchase of large quantities of seed. We intend to encourage this 

 practice and to be in a position to furnish prompt and accurate infor- 

 mation in such cases. We also hope to inaugurate a system by which 

 seedsmen may guarantee a standard grade of field seeds. With this 

 in view, we are now training additional help to do the careful 

 mechanical work required. 



DEPARTMENTAL TESTS. 



Some 400 samples of grass seed were tested for the Office of Grass 

 and Forage Plant Investigations, and all the important seeds distrib- 

 uted by the Office of Seed and Plant Introduction in any quantity have 

 been tested for purity and germination. The testing of seed for Con- 

 gressional distribution has necessitated a great deal of work, owing to 

 the large number of sample lots sent in by the contractor. Our facilities 

 for testing the seeds to be supplied for the large contract of next winter 

 are satisfactory and we shall be able to make prompt reports. 



STUDIES OF KENTUCKY BLUE-GRASS SEED. 



Extensive studies have been conducted upon the curing and methods 

 of germination of Kentucky blue-grass seed. It has been shown that 

 the poor quality of much of the Kentucky blue-grass seed on the market 

 is due to improper harvesting and curing and that this can easily be 

 avoided in the future by changing some of the methods at present in 

 vogue. 



STUDIES ON THE IDENTIFICATION OF SEEDS. 



These studies have been carried on for the following genera: Bras- 

 sica, Agrostis, Atriplex, Lolium, and Festuca. The work on Brassica 



