BITKEAU OF PLANT INDUSTRY. 149 



production for the year was about 350,000 bulbs, or one minimum car- 

 load, which supplied the entire quota of the congressional distribu- 

 tion. These stocks proved to be fully up to the standard. The nar- 

 cissuses were especially commented upon as of superior quality. Of 

 the minor lists of stocks not before handled, the Dutch irises, branch- 

 ing tulips, our native camassias, and some of the newer narcissuses 

 have done especially well. The propagation of the lily is promising. 

 Many species grow readily in this region by simply drilling the seed 

 in open ground in autumn. Even such a species as Lilium washing- 

 tonianum is now promising under practically open-ground condi- 

 tions, most of the plants not appearing above ground, however, until 

 the second spring. 



The preservation of bulbs taken out of beds after flowering has 

 proved to be thoroughly practicable this season. Some 20 or more 

 thousand tulips and narcissuses from the department grounds will 

 give 80 per cent of flowering bulbs, besides an average increase of 

 160 per cent of small bulbs, which are just as good planting stock as 

 can be secured anywhere. One year will bring the 80 per cent of 

 flowering stock to first-class condition and half of the small stock to 

 flowering size. This class of conservation is to be encouraged and no 

 doubt will be practical now that bulbous stocks have doubled in price. 



It has been demonstrated that the beautiful Palestine irises can 

 be grown very satisfactorily in the Sacramento Valley, and probably 

 in the other interior valleys of California. Our experiments show 

 that a reproduction of 3J fold may be expected the first two years 

 after importation ; also, what is known as the " Juno " group succeeds 

 well here. In general, these groups, although in some respects the 

 most attractive of the great iris family, have not been considered suc- 

 cessful in this country up to this time. 



The investigations of Easter lilies conducted at Arlington Farm, 

 near Washington, have revealed a number of things of importance: 



(1) Our seedling stocks after two years give a reproduction of bulblets 

 whicli is ample for all purposes of propagation. This means that once a seed- 

 ling strain has been developed a stock can be worked up very rapidly by vege- 

 tative methods, and these same methods will serve to continue the increase. 



(2) Stem bulblets, which form in the axils of the leaves near the surface 

 of the ground, are 6 to 12 in number under ordinary conditions, and several 

 of them will give one, two, or three flowers the first year and grow to good 

 flowering size with one year's cultivation. 



(3) An increased bulblet propagation can be secured by plunging the pots, 

 by lulling up around the plants, or by layering the stems. 



(4) Seed dried for two or three months germinates in a shorter time than 

 that which is sown immediately upon its maturity. 



(5) Home-grown bulbs 3 to 6^ inches in circumference average three to five 

 flowers to the stem when forced for Easter. 



(6) A few flowers are secured in one year from seed. 



(7) Seed sown in July, when carried on in pots, will produce bulbs which 

 can be forced for the second Easter following. 



(8) These facts enable growers to produce their own Easter lily bulbs from 

 seed in one year's time, the seedlings being carried in pots. After flowering, 

 the bulbs not disposed of can be carried out of doors south of Philadelphia and 

 will be ready to force again after one year's recuperation. 



(9) Stocks thus produced are free from disease. 



CORN CULTURE. 



Experiments have been conducted to demonstrate the practica- 

 bility and value of the earlier planting of corn. Proof has been ob- 

 tained that in many instances the earlier planting of large productive 



