December 14, 1900.] 



SCIENCE. 



901 



plant physiology, Pacific coast investiga- 

 tions, plant breeding and plant nutrition and 

 fermentation. The Secretary believes that 

 excellent results will be obtained from the 

 systematization of the work of this Division. 

 In plant breeding orange hybrids have been 

 placed at various points in the South, and 

 their value has been tested in cooperation 

 with several experiment stations. In corn 

 breeding the features aimed at are early 

 maturity, drought and smut resistance, in- 

 creased protein content, and a large yield. 

 Diseases of the sugar beet have been inves- 

 tigated, also diseases of forest trees. The 

 transfer of Mr. B. T. Galloway as chief to 

 the Directorship of Plant Industry, and the 

 succession to the chiefship of Mr. A. F. 

 Woods are noted. 



DIVISION OF POMOLOGY. 



The most important work of the year in 

 this line was the establishing and maintain- 

 ing at the Paris Exposition of an exhibit of 

 horticultural implements, seeds, plants and 

 fruits. This exhibit attracted wide atten- 

 tion, and the Secretary believes its ultimate 

 effect will be most beneficial to American 

 producers. No other country, it seems, at- 

 tempted to maintain a continuous fresh- 

 fruit exhibit. A special effort has been 

 made to give a thorough test to the cul- 

 tivation of choice European grapes in the 

 South Atlantic States. 



DIVISION OF AGROSTOLOGY. 



This work has also been divided into sev- 

 eral sections and thoroughly systematized. 

 As a result of experiments in Texas, the 

 grazing of pastures has been so much im- 

 proved that, where three years ago they 

 were estimated as capable of supporting one 

 steer to 16 acres, they will now maintain 

 in good condition one steer to 8 acres, a 

 gain of 100 per cent. Among the objects 

 of cooperative effort are the following: 

 Eange improvement, formation and man- 



agement of meadows and pastures, forage 

 plants for alkali soils, soiling crops, winter 

 pasturage, etc. Particular attention has 

 been devoted to collecting seeds, roots, and 

 plants of notable native grasses. The grass 

 garden on the Department grounds, con- 

 taining nearly 500 varieties, has been main- 

 tained, and seeds of some 200 varieties have 

 been distributed. 



DIVISION OF GARDENS AND GROUNDS. 



The Secretary refers in most compli- 

 mentary terms to the late Mr. Saunders, so 

 many years in charge of this and other im- 

 portant branches of the Department work, 

 and reports the transfer of the experimental 

 gardens and grounds, since Mr. Saunders's 

 death, to the control of Mr. B. T. Galloway. 

 Considerable space is given to tea produc- 

 tion in the United States and to the oppor- 

 tunity this industry affords of utilizing the 

 labor of colored children in the South, while 

 at the same time affording them a good 

 education. The claim is made that it has 

 been demonstrated that tea can be produced 

 in the United States for family use in gar- 

 dens and also on a commercial scale. It 

 has been shown that a good grade of tea 

 can be produced for 15 cents a pound, or 

 about $60 per acre, counting an average 

 yield 400 pounds. Such tea should sell for 

 at least 30 cents. In future special atten- 

 tion will be given to the manufacture of 

 green tea. 



BIOLOGICAL SURVEY. 



The destruction of prairie dogs has be- 

 come a practical question of great interest 

 to farmers, and is being investigated by the 

 Department. Warning is given of the pos- 

 sible danger of the introduction and dissem- 

 ination of the Belgian hare. It is reported 

 by the State Board of Horticulture in Cali- 

 fornia that several thousands of these 

 animals are now at large throughout the 

 State, and their rapid multiplication will 

 make them a source of great injury. Lab- 



