OBJECTS AND AIMS OF THE EXPERIMENTAL GARDEN. 



In offering the following suggestions it is to be understood that only a few of 

 the primary and most prominent objects of the garden are brought under consid- 

 eration. No definite limits can be given as to the extent, neither can any re- 

 strictive rules control all the details of such operations; these are as various 

 and boundless as are the objects to which they are directed : 



1. To procure and encourage the transmission of seeds, cuttings, bulbs, and 

 plants from all sources, both foreign and domestic, for the purpose of testing 

 then merits and adaptation in general, or for particular localities of this country. 



2. To procure, by hybridizing and special culture, products of a superior 

 character to any now existing. 



3. To ascertain, by experiment, the influences of varied culture on products, 

 and the modifications effected by the operations of pruning and other manipula- 

 tions on trees and fruits. 



4. To investigate more thoroughly the various maladies and diseases of plants, 

 and the insects that destroy them. 



5. To provide ample means for thoroughly testing samples of all seeds and 

 other contributions that may be received. 



6. To cultivate specimens of the various hedge plants and exhibit then avail- 

 ability for that purpose. 



7. To cultivate a collection of the best fruit trees and plants, such as grapes, 

 apples, pears, peaches, strawberries, raspberries, currants, &c, bo as to compare 

 their respective merits. 



8. To plant a collection of choice shrubs, adapted for decorating gardens and 

 landscape scenery. 



9. To erect glass structures for the twofold purpose of affording the neces- 

 sary facilities for cultivating exotic fruits and plants, and to furnish examples 

 of the best and most economical modes of constructing, heating, and managing 

 such buildings. 



These propositions comprise some of the most obvious objects claiming im- 

 mediate attention, a recapitulation with further explanatory remarks may be 

 offered. 



1. To procure and encourage the transmission of seeds, fyc 



The collecting of seeds and plants is one of the most important matters. Xo 

 doubt there are, in various countries, numerous useful vegetable productions not 

 yet introduced that are capable of reaching their highest state of development 

 in some one or other of the various climates of this. It is worthy of consider- 

 ation whether future efforts would not be rendered more directly useful by issu- 

 ing letters of instruction to foreign representatives and correspondents, enumer- 

 ating such seeds and plants in their respective localities as may, in the opinion 

 of the department, be most worthy of experiment. With such advice, it is 

 reasonable to hope that much of the disappointment consequent upon indiscrimi- 

 nate collection may be avoided, and only such products introduced as present, 

 at least, plausible expectations of utility. 



The efforts of the department would be greatly strengthened in this respect, 

 and its area of usefulness vastly extended, if all who were possessed of new 

 or rare seeds and plants would co-operate by transmitting samples for investiga- 

 tion. Many persons throughout the country occasionally receive plants and 

 seeds from distant correspondents, and not having facilities for their proper cul- 

 tivation they are consequently lost. It would be highly advantageous for the 

 department to encourage the reception of such favors, have them carefully noted, 



