The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1870-11-30


ported In its early infancy by the estabshnent OF
one or more national plantations az points selected
The time is now opportunc for commencing such q
work, since supply OF y0ung trees IL easily Ootain-
nnd woaa occur
The propagation OF the Cinchona has boon COM
menced 10 the experimental division 81 tnls Depart.
hundred specimens now on hand Will be Increased
to thousands whenever facilities are Afforded for
testing the feasibility OF successful growth Ia the
| open air. .s1ae tns Gae t- sl aa -
Il earnestly hope that an appropriation win b
| THE CONSERVATORY AT WASHINGTON.
Under system OF rigid economy the objects for
which appropriations we're made At the1ast session
or C0ngress-vz., the erection Of glass structures
be used in the propagation OF economic plants tho
Improvement OF the department grounds and the
the conservatory building, for which an appropria-
ton OF $4,000 was made, includes grapery not
structure is perhaps ansarpassod in this country
for utility ana ornamental effect and only excelled
% y a s o Aua rss AND y ow
nearly finished, Q large portion being already occu-
PIED. The main building Is 800 feet In length. with
x by tnry e vii BE- nshsS
for the accommodation Of the tallQrowing tropical
tthirty feet square) viii be manly devoted to the
grange family and similar FRUITS that require
wings viii 6e used for ine general collection Of spe.
Salts Ts grsPer di'eSy ~ the Ssar re and IN
length and twenty-six feet In width, has been
erected Tor cultlvating and testing the best and
select varieties OF foreign grapes. The adaptabiiity
fruit now alry established, and the best varieties
are objects OF special inquiry. ~e.ucss.. 4tf aeg
should mol BE- oyercoScd o Or
not intended for the cultivation OF merely 0rnamen-
tai plants, Though some attention viii be given 10
tcal acquaintance with the improved nora or other
countries, but will be occupied mainly tor tile pro-
pagation and experimental culture Of oil plants that
supply, and which promise success IN their introduce
tio er,,a among the paying crops q the country.
value which may not bc produced In some sections
OF our continental domain; and the extent and cos
not require, the greatest variety In production con-
sistent with ECONOMY OF labor aud other peculiar
events shows that farmers ana planters are alive e
the necessity OF such diversity; and this idea should
be fosIered and encouraged, as 1t - one OF the most
reliable indices OF progressive cultivation.
Among ether species OF valuable plants already in
the collection may be mentioned the ID0mea ptHga,
producing the Jalap; Hurd crspRans, the sand. box
OrelIa7ad the arnott0 plant; ManihOt uttfitssfnnd,
cn1amnu Or lemon moi Srass Eagta
Cardamomurn, the cardamu plant; Amomugn
Aeie0uetd, carminatve; Ta,aartndus Indtcd, the
pant Ciscisona. Of various preferred specles. the
Peruvian barks; Sesunaum Indtcun1 famed for
maica licorice; Taurus Cunspnora. the camphor
plant; CinildIeOnsttnl UeI'uln. tho cinnamon tree;
1caota cdtecl.u; Nesaa Je,7a. medicinal plant;
GutdndtnG BO7ldIe an oll.beartng plant; Piper
Betet, tho betel nut; CiuStd tacd the basam tree:
Piper cubeoo; DorsEeat0 Brastlensts; H@,natorvlon
CaD'pec,sanum; Dracae,aa Draoo and pterocarpus
Mdrs,totssn,, famed dye plants; CrotoB Ti9ttum and
Etaels GutneeastS, valuable olproducing trees with
or fruits. the various Mssas. especially the M Ca
Dendtsltat or dwarf banana; PSidtu7ns or Gtdras,
so famed as co1diment; the Anngosteea, G0rcintG
cana; Ach,,as Sap0ta; Ltmonta Americana; Man
0eerd Inded, the mango tree; CrvSophvltuy's cat
NO tas Yves. inalen star apple; papaus yasgarss
LoaqanIn; Afsond C1.eri1no.fa. the chcrtmoyer;
AnGcar1tum occtdentale; tine date palm; PhGntr
daeylge1u; the Brazil nut Of commerce; Be,'tlol
etia ercclsn, and the monkey cup nut, LecyttaS;
Ntictum aortd9nuD,, the aniseed plant and Others
of the pome and nut families.
| The plants that furnish the various gums, dyes,
resins oils and iibres Of commerce are very numer
Gus and many species nave not yet been introduced.
OF the fbrous plants IN the collection oil the depart
| ment may be mentioned the MuSd terttlts, the
MANILA hemp plant various species Of Hibiscus and
notice. has also been secured for trial THOSE pro
ducng material for the manufacture or paper are
specially worthy of trial and experiments. Cen
splcuous among uullzable plants Is the extensive
OF food, medicine and clothing or this extensive
series but lew have yet been added 70 the collec,
Tue distribution OF seeds and plants OF the China
grass, Bonslta ntrea, has afforded the opportunity
to ascertain It's proper culture aud become familiar
with It's growth resulting in the conclusion that It's
| culture can be successfully prosecuted whenever
the perfection OF machinery for us preparation may
demand il. The Jutc plant, Co'Ch0rus cdpSutaf'S,
Is also giving entire satisfaction as to growth and
II IS believed that tho profitable extension OF pro-
| ductlon, by The contemplated introduction OF new
| plants and the enlarged culture OF crops yielding
now only partial supply OF the home demand, such
as sugar cane rice, grapes ana semitropicai fruits,
and possibly tea to the extent OF family supply IN
suitable lattudes may Increase the annual value Of
rural productions TO the extent oil 5000 900, thus
accomplishing revenue reform which would save
TO the country That magnificent sum In addition to
the amount Of import duties which would DC col
leced upon such an Importation.
Though such success should NOT be Attained, there
can be no doubt whatever that many new plants
may be successfully acclimaed, any one Of which
may exceed in value the total amount OF all appro
priaions hitherto made to this Department.
DISTRIBUTION OF SEEDS.
The number OF packages Issued during clever
months OF the year number 1884, OF which 1873 OF:
were sent 10 members OF Congress, 1866 to agrcul
respondents, 1860 to meteorological Observers The
distribution includes seeds OF cereals grasses, hemp
hsda ana Of Of
rarer species Of plants olea9inous, edible medicinal
and fbrous. The most abundant and convincing
evidence or the great economic value OF this disrbu
ton can be obtained from the archives OF the De
partment or gained from the sub.rep0rt In recon
annual volumes.
The total amount expended by this Department
since November So 1869, the date Of my last report
| Is $169,176 "a under the following appropriations
10 witt Naa
Compensation OF Commissioner, clerks ana
employees. sos, Il
Collecting statistics and material for annual
and moDthly reports ....................., II. 2o
Purchase aud distribution Of new and valua
BILE seeds. Observation-Disclosures. 20,73
purchase Of plants, &C. ................... 10 1s
MISUNDERSTANDING, freight fuel,
herbarum, keep Of horses, &c............. 1910
Improvement Of grounds reservation No. p 1901
Erection OF glass structures for the cultva-
ten OF medical, textile and economic
plants. Standardization. 22,4o
| Miscellaneous. ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS. L52
Total $780, III
| Leaving total balance uncxpended OF the appro
preparation for the current fiscal year or $107370.
! HORACE CAPRON,
| Commissioner OF Agriculture.
| Heel flpA N.rD rasi mt