ROOTS. (See also HERBACEOUS AND GRASS ROOTS.) Larva, Cotalpa lanigera, (77,) herbaceous, &c. Larva, Elater obscurus, Europe, (110,) herbaceous, &c. ROSE, (ROSA:) RYE: Insect, Serica sericea, (63,) foliage, flowers. Insert, { Camptorhina, vespertina, (62,) foliage, flowers. Insect, Macrodactylus subspinosus, (65,) foliage, flowers. Larva, Insect, Zabrus gibbus, Europe, (8,) roots, grain, SAP OF TREES, ETC: Insect, Lucanida, (51.) Insect, Erirhipis inda, (81.) SKINS. (See also COLLECTIONS OF NATURAL HISTORY, ETC.) Larva, Dermestidæ, (45.) Larva, Dermestes vulpinus, (48.) Larva, Anthrenus varius, (50.) SNAILS: Larva, Insect, Silpha lævigata, Europe, (16.) Larva, Insect, Silphida, Europe, (16.) Larva, Insect, Lampyris noctiluca, Europe, (126.) SNAKES, DEAD. (See also CARRION.) Insect, Necrophorus americanus, (18.) SPIRÆA: Insect, Anthrenus varius, (50,) on flowers. SPAWN. (See FISH SPAWN.) SPRUCE, (ABIES :) Larva, Ancylochira striata, (95,) wood. SUGAR: Insect, Sylvanus surinamensis, (39,) found in. Insect, Nausibius dentatus, (42,) found in. Larva, Europhorus noctilucus, SyAmerica, (109,) roots of canes. Elater ГЕЛ, Insect, Sylvanus surinamensis, (39,) floating on. ГОВАССО, Insect, Sylvanus surinamensis, (39,) eating holes in dried leaf. UMBELLIFERÆ. (See also FLOWERS.) Insect: Anthrenus varius, (50,) flowers. VEGETABLES. (See CABBAGE, ETC.) VEGETABLE SUBSTANCES DECAYING OR DECOMPOSING: Insect, Hydrophilidæ, some, (13,) (larvæ predaccous.) (Staphylinide, partly, (25,) found in. Insect, {Staphylinini. Insect, Histerida, partly, (27,) found in. Larva, Insect, Stelidota geminata, (33,) found in. Insect, Cryptophagida, (44,) found in." Larva, Melolonthidæ, (59,) in vegetable substances. VEGETABLE ROOTS. (See also HERBACEOUS Roots.) Larva, Elater obscurus, Europe, (110,) feeds on. WALNUT, (JUGLANS :) Larva, Synoxylon basilare, (155,) wood. WASPS, (VESPA :) Larva, Clerus, Europe, (135,) destroys larva. Larva, Rhipiphorus parudoxus, Europe, (175,) in nests. Larva, Stylopida, (176,) Europe, in body. Larva, Meloida, (177,) Europe, attached to body. WATER PLANTS: Insect, Hydrophilus piceus, (13,) foliage. WHEAT, (TRITICUM VULGARE:) Larva, Calathus latus, Europe, (7,) injures grain. Larva, Amara, (9,) injures grain. Insect, Harpalus caliginosus, (10,) injures grain. Larva, Staphylinus? Europe (25,) injures plants. Larva, Trogosita dubia, &c., (36,) grain. WHORTLEBERRY, (VACCINIUM :) Insect, Serica iricolor, (64,) frequents bushes. Larva, Dynastes tityrus, (80,) decaying wood. WOOD IN GENERAL. (See also APPLE, OAK, ETC.,) &c. Insect, Orthopleura damicornis, (142,) found in 'decaying wood. Insect, Cupes cinerea, (148,) common about old frame-houses. WOOLEN CLOTH: Larva, Ptinus fur, Europe, (150.) WORMS, EARTH WORMS: Larva, {Flipolampis pyralis, } (126.) Larva, Telephorus, Europe, (130.) TOWNEND GLOVER. REPORT OF SUPERINTENDENT OF GARDEN AND GROUNDS. SIR: Numerous packages of seeds and plants are yearly placed in my hands for trial in the garden. These are sent to the Department in good faith, with a view to the introduction and dissemination of valuable and useful plants; but the majority of these donations proves either to be well known species, or those of but little special value; and very frequently the plants are shrivelled and dead when unpacked, and the seeds fail to vegetate. UTAH CURRANTS. Both seeds and plants of these currants have been repeatedly sent to the Department during the past six years. They appear to be varieties of Ribes aureum, and, although the fruit of several of them is large, of fine appearance, and of a variety of colors, from light yellow to black, yet it has large seeds and but little pulp, and will not probably be cultivated where the improved varieties of the red currant, Ribes rubrum, can be procured. It is said that fine jellies have been prepared from these fruits, forming a good substitute for that produced from the red and the white currant of the gardens. Many of these Utah sorts produce as large fruit as the Cherry currant, but of no distinctive flavor. DARIO GRAPE. Under this name seeds of a grape were received, in 1863, from the United States consul at Damascus, said to have been collected from the peasantry of the village of Dario. They were highly recommended. The seeds vegetated freely, but the plants have proved to be unsuited for open air culture in this climate. In order to prove the quality of the fruit, plants were placed in a glass structure, where they produced a small grape of no particular merit; quite inferior to good varieties of the foreign grape. ROCKY MOUNTAIN CHERRY. This cherry was described in the report of the Department for 1866, where it was claimed to possess desirable qualities as a fruit. Plants received by the department have fruited during the past season, proving to be identical with the sand cherry. The fruit has no particular merit, the plant being a slender growing bush, botanically interesting, but not otherwise valuable. GRAPES FROM AUSTRALIA. In the spring of 1863, a package of grape cuttings was received from Melbourne. They were cut into pieces about two feet in length, and packed in a tight case so as to be completely enveloped in charcoal dust. Notwithstanding the length of time that elapsed during their passage, and the various casualties of climate and transshipments, they were in perfect condition when opened, fresh and succulent, propagating freely from single eyes. These, although received under various local names, proved to be known varieties of the foreign grape, Vitis vinifera. Samples were fruited under glass; those in the open air have lingered on with more or less vigor, a few dying out yearly; the past season finishing the last of them. The same result has been experienced with a collection of the so-called Hungarian grapes, which were received and planted several years ago. Some of the plants fruited, bearing good-sized and well-flavored fruit, which, however, failed to mature, on account of diseased foliage, and consequent checked growth. The last remnants of this collection have also disappeared. NATIVE GRAPES. The Concord, Hartford Prolific, Ives, Perkins, Clinton, and Dracut Amber have proved to be the only varieties perfectly exempt from disease during the past year. The Adirondack, Iona, Delaware, Rebecca, Diana, and others of very superior flavored fruit, when compared with the preceding list of healthy varieties, will decidedly take preference in localities congenial to their growth; but their liability to disease should always be taken into consideration, when extensive planting is contemplated. The conditions securing success, although known, cannot always be made available, and in planting in new localities, experiment can best decide upon the most suitable varieties. The Diana Hamburg proves to be one of those grapes the liability of which to disease renders their profitable culture extremely local. In this respect the variety named is no exception to other hybrids between the native and the exotic grapes, especially when they partake largely of the qualities of the latter. Several hybrids received from Mr. Arnold, of Paris, Canada West, by whom they were originated, are not yet of sufficient strength to fruit; their growth, so far, is satisfactory. The Fedora grape, received from Mr. Cruickshanks, of Chelsea, Massachusetts, is evidently of exotic origin; its growth, however, as is not unusual for a time with varieties of the fereign species, has been healthy and even luxuriant. It has not yet fruited. The same remarks may be applied to the Weehawken grape, donated by Dr. Siedhof, of Hoboken, New Jersey, who introduced the variety. HYBRIDS OF THE SCUPPERNONG. Dr. A. P. Wylie, of Chester, South Carolina, who has been studiously endeavoring to improve the Scuppernong grape, has favored the Department with some of his productions. In a letter accompanying them, he remarks that he has established the following facts in regard to hybridizing the Scuppernong: "1st. The Scuppernong cannot be hybridized by any species of American grapes, and not even by its own hybrids with foreign varieties. 2d. The foreign species (Vitis vinifera) can be hybridized by Scuppernong. 3d. All native species and varieties, as well as foreign species, can oe hybridized by hybrid Scuppernong; and, if any useful hybrid Scuppernongs are ever produced, it will be from operations in this direction." These plants undoubtedly present external evidences of hybridization; the peculiar, slender foliage and wood of the Scuppernong are plainly |