The national Republican., 1867-09-14
LOCAL DEPARTMENT.

farm, on which the Government has bson expert
msnting In the growth Of nearly all that 10 requi-
site for the nourishmsnt Of man, beast, bird, or
fowl. This experimental farm or garden COM
prises about thirty two acres Of rich soil, and II
is situated between Twelfth and Rourteenth
streets west and the Washington canal and b
street south. 80
Many Of our eitissns, doubtless, reooiIsct that
thousands and Thousands Of fat cattle were kept
and subsistsd on those grounds during the war,
until they should be slain for food for our noble
soldisry. Consequently the ground 10 very rich,
indeed almost too rich In fsct for many kinds Of
seeds and vegetablss
This ID the third year that this ans square has
been under cultivation, and We have only one
fault 10 hnd with IT, which Is that II docs not
lie 70 the sun, II being considerable advantage
TO he growth q almost everything that Is grown
Colonel James Gleason, one Of the most expe.
risnosd and successful agroulturalists and horti.
oulturalists our country knows, Is tho supefin.
tsndsnt Of this very important branch Of the
Govsrnmsnt and has reduced everything oon-
nsetsd Herewith to . system. Up to last May
Colonel Gleason was connected with the army,
having been one Of Its brsvest officers. When
he took charge Of this farm but little system
was Observable anywhere on II and but little, II
any record was kept Of seeds put In the ground
BY way Of experiment. Whom they yielded they
were, In most instances, devoid Of names, and no
history could be had Of their origin, pecu''ari-
ties, 30. .a...... ..-...
The Colonel now has the grounds beautifully
laid out In six grand divisions, to wit: Three
along the Fourtsenth street side Of tho enclosure
and three along the Twelfth street side. A car.
risgsway has been laid out the whole way round
Just inside Of the fence, ono runs through the
centre from north 10 south, and two parallel from
east 10 west. These are then divided into
smaller divisions, for the convenience Of culture
Al present Colonel Gleason is visiting the yari.
Gus agricultural and horticultural fairs In the
Northern States for the purpose Of gaining any
information, or seed,. or implements that he
may deem 70 be an improvement over what ho
We trust hs may learn much that will be useful
both In the style Of farming and the knowledge
Of what kinds Of soil and what kinds Of seed
used In oopjunction produce tho best crops for
there il still In our country We see II stated and
truly We have every reason to believe. . large
amount Of what IL very properly termed routine
farming The soil 10 titled, the same seed
sown, and the crops succeed each other year after
year: In some oasss, when the soil is inex
haustible, this may be the best method Of farm
ing for the present generation, but In very few
instanoss will this hold good through one or
more Of the coming generations. Practical
knowledge IL certainly superior to more theory;
but to persist In the same succession Of crops, in
rsplsnting the same and too frequently the
poorest sssd, In pursuing the same methods Of
culture, In using the same poor implements Of
husbandry, ID TO deny the value Of the aggregate
experiences Of men Of similar pursuits, and 10
ignore the progrs" Of the age in science and tho
ussfui arts, : -.a.rs -. -1.T "a.
Asrioul.ar: e . growth, iik. til. plant i. eul.
developed the more II yields. II can be easily
shown that there 10 no occupation Of life where
extensive knowledge Is more necessary than In
the proper cultivation Of the soil. There 10 no
occupation 80 intimately blended with all the
branches Of the natural sciences to which geol.
osy, chemistry, botany, and entomology are such
valuable auIiliaries. or all human pursuits,
agriculture is frst In ordsr in necessity and i'm.
portsnos. The simple argument therefore. Is
this: increased scientific and practical knowledge
In any occupation, increases mans power In q
tsn-foid rstioi agricultural knowledge, there
fore, begsts productiveness, and In tho same
proportion develops the wealth, the prosperity,
and the progress Of our country.
During the present season the workmen on
this little aovernmsnt farm have had much
more trouble than they have had heretofore In
keeping the weeds and grass down. The season
has bean . very wet one, and Is, in . great
measure, the prime cause Of this great inoonve-
nisnos. Relieving tbs earth Of these weeds, BY
pulling them up By the roots, has had ono good
effect, that Of keeping the earth loose about tho
plants; which, however, has been effected prin-
cipslly BY thorough hoeing and good plowing.
Every division on which any product Is grow.
ing e remarkably clear Of weeds and debris
and reasonable force Is kept at work 10 this
end each day.
During this season, between ssvsn and eight
thousand varieties Of fruits, vegetables and
cereals were raised on this small area OF ground
Among these, were about two hundred varieties
Of wheat. both winter and spring Tho latter
did not do very we'll, as 1t Is not suited to this
climate, but the fall wheat turned out rsmarka-
Iii Ill. h. .k.u
nook, which weighed sixty.hvs pounds to the
bushsI, although the wet weather interfered
with It's filing properly. This grain has had
the advantage Of ripening about two weeks ear.
lisr than any other wheat now raised In this
country. When properly matured, the grains
are plump and very prolific. The white and
red Mediterranean wheat did we'll also.
About twenty varieties efrye were sown, and all
produced satisfactorily -Four Of these varieties,
viz: Girnnr Raggan, imported from Saxony and
the Champhsnsr, John Days, and Corren's, are
worthy Of being largely cultivated, the four
kinds averaging 6fty eight to sixty pounds to tho
bushsl, and large proportion growing to a
height Of seven feet six inches.
About ono hundred varieties Of oats were
sown last spring, Of which the New Brunswick
was the favorite, each bushel drawing forty
pounds. This Is q splendid oat, and our farmers
would do well TO secure and cultivate II.
Buokwhsaris now in full bloom. and presents
ivory prottyb puto hppehrhuoo' 1uis was ihi'
ported and sown, for the first time In this coun.
try, last year in these grounds. Tho crop now
growing Is tho result Of that experiment, and
speaks for itself TO those who may get glimpse
at II.
Barley was planted, but did not prove sue.
sess. The luck with II may be better noxt time.
Cotton was also planted In limited quantities,
but II shows splendid color, and will yield well
II the season continues favorable, especially that
the seed of which was imported from the Sea
Islands
OF the corn planted, neatly all will produce
we'll The only feature we noticed In this branch
Of the grounds was specimen from New Jersey,
named the Black Republican. II does not belle
Its name. for Its grains are N black as coal.
This corn 10 small, but very sweet and excellent
for table use. A sample Of this has been sent to
the Paris Exposition.
Sorghum hore has proved to be decided sue
cess. Nearly all Of the seed from which the crop
Of this season has been raised, was imported
last year. The stalks average from IA to II feet
in height, and are loaded down heavily with
seed. avg
We noticed but one sort Of clover growing
hsrsj but, In our opinion 1t is the best that has
ever besn raised In this country. II has been
L. "a a.. IL A.