Phillipsburg herald. [volume] (Phillipsburg, Kan.) 1882-1905, 1895-08-29

the latter there are 450 in all, which
are sown with as many different kinds
Of grasses. The seeds for most Of
these have been obtained from foreign
countries, through United States con-
suls, who have responded to a circular
sent out by the department of state re-
questing them to send samples. In
fact, they come from all over the world,
and the purpose of the garden described
Is to make fairly comprehensive eX-
hibit of the grasses Of all lands.
Included among the 45O species are
various kinds of forage plants, The
idea of this novel exhibit is original
with Prof. Scribner, the agrostologist
recently engaged by the department of
agriculture. When all of the plants are
fully developed, along toward the
autumn, the garden will be very pretty
to look upon. There will even be bam-
boos, which belong to the family of
grasses Adjoining the garden is l..
o. Towards insect-rearing establish
ment, in which bugs Of multitudinous
varieties are bred under glass, The
latter gentleman jocularly threatened
to let out his bugs to browse upon Prof.
Scribner's grasses, not to mention the
plants Of different kinds which Prof.
Wiley is cultivating in the immediate
vicinity.
Prof. Wiley has an outfit of very
peculiar sort. 1t consists Of a shed
with glass roof, out from under which
run a series of parallel railway tracks
for distance of about sixty or seventy
feet. On the rails are miniature fiat
cars, which carry hugh earthen pots
and wooden tubs In each tub Is a
growing plant. There are a number of
specimens of each kind of plant
potato, pea or what not-each growing
in different kind of soil The pur-
pose in view is to find out just how
much available good is contained in
various soils. The soils employed have
previously been analysed. The quantity
of plant food in soil may not deter
mine its usefulness for producing crops,
inasmuch as it may not be in such
shape as to be easily absorbed.
Feeding plants is like feeding babies;
the diet has got to be not merely
nutritious, but easily digestible. Hav-
ing ascertained by analysis just how
much plant food is contained in each
kind of soil, Prof. Wiley wants to know
how much of it is assimilated in the
process of vegetable growth. The soils
experimental with are from all parts
of the United States and the informa-
ton obtained is expected to be of much
use to farmers. The days of farming
by guesswork have nearly passed by,
and agriculture is a scientific pursuit.
The rails and cars enable Prof. Wiley
to run his plants under shelter when
it rains. Rain water contains nitrogen,
which, being added in undetermined
quantities, would interfere with the
accuracy of his experiments. Only dis
titled water is furnished to the plants.
The department of agriculture raises
every year on its farm many thousands
of plants for distribution through mem
bers of congress and to applicants gen
orally. This season it will take $4,000
cuttings of grapevines, comprising
twenty-five varieties. OF course, the
grapevines were grown out Of doors.
Twenty-Five varieties of olives will be
grown under glass for the same pur-
pose, to be distributed in the south.
OF these, 10000 will be produced some
varieties being best for oil and others
most suitable for pickles. Out of doors
will be grown thirty varieties of figs,
from which, perhaps, 1900 cuttings will
be taken. To the list will be added 100,-
900 strawberry plants of forty varieties;
also 5000 camphor plants raised from
seed, and pineapples, guavas, oranges
and lemons olives and figs are dis
tributed only south of North Carolina,
camphor plants south of Savannah,
and pineapples in southeastern Florida,
due regard being had for the climatic
conditions suitable for the raising of
these products.