The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1895-11-02
UNCLE SANS OWN FARM.

Back of the big brick seed barn of the
Department OF Agriculture is a very funny
kind of garden, which has just begun to
sprout. 1t covers about half an acre, which
is divided up into ever so many little rec.
tangular patches. OF the latter there are
$50 in all, which are sown with as many
different kinds of grasses. The seeds for
most of these have been obtained from for
eign countries, through United States Con-
suls. who have responded to circular sent
out by the Department of State request
ing them to forward samples In fact, they
come from all over the world, and the pur-
pose of the garden described is to make
fairly comprehensive exhibit OF the grasses
of all lands.
Included among the $50 species are var
ious kinds of forage plants The idea for
this novel exhibit is original with Prof
ScribLer, the a2rostologist recently engaged
| by the Department of Agriculture. When
all OF the plants are fully developed, along
toward autumn, the garden will be very
pretty to look upon. There will even be
bamboos, which belong to the family of
grasses. Adjoining she garden is Mr.. l.. O.
HoMard's insect rearing establishment, in
which bugs OF muititudinous varieties are
bred under grass 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 a very pecu-
liar sort 1t consists of shed with glass
roof, out from under which run II series of
parallel railway tracks, for distance Of
about 90 OF ~ feet. On the rails are mini
azure flat ears, which carry huge carthen
pots and wooden tubs. In each tub is u
growing plant. There are il number of
specimens OF each kind II plant-potatO,
pea Or what not-each growing i'll a differ
ent kind OF soil. The purpose in view is
to find out just how much available food is
contained in various soils.
The soils employed have previously been
analysed. The quantity OF plant food in
q soil may not determine its usefulness for
producing crops, inasmuch as it may not
be in such shape a. to be easily absorbed.
Feeding plants is like feeding babies; the
diet has got to be not merely nutritious,
but easily digestible. Having 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 as inflated
in the process OF vegetable growth. The
of the nited States, and the information
obtained is expected to be of much use to
farmers. The days of farming by guess
work have nearly passed by and now agri-
culture is scientific pursuit. The rails
and cars enable Prot! 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 distilled water is furnished to the
plants.
Tie Department Of Agriculture raises
every year on its farm many thousands Of
plants for the distribution through mem
bers of Congress and to applicants generally.
This season it will take 80, 900 cuttings of
grape vines, comprising % varieties. OF
course, the grape vines are grown out of
doors. Twenty-Five varieties of olives will
be grown under grass for the same purpose
TO be disturbed in the South of these 10,
600 will be produced, some varieties being
best for oil and others must suitable for
pickles. Out of doors will be grown 30
varieties Of figs, from which perhaps 1000
cuttings will be taken. To the list will
be added 100000 strawberry plants of 40
varieties, also 5000 camphor plants, raised
from seed, and pineapples, guavas, oranges
and lemons. Olives and figs are distributed
only South of North Carolina, camphor
plants south Of Savannah and pineapples
in Southern Florida, due regard being had
| for the climatic conditions suitable for the
raising of these products. -W Washington
Star.