The evening times., 1899-05-16
GOVERNMENT FARM
BEGINS OPERATIONS
First Seed Planted on the PO-
t0mac Flats.
An Initial Experiment With Vir-
ginia Horse-TOOth Corn.
Export to Germany-Its
Uses.

The first crop to be planted in the new
Government farm on the Potomac Flats
was placed in the ground yesterday and
consisted entirely of Virginia horse tooth
corn Botanist Colville and his assist
ants decided to put in the crop some time
ago and the ground has been gradually
prepared for its reception. The work OF
clearing it took a longer time than was
expected on account OF the rank growth
OF weeds and the trouble the official far
mers had in battling with them. The en-
tire twenty acres is not completely clear OF
these membranes even yet, but the por-
tion in which the grain was sowed is de-
void of them and it is expected that the
crop will be allowed to grow without mo-
lestation from these pests of the farmers.
The growth in the Flats was particularly
Dense the tillers found, and the weeds
would spring up despite the efforts OF the
men to keep them down.
The particular variety OF corn that has
been sowed on the Government farm is
| called the Virginia horse tooth corn. but
it is grown in North Carolina as well.
The soil in the Dismal Swamp region is
peculiarly adapted to the growth OF this
grain and it is raised there in large guam
titles. There is no other part of the coun-
try where this grain will grow as well as
in the district named and it is thought
that, as the land on the Flats is of about
the same character as the Dismal Swamp
soil, the grain will grow luxuriantly there.
The entire product OF the region where
the horsetooth corn grows is exported TO
Germany, where it is used for seed. The
grain has very tall, large stalk, being
very green, with numerous long leaves and
contains large amount of sugar. The
ears are long and very full. some of them
containing sixteen rows of corn, and being
in many instances as much as three and
half inches in diameter. The kernel is
just the size of the from; tooth Of a horse
and has about the same formation. hence
the name. II is pure white in color and
about an inch long. The kernels grow
close together and are a very long time in
maturing. Like most grains that require
an especially adapted soil this horsetooth
corn is very exhaustive to the ground in
which it is planted All of the grain
raised in this country is seed grain. When
shipped to Germany. it is planted in rows
and is sowed very thick. Here the pc
culiar and luXuriant growth of leaves is
used to advantage for ensilage, a variety
OF fodder which is kept green throughout
the winter. The stalks are cut while they
are yet green and are placed IN huSe vats.
Here they are Theoretically sealed and al
lowed TO remain until needed There are
various methods of packing the eHsilage,
many of which have their especial ad
vantages, but the careful farmer will place
straw over the green corn. after ii has
been put in the vat, and cover this with
a heavy layer of earth.
This completely shuts out the air and
keeps the temperature of the Interior of
-, IL I@at, t,.n,t
all winter. When the time comes TO use
the ensilage the top is removed from the
vat and the fodder is taken out still in
green condition. The color of it changes,
but it retains the succulence OF the green
fodder, and thus the farmer mas fresh
matter TO feed his cattle instead of de-
pending on the dry grain. which is cut and
stored where the air can get to II.
The export of the horse tooth corn from
this country has reached large proper
tons. In January, February, and March
of the present year i,G00 bushels Of the
seed grain were shipped froIl Norfolk for
German ports, and the shipments have in
creased as the season advances.
The corn takes a much longer time to
ripen than the ordinary variety, and is
much finer in quality. it more than pays
the farmer for the trouble OF raising it,
as the price per bushel is Ia cents more
than on ordinary corn, and thus the extra
profit from the shipments of the three
months named would be $3.50. Botanist
Colville said today he did not think they
would experience difficulty in raising the
grain on the flats. as he thought the
ground was peculiarly adapted to that
class of grain.