The Caucasian. (Shreveport, La.) 1900-192?, 1901-07-28

near this city, where will be grown all
the fruits and vegetables which expsri--
ment shall prove to be. capable of culti-
vationl in this climate For this par-
pose the department has taken over al
tract of 600 acres, which embrace THAI
portion Of the Arlington estate lying.
along the bank of tile Potomac and
east of the main estate now used. as a.
national cemetery. The Mcclellan gate.
to Rrlington will be opposite the MAIN
gatefto' the farm, and the latter will oo--
cupN all of that rolling. land between
the river road to the east Of Arlington.
and the river bank. The soil Is, a.
sandy loam' and quite vtch. The. site
was cultivated for number U: years
by squatters, who raiSed- garden truck.
and fertilizeG the land onite besyily..
Thers>are very few trees on the place.
For some timeSpaSt 1t has been the pas
tHre ground f0E the mules i'elonging; to-
the army poster Fort Myers
MessaEe now ut work Ei6wing up,tie'
whole place and planting cowpeas.
These will grow heavily by fall. when
they will! be pfOwed under, and rye will
then be sown, which will also be pillow
ed under when green next spring. This.
will provide a uniform, fertilizer for
the whole place and give a foundations
for future WORK. Next fall, the fruit
and shade trees will be- set out, and
everything wiz be done as; soon as pos
sible, that the farm may take form in
No co.
be In charge OF Professor Z. @. Cocbett,
who WIS brought here from the exper-
iHeenk Sat1en h West Virginia espe-
sisaR1 eS6 ,tsEks purpose. He vaSsboFn
azfT' kanght Up in the great fruit grow
ing and agricultural region of central
New York, his home being at Watkins.
Professor Corbett too& the scientific
courses at Cornell coliege'for fom years
and after his graduation remained as
instructor in horticulture for two,years.
For six years he was in charge of the
West Virginia station, one Of the most
important i'm the country.
The farm will be devoted exclusively
to horticultural demonstrations, and ex-
periments. The interest for the gener-
al public will lie in the methods of cul-
tiVation and the large variety of agri-
cultural plants and fruit trees which
will be seen on the farm. In seven
years the orchards of all kinds win be
bearing. including the apple trees,
which come to maturity latest. The
vineyards will be yielding grapes with
in three years, and the pear trees will
bear fruit in FIVE years.
Systems of drainage and, If neces-
sary, irrigation. model fencing. the
most perfect methods Of gathering and
storing grain, fruits and vegetables
will be exhibited. In addition. there
will be home place of six acres. where
| beautiful lawns, pretty shrubbery IN
artistic designs and suitable shade
trees will give lesson to the suhur-
ban resident as well as to the owner
OF a plantation In the identifying Of
dwellings and their surroundings of
the country. Professor Corbett intends
to make this six acre plot literally a
thing of beauty. an object lesson to the
landscape gardener as well as source
Of delight to all visitors.
] To the scientific agriculturist and
horticulturist this model farm will Of
fer an opportunity for study In every
branch Of their science. Methods of
cultivation Of fruit trees, vegetables,
cereals. the growing of grapes, the val
ues Of different kinds Of fertilizers, will
all be exhibited directly n the farm or
in the records of its existence, which
/ will be kept for reference.
Another important branch of the
work Of the department of agriculture