Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1901-08-03
Agricultural Department Experiments
With Oriental Vegetables.
MANY VARIETIES TO Be GROWN
Fruits From Celestial Kingdom
Will Also Be Cultivated.
GOOD RESULTS EXPECTED

this country or fruits and yeget AhleS which
for centuries have been used by the Chi
nese. This work OF introducing in the
United States agricultural products from
other portions OF the globe has been going
on for many years, but at no time has 1t
been pursued more vigorously than now.
and at no time have agricultural experts
been so well informed about plant life and
so capable OF successfully transplanting
growths from other countries. 1t Is not
only a matter OF placing a seed in suitable
soil and providing 1t with certain condi-
lions of moisture and temperature in order
to secure successful result that the bac-
teriologist has work to do. In many cases
the success of plant brought from across
the sea will depend upon some form OF
animal growth which thrives in the earth
about its roots and gives forth nitrogen.
which is one of the needs of the plant to
secure its full development. When that Is
the case. great care is taken to import
the parasite as is taken to secure the seed
the plant itself
A large number of seed OF Chinese vege-
tables have been received here during the
last two months, but it is rather too late to
plant them now. In some cases seed OF
fruit and other trees have been started In
the departments plant houses and VIII be
set out when they have had years growth
in such surroundings. These experiments
will be made In the model farm of the de-
partment located at Arlington, where next
spring an assortment of Chinese vegetable
seed will be planted.
The Accom- panilnent of Ham.
The vegetable from which the best result
is anticipated Is the Chinese cabbage,
which has a delicate flavor, but none OF
that cabbage smell which makes the
vegetable unwelcome in many a household
where 1t would otherwise be placed on the
table. The Chinese cabbage may be cooked
as iS he aria ~
that callers will be able to tell what their
host Is to have for dinner. This cabbage
does not head up in the compact form
of the American variety Its leaves are
loose, and while the plant is growing the
gardener must tie them up, so that the
inner leaves will be blanched and tender by
the time it gets its full growth Otherwise
the leaves would spread and be less desir-
able as a food.
Two Chinese Truck Farms.
It Is not generally known that in the Dis
trict of Columbia are two farms largely de-
voted to growing Chinese vegetables. One
of these, owned by a Chinaman, is located
beyond Anacostia- He grows some Chinese
vegetables, in addition to the ordinary
vegetables that are in demand in the local
market, but the most interesting work
Of that kind is conducted by a prominent
government official, who has six acres on
which he seeks health by laborng after
office work is done, and who has for sew
with Chinese products. This spring he
planted acre and half of the favorte
cabbage Of the celestials. and he antici-
pated surprising the public by placing his
product the market. After starting the
seed under glass and then transplanting
the young growth in the field and water
ing it regularly, he secured stunted plant
only a few inches in height when 1t should
have been foot and half two feet in
height 1t a complete failure. Blu. he
has credited the cost of that experiment.
to education, and has made plans for try
ing again next year, when he believes he
will succeed.
Gardeners who experiment with Chinese
seed have many odd experiences. 1t fire.
quentfy happens that seed with an incom-
prehensible name will be planted and the
young Sprout nouriShed with the utmost
care only to discover that the vegetable Is
some common weed of this country that
can be found growing along roadsides near
ly everywhere. Pigweed purslaine and
plantain common weeds here, are highly
esteemed and cultivated in China, where
they are used as are our greens of various
kinds
All q Matter Of Taste.
The successful growing of Chinese vege-
tables is very far from meaning their intro
duction and general use in this country.
Taste is largely a question of cultivation
and it takes a long time to cultivate a
taste among Americans for many Of the
most valued products Of a Chinese gar
den. The Chinese eat with high degree
of relish a variety of basam pear resem-
bling the balSam commonly used here
in binding up a cut finger and valued for
it's healing qualities. This balsam pear
is as bitter as gall. but a Chinaman will
eat it and smack his CELESTIAL lips over the
peculiar taste that remains with him for
an hour or so afterward. 1t is said to be
especially beneficial for some forms of in
digestion and there are Americans who
have undergone the ordeal of eating 1t
nd havp in although
not anxious to repeat the experiment.
After determining what Chinese fruits
and vegetables can be made to grow IN the
United States, the Department of Asricui-
ture will distribute the plants or seeds. so
that they may be grown by truck farmers
who care TO enter such an experimental
business. OF hundred vegetables intro
duced in the country it may happen that
the success and popularity of one or two
will be SO great as to fully pay for all the
trouble and expense involved in the work
Work of Developments.
The greatest work of the Department of
Agriculture has not been In introducing
plants in this country the popularity Of
which Is uncertain, but in developing in
dustries in lines thoroughly understood
and which have for their purpose the sup
plying of regular market
This country has been heavy importer
Of rice A few years ago the department
began to experiment in the growing of a
heavy producing rice imported from abroad.
This year Texas will grow rice valued at
nearly one million dollars. and We have
now produced in the United States almost
enough rice to supply the home demand,
and in year or two it Is expected this
country will be exporting rice. Macaroni
wheat from Russia is being planted largely
in Kansas and other portions of the west
where semi-arid conditions are not favor
able to our ordinary wheat crops. Last
year importations of macaroni amounted
to $SO00OOO.
A macaroni plant has been erected in
the west and 1t Is believed within a few
years other plants will be put up and the
home demand for this article Of food can
be supplied. as the peculiar kind of wheat
needed for it's manufacture can be success
fully grown. Experiments are being made
in the growing of forage crops for the
south, and 1t is believed they will be so
successful as to add much to the wealth
of the agriculturists of that section.
The department does not pursue its work
Of introducing seed and methods of treat
ing products of the soil from foreign lands
without meeting obstacles. The fact that
IL has been able to establish or stimulate
an industry in this country SO that foreign
importations of certain articles have prac-
tically been discontinued has made the for
eign producers very suspicious Of agents
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