The Washington times., 1901-08-22
GRASSES SAVE The SHORES
Very Successful Experiments With
Sand-Binders Reported.
Views of an Expert ARrostoIogist-
Wonderful Results on Cape Cod
Plans Formed to Redeem New
EnEland's Abandoned Farm Lands.

Prof F. Samson Scribner. asrostologist
OF the Department of Agriculture re-
| turned to Washington yesterday from
| Buffalo. where he has been in charge Of
| the department exhibit of grasses.
| ninety varieties of which are under Guilt
walton at the exposition
While absent from Washington. Prof.
Scribner travelled along the Atlantic coast
and throughout New England and New
York state engaged in experimenting the
selection and preparation of various spe-
| cies OF grasses known ''sand-binders"
| by the extensive cultivation of which tho
| department hopes to hold the drifting
sands of the Atlantic coast. The prin-
| cipal experiments with different varieties
| of these grasses are now being conducted
| in the vicinity of Cape Cod. and Prof.
| Scribner says 1t has been demonstrated
| that the sand dunes OF that locality can
be held by the intelligent use of the
sand binders"
On the Pacific Coast the cultivation OF
these grasses has resulted in fixing the
sand hills in the vicinity of San Francis
CO and Los Angeles. and has made the
creation of Golden Gate Park possible.
These experiments with the sand-binders.
Prof. Scribner says. are being conducted
in all sections of the country in co-opera-
ton with the experiment stations Of the
various States, and since the inception OF
the idea and the steps taken toward its
being carried out. commendatory letters
have been received almost daily at tho
department from persons of prominence
who either reside in the sandy districts
where the grasses are being utilized. or
whose business interests bring them In
touch with conditions along the coast
One variety of the sand-binders which
has shown up well In experiments Is the
Montana bluegrass. which has been trans
planted with great success to the North
Atlantic Coast. This grass, aside from Its
utility. lends most picturesque coloring
to the sand dunes, and when grown In
sufficient quantities along the coast blends
with the hue of the ocean and from dis
lance makes 1t difficult matter to de-
termine the line of sea and shore
While in New England Prof Scribner
had consultaitc:. with the Secretary Of
the Massachusetts State Board of Ag-
riculture looking to the redemption OF
the abandoned farms of New England
from their present state OF disuse.
While the abandoned farms are famous
in song and story. and are generally con-
sidered. through a misconception of the
facts, to be tracts of worked-out land,
unfit for any other than literary ma
terfal, frOI. SCrlDner says tndt Soou ldno
is embraced by some of these abandoned
tracts. All they need. he says, Is intelli-
gent cultivation and tillage. The plant
ing of forage crops noted as soil improv-
ers would aid materially in increasing
the productiveness of the land and the
proper use of fertilizers would do the
rest. In the majority of cases the farms
have not been abandoned there because
the land was too poor and barren to- till.
but because the younger generation has
drifted to the cities, not caring to con-
tinue the struggle in the oid-fashioned
way. oppressed by mortgages. the failure
of crops. and the refractory and unpro-
ductiye soil. and not1 having sufficient
knowledge of modern agricultural meth
DDS to open the fight on other lines