Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1901-07-06
Uncle Sam to Give Object Lessons
in Agriculture on
PAR1.OF ARLINGTON ESTATE
-Four Hundred Acres TO be Set Aside as a
Great National Experiment Staton--Every
Variety Of Cereals Fruits, and Veg
etables WIN be Grown--Prof.
Corbett in Charge.
Corbett in Charge.

Y
portant work in Washington.
Within very few years one of the
great sights Of the National Capital
will be perfectly appointed farm OF
4 90 acres, with buildings, orchards,
truck gardens, and grain fields OF
every kind All the fruits and vege-
tables Of the United States or other
cuntries which experiment shall
prove to be capable of cultivation in
this climate will be seen there, Sys-
TENS Of drainage and, If necessary,
irrigation, model fencing, the most
perfect methods OF gathering and
storing grain, fruits and vegetables
will be exhibited. In addition there
will be a nome place of six acres,
where beautiful lawns, pretty shrub
berry in artistic designs. and suitable
shade trees will give lesson to the
suburban resident, as we'll as to the
owner of plantation in the beautify-
ing of dwellings and their surround
ings III the country. To the scientific
agriculturists and horticulturists this
model farm, which will be made and
maintained by the Department of
Agriculture, will offer an opportunity
for study in every branch of their
lscience. Methods of cultivation of
fruit trees, vegetables. cereals. the
growing of grapes, the values of diff
erent kinds of fertilizers will all be
exhibited directly in the farm or IN
the records of its existence, which
will be kept for reference.
The site selected for bringing this
project to II reality is that portion of
the Arlington estate which lies along
of the main estate, now used as a
cemetery. The Mcclellan gate to Arl-
ington will be opposite the main gate
to the farm and the latter will oc-
cupy all of that rolling land between
the River road to the east OF Airing
ton and the river bank.
IIOl. IL ". tOIDctt, VI lHt bcpui u
ment of Agriculture, is in charge of
the work, and was brought to Wash
ington from the experiment station in
West Virginia especially for this
purpose. He was born and brought
up IN the great fruit growing an d
agricultural region of Central New
York, his home being at Watkins.
Prof. Corbett took the scientific
courses at Cornell College for four
years and after his graduation re-
manned as instructor in horticulture
for two years. He has the degrees
of B. S. and M S. from Cornell. For
SIX years he was at the West Virginia
experiment station, one of the most
important in the country.
In talking over the plans for the
great model farm the Capital is to
have in the near future. Prof. Cor
bett was enthusiastic over the plan.
He has gone over the ground and is
very we'll satisfied with the outlook.
The soil is sandy loan and quite
rich. The site was cultivated for a
number of years by squatters, who
raised garden truck and fertilized
I land quite heavily. There are
very few trees on the place For
some time past it has been the pas
ture ground for the mules belonging
in the army post at Fort Myer.
Men are now at work blowing up
the whole place and planting COW
peas. These will grow heavily by
fall, when they will be plowed under,
and rye will then be sown, which will
also be plowed under when green next
SPRING. This will provide a uni
form fertilizer for the whole place,
and give a foundation for future
work Next fall the fruit and shade
trees will be set out and everything
will be done as soon as possible thai
| the farm may take form in the least
posi- ole time
\ principal feature will be expert
ments in the cultivation of every fruit
or vege able now imported from
Nothern countries with view to
determining what can be raised her,
and the best methood Of cultivation
This branch will include vegetable
of all kinds, fruits, hops, muskmelon,
watermelons. squashes. grasses, for
age crops and imported cereals sucf
as wheat and oats and etc.
Many cooperative experiments viii
be carried ON with the State expert
ment stations, of which there are fifty
three or fifty-four in the country
Horticulturists will be able to study
here foreign plants and other pro
blems which they cannot find the sub
ject to observe i'll their own States
Some of the important experiments
will be with berries, There will bt