The Indianapolis journal., 1902-08-31
THE BILTMORE FARMS.


Country Life for September.
The objects OF these farms may be
summed up as follows: First, 20 utilize
fully and prohtably the areas suited 20 ag-
ricultural Industry; second. 20 prove the
possibilities OF this Southern section 10 has
been necessary. through the lack Of any
previous work here under these conditions.
10 make many experiments I'm the way OF
forage plants and grasses and problems In
volved in the breeding and care Of live
stock: but II Is not intended I'm any way TO
make these farms an experimental enter
prise. This work can be best performed
by the State or the experiment stations.
The undertaking may be more exactly de-
fined as illustrating I'm its perfection and
seeking 20 better the operative side OF these
rural industries
For economic reasons the estate is divided
into three departments. each under the gen.
eral management of a superintendent and
these are divided into smaller departments
under foremen. or managers. Both the for
estry and agricultural departments are on
commercial basis, and also one branch
Of the landscape department. namely. the
BiltmOre nursery, Of which about one hun
dred acres is devoted to the production Of
ornamental and forest trees the annual out
put aggregating two million plants. nine
tenths of which grow north of the Mason
and Dixon line. The entire production is
placed upon the market. Generally speak
ing, the growth of all industries of the es-
tate has been gradual and along the line Of
healthy development. The nursery, for in
stance. has developed from a private one
which was devoted entirely to the produc-
herbarium has grown from an experiment
started by the landscape architect, Mr.
Frederick Law Olmsted, in order to collect
the local flora of Biltmore that in after
years the advent of new plants or outsiders
may be recognized. The Biltmore herbarium
was organized by Mr.. c.. d. Beadle, who
has charge of it, and who is also in charge
of the landscape department. 1t represents
1900 species and has 10000 specimens of
Towering plants. showing geographical dis
tribution and variations of flowerless plants
such as mosses, parasites, fleshy fungi,
liverworts, ferns, etc. To this has also been
added the historic collection of Dr. A. W.
Chapman, author of Flora of the Southern
United States" The herbarium represents
the work of twelve years. Since 1886 parties
have been collecting from the less explored
South Atlantic regions. Much work has
also been done on the Pacific regions and
on the Rocky mountain, Colorado and New
Mexico ranges. This herbarium is open to
all students and has just been installed in
fire-prOof and commodius building ad-
Joining the forcing houses on the banks of
the Swannanoa.
The agricultural department offers an
other instance OF gradual development. In
the initial formation of this estate many
farms of varying characteristics were con-
sOlidated. Considerable areas of these
| cleared lands were exhausted or had never
been suited TO cultivation. These latter
have been returned to their original and
proper condition OF woodland, whilst the
larger and more promising areas have be-
come centers Of several agricultural indus
tries. The beginning was small one-the
production Of food for the work stock used
for the grading and road construction. To
this was added the feeding of beef stock in
order to enrich the planted areas Of the
landscape department. Finally. with the
acquisition of mere farm land Of cOmpara-
| lively large areas (for western North Caro-
| lina) a definite line OF action came. The
many barren hillsides which would have to
be improved before they would bear their
coat OF greensward, the undesirability OF
competing with the more favored sections
in grain raising, and, finally, the fact that
no agricultural industry in the South was
| in as backward a condition as its live stock
| all suggested live stock raising the most
| likely TO lead 10 success, and from that
| time on the farms became essentially stock
| farms.
Dairying was begun in temporary build
| ings, the construction of the permanent
| ones being deferred until sufficient time