Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-08-22
Department of Agriculture
, Conducting Experiments.
GRATIFYING RESULTS
HE WORLDS BEST EXPERTS EN-
PLoYED IN THE WORK.
Produce the Finest of Everything That
Grows-Adaptation of Soil
to Plants.

II the plans for improving the city by eX-
tending the park and driveway system so
as to include Potomac flats ever car
ried out, one of the finest agricultural test
ing gardens in the world will have neces-
sarily to be moved At present that area
of land lying between the larger basin and
the Washington channel on the one side,
and the so-caIled Georgetown channel on
the other, is for the most part an unculti
waited Wilderness but spacious. level and
beautifully situated for a public park and
driveway. The property is under the con-
troll of the War Department and at differ
ent times government mules have been
turned loose upon it for pasturage. Some
years ago the Department of Agriculture
secured forty-five acres. lying just below
the Long bridge on the eastern side for
the purpose of laying out an experimental
garden and about a year ago thirty-five
more acres We're added, making in all
farm of seVenty-tive acres. AS yet the last
acquired portion has not been under the
pillow, but the remainder is probably the
most interesting farm in the world.
The soil is very sandy, and even with the
aid of imported soils and fertilizers, a great
deal cannot be done to change its nature,
but in other respects. by proper shading
and watering. the native cultural condi-
tons of many plants are created.
Lie melnOQS
This farm. as well as the one at Airing
ton. which is of the same nature. though
of more recent development is under the
direction of Mr. w. r. Beatte. assistant
horticuiturist, who in turn, comes under
the direction of the hOrticulturist, Prof.
Corbett. As a part of the bureau of plant
industry, ii is under the supervision of
Prof. Galloway, chief of the bureau. Each
of the divisions of the Agricultural Depart
ment is permitted to use the land for any
experiment IL may wish to develop. If DR..
Wiley of the bureau of chemistry desires
for instance to ascertain the percentage
of sugar content in certain varieties of the
sugar beet he tells his plans to Mr.. Beattie.
who assigns him portion of the farm, and
allows him to plant and cultivate he
pleases. and the men on the farm keep a
general survey of the work and attend to
it in the absence of the men from the
chemistry bureau.
Mr.. Beattie's assistant is Mr.. F. J. Tyler
who has recently been promoted to the po-
sitiOn of botanical assistant from that of
scientific aid. which is the one given to col
lege graduates who enter the department
for the purpose of study and advancement
in scientific agriculture. There are usually
eight men kept on the farm to do the plow-
ing, wedding and watering Four horses
or mules and several wagons pressed
into service. when needed. The little clus-
ter of buildings. including the barn. tool
house and green house. can barely be seen
iIOilA Ni4N snip IlstIiilti, ibl SltTu some
distance back from the water. The only
approach to the farm is by way of the
Long bridge.
Finest in the World.
Secretary Wilson. speaking of the govern
ment experiment stations, which are scat
tered. over the whole United States, said
that while each one in its way is doing a
splendid work which could not in fact. be
accompl shed through any other means,
none of them could compare with the ex-
pertinent station at Washington. where the
finest experts in the world give the project
their special attention. BY keeping care
full watch of developments in every part
of the world these experts let pass no
chance of experimenting in adapting the
conditions to the cultivation of desirable