Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1903-07-02

to the dainty little sweet yernal grass
that seldom reaches foot in height.
In this section as in all the others, the
shorter grass is grown. in the plots
nearest the huge map centerpiece,
while the taller grasses occupy the
spaces on the edges Of the exhibit.
This adds to the artistic and uniform
appearance of the display and the view
of no section is impaired.
In the section of the Gulf of Mex
leo, west of Florida, are the sections
given over to the cultivated grasses,
such as timothy, red top, orchard
grasses, English and Italian rye grass
es, etc.
The seed production section will be
of immense value to the agricultural
list. This exhibit occupies that por-
ton of the Gulf of Mexico extending
from Florida to the interior of Mexico.
Here the seeds grown in all parts of
the world are tested side by side. As
an example seed wheat grown in
Washington, the Dakotas, Maine,
Florida, and in Europe, Asia and At
RIGA, are planted in adjoining sections.
The growth and results are carefully
noted and it is thus accurately deter
mined for the region where the expert
ment is conducted from where the seed
should be obtained to get the best re-
| suits. Other experiments with all the
other important agricultural products
are similarly made and the results
may be noted by the visitor to this
City of knowledge.
| Seed Production.
Another section west of that devoted
| to- 11xy
portant and interesting, illustrating
the fiber plants, their growth and the
best approved methods of handling.
Here may be seen growing in the same
manner as in their native homes,
hemp, flax, cotton and other important
plants grown for their fiber. Scarcely
less interesting are the appliances for
! picking and handling the cotton and
the retting of the stalk that contains
the flax fiber.
/ West of this, in the deadly parallel
column, are displays of the poisonous
and medical plants Growing side by
| side are the poison and its antidote.
Prominent in the poisonous section
are plants that are injurious to stock,
notably the famed loco weed. This
iplant when eaten by a horse crazes the
animal and drives it frantic and some
times even produces death. Another
dangerous plant is the wild parsnip,
little less desirable than the loco plant
In this section are shown the best
methods for the determination of the
poisonous plants and also the best rem
edies for the treatment of horses and
cattle after they have partaken of the
poisonous growths.
The Opium Industry.
i In the medical section beautiful
beds of peoples are to be seen and the
methods of obtaining opium and all the
medicinals and poisons produced from
the weird drug are shown. Here, too.
lis the foxglove, from which is made
tdigitalis, and the deadly nightshade,
from which is produced belladonna
and numerous other medical plants and
! herbs.
4 Prof. Carleton of the department OF
agriculture has charge of the imm ense
exhibit of cereals that grow in the
space west of the map Here may be
seen the various specimens going. to
make up wheat, corn, oats, rye and bar.
ley families.
Each sectional exhibit outside the
map is divided from the section ad
joining it by a broad gravel walk
while the beauty of the exhibit is en-
hanced by a strip OF smooth blue grass
lawn completely surrounding it.