Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1903-06-27
NATURAL MAP.
II Is Constructed of Growing Crops
of Different States.

Louisiana Purchase exposition, st.
Louis, is the largest geographically
correct map ever constructed.
This map is 4SO feet long from east
to west, and extends from north to
south 240 feet. The map Is the main
feature Of the large open air exhibit
by the bureau Of plant industry OF the
department Of agriculture, and Is per-
sonally superintended by D. A. Brodie,
late superintendent Of the Western
Washington experiment station, under
the direction of Prof. w. J. Spillman,
agrostologist Of the United States de-
partment Of agriculture.
The bureau Of plant industry Is
made up Of eight offices, comprising
vegetable physiology and pathology,
fibre plant investigation, poisonous
and medical plants investigation
and every phase Of plant life
Each Of the eight offices Is pre-
sided over by a chief, and by vote
Of the combined officers, w. ]. Spill
man, professor Of agrostology was
elected to have complete control Of this
exhibit, authorized by an act of con-
gress. Mr.. Brodie was selected to have
supervision Of the planting and cultl-
walton.
The several acres were fenced off
early in April, and the entire tract was
richly fertilized. The ground was
plowed and narrowed, the soil pull
verized, and the entire tract sowed In
cow peas. This crop not only enrich
es the soil, but prevents the growth Of
weeds, and will render the subsequent
blowing unnecessary. AS the crops to
be grown will be required to be plant
ed at intervals UP to short time be-
fore the opening Of the exposition fur
ther plowing would prove Impractical
BILE. When an exhibit is ready to be in
stalled the gardeners simply pull up
the COW peas covering the space re-
quired. The ground is found to be In
receptive condition, and requires but
little work upon it.
The monster map, is Of course, the
main feature of this comprehensive ex-
hibit, and the crop grown on this small
farm will cost the government consid-
eraly more than $1,000 per acre.
A belt Of blue grass lawn 20 feet
wide establishes the boundary and
coast lines of this gigantic map. The
boundary lines between the states are
marked by cinder paths three feet
wide. The territory comprising the
fourteen states and territories Of the
Louisiana Purchase exposition is
marked by a white gravel walk. The
states themselves are to be planted in
growing crops Of the principal agri-
cultural products Of the state. The
cinder and gravel walks serve as pro-
menades, and are Of sufficient width to
permit the free passage Of visitors.
Thus a labyrinth Of passageways Is
created, and the visitor may wend
his way through the maze and see by
actual demonstration just what crops
are grown in every part Of the United
States, and how they are raised. The
cereals will be the features Of the great
northwest, while down in Florida will
be seen growing the pineapple and
orange and other semi-tropical fruits
and crops. Tobacco will be prom
inent feature of Kentucky's allotment
while sugar cane and cotton will be
found growing in the plots Of ground
representing other southern states.
Not only will the products Of each
state be shown on this map by grow
ing crops, but the section Of the state
on which each commodity is most
grown will be shown. In the great
northwestern state of Washington the
map at st. Louis shows that wheat,
corn, potatoes, hay and the wild grass
es that thrive in the semi-arid dis
tricts are more largely grown in the
eastern portion, while in the west,
hay, clover, vetches, timothy, orchard,
hay and grasses, hops, Strawberries,
raspberries and blackberries are more
grown. Thus on the small plot Of
ground that represents one great state
will be found a score Of different crops
growing. There will be no actual di-
viding line between the growing crops,
though in the cases Of the various
grasses wheat, barley and buckWheat,
the line is distinctly drawn by a wave
Of color as Is the line that divides the
muddy waters of the Mississippi from
those of the comparatively clear Ohio
at the junction of the two rivers at
Cairo, Ill.
While the arrangement Of the eXhib-
its on the form Of the monster map
will fasten the eye more quickly and
will challenge the admiration Of every
visitor to the fair, the agriculturalist
and horticulturalist will find in the ex-
hibits surrounding the map other ex-
hibits Of equal interest and Importance.
A unique feature of the governments
open-air exhibit Is the school garden
that occupies large section extend
ing (on the garden map) over the
Dominion Of Canada from Maine to-
Minnesota. This exhibit Is under the
personal direction of Prof. Wheeler, Of
Michigan, Of the United States agri-
culture department. The liberal space
allotted to this exhibit has been cut up
into numerous subdivisions, and each
of these subdivisions in turn is turned
over to the various st. Louis schools.
A class of pupils Is selected by the
principal Of the school so honored, and
the actual work of planting and cul-
tivating the garden is left to the pu-
pills, under, of course, the general di-
rection of Professor Wheeler. Liberal
prizes are offered for the best cultiva-
ted garden and for the best results.