Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-06-18

gether unlike, the alfalfa, and either in
masses with the grain is a pleasing adj
junct to the landscape. Indeed, few pref
tier sights can be fancied than a field OF
vetch adjoining field of pink clover. The
object IN sowing it with the oats is to in
duce its growth, for while alone 1t aSpireS
to little more than ten or twelve inches,
emulated by the grain, and a prosaic desire
for light, ii will run up to twenty and
twenty-five inches. The same experiment
has been tried successfully with clover, 1t,
too, ambitiously striving to keep pace with
it's tall, thrifty neghbors. Thus the
flowers. by a natural law, will be found to
prove an old maxim and to demonstrate the
inspiration of noble example.
But grain food for man is also grown
and studied. For twelve years experiments
have been made with various kinds of
wheat Now, however, the conclusion has
been reached (and it is not an unusual one)
that the old staple varieties are the best,
and in the future every effort will be ex-
erted toward their perfection. 1t is pref
ty and a curiouSly interesting sight to
see twenty or more varieties of a single
grain growing in orderly patches side by
side, each one shade different in tone or
color.
In the study of grain and other special
work the Agricultural Department cooper
ates with the experiment station. detailing
throughout the season one man to observe
the progress of the experiments, and dur
ing the period of polarization often as
many three four
In the division of horticulture the straw
berry bed will, at this season, be found
of deepest interest This covers possibly
the third of an acre and sets forth almost
every known variety of the toothsome fruit.
Il is the purpose of the station to grow
every variety of fruit and vegetable ex-
plotted by seedmen and horticulturists, and
fairly test their worth, beside trying under
varying conditions special kinds produced
by local eXperimenterS. a careful record
is kept of every variety grown, its history
from its infancy to full frution is noted, it's
merits and shortcomings carefully set down
in the book of state. After season or
two of unsuccessful cultivation plant or
series of plants is discarded, but its record
is kept and always open to inquirers. In
the growing of strawberries worth is count
ed upon double bass-that of home con-
sumption, which includes favor and ap-
pearance, and a marketable product,
which also takes in its durability and ship
ping qualities. A white berry has been
tried this season al the station, and though
through its oddly interesting and its solid
ity desirable it has not been found equal
to the good old red ones. A new variety
of the latter has, however, been produced
by crossing which seems to combine in it
self all the best attributes and will, it is
thought add fame to the station. 1t has
been named Togo
After the same manner experiments are
being tried with blackberres, raspberrcs
anu CuTTdHlS. various xmas OF DllRntS are
being studied with the hope of remedy, and
in every case those plants found impervious
nearly to disease are preserved and
carefully propagated.
The farms in Maryland 5000 in num-
Der, range from the level of the sea to an
altitude of three thousand feet, and hence
the work of the Maryland experiment sta
&c nf 0f Uf1 tbap
that of many others. Tobacco growing,
which occupies entirely four counties. is
given much attention, and over to the right
of the hill on which the college stands will
be found a stable orchard of fruit trees.
A section of this is what is called mixed
orchard, peach and apple trees planted sue
cessively. an order now becoming popular,
for as the life of the peach is scarcely more
than eight summers. the usefulness of the
apple is at that age but just beginning,
and the one, therefore, in no respect is
found TO interfere with the other.
Nor are flowers forgotten. They have
their special guardian and investigator and
are provided with series of well-adapted
houses Indeed, the college carnations have
become famous beyond the borders of the
state.
Besides all this there is herd of fine
cows-a scientific up-to-date dairy. Elk
periments are tried. in the feeding and
noted In the results. There is veterinary
department, and an effort has been made to
eradicate, through the incubation of a tox-
inc, tuberculosis in cattle. This has been
tried off and for several years, but in
the last three apparently become successful.
The means of the institution have not per-
mitted experiments with poultry and In
stock raising to any great eXtent-the ex-
perimentors have, however, made a thor
ough study of hogs and have In this study
obtained much valuable data. The tradi-
tional pig pen has, under the inspiration of
science disappeared and instead cleanliness
and sanitary conditions prevail With these
as with the cows special diets pre-
scribed and the results recorded with the
utmost accuracy. In the making of these
records the camera plays large part
as large. part as the scales-and of every
product, vegetable well animal, a
careful negative Is made.
The offices or main spring of this great
plant in the old tavern, which both
outside and In has been altered little since
the bulletins issued. the tremendous cor
respondence carried on. There was day
when scientific farming was held in de-
rision by those schooled in the field, but
gradually this prejudice has been overcome
and now many of the most intelligent and
thrifty farmers turn constantly and con-
sistently for advice to the state experiment
station, realizing that it has the means
and time to carry on study which would
be beyond their reach. The Maryland sta
ton Is In touch with twenty thousand of
the Maryland farmers, the farmers who in
a large measure supply the Washington
market, and 1t is not only adding to the
value of their productions, but at the same
time through thrift and science tightening
their labors.