Waterbury evening Democrat., 1906-10-30
WASHINGTON LETTER
Especial corresponoence.l

acres in extent or about twice the sizo of the capitol grounds, which yields a variety and quantity of products that are regarded as astonishing. From the vines and trees in this little plot, . short car ride from the national cnpl. tai. one may gather luscious grapes, apples, pears, figs. oceans, Spanish chestnuts and many other fruits and nuts.
 Rich Fruit Farm.
 This miniature farm is probably ono of the richest six acre tracts in the United States. It is located on tho quiet and peaceful slopes of the east ern shore of the Anacostia river. with in the limits of the grounds of the United States Government Hospital For the Insane. It was established years ago to supply the patients of St. Elizabeth with fruit. Being in the hands of scientific horticulturist and under government care. the cultivation of ordinary fruits lias been superseded by the most highly cultivated and strangely hybridized fruits, and in late years 1t has supplied the agricultural department with thousands of grape cuttings.
 Grapes In Great Variety.
 One-half of the six acres is devoted to the grape and the other half to va- rious fruits and nuts. There are 12,50O grapevines, comprising seventy-five different varieties, the most prominent of which are the Concord, Delaware, Iona, Eumelan and the famous wine grape, the Catawba, and their hybrids, known by numbers, including, it seems, all possible sizes, shapes, colors and davors.
 A Bountiful Harvest.
 During this season there have been gathered from this little farm the fol- lowing crops: Fifteen thousand bushels of grapes, 16S bushels of apples, with more to harvest; 125 bushels of Amer ican pears, S1 bushels of Japanese pears, 120 quarts of cherries and near ly as many quarts of strawberries, 5 bushels of gooseberries, besides quan- titles of figs and nuts. In great measure the success of this farm is attributed to unique system of irri- gation and ventilation, which has been installed by Mir. Henric This consists of underground pipes and wooden troughs by which the roots of the vines and trees are supplied with plen- ty of moisture from constant flowing water and pure air. To Alanco Henric, the horticulturist, is ascribed the credit for the fine fruit grown at the St. Eliz- abeth farm, and it is with pride that he displays the many first prize" di- plomas which have been awarded him by the various horticultural societies.
 District Public Library.
 The report of George F. Bowerman, librarian of the District Public library, shows that during the past year 16,031 volumes were added to the library and 4,745 volumes were withdrawn as worn out. On July the net strength of the collection was 84,66S volumes. This years accessions were 4,710 great CT than in 1804-05. Of these additions 13,099 came by purchase. 2,737 by gift and 195 by binding periodicals. The to- tai cost of book purchases was $13.- S7S.21. This was paid from the follow Ing funds: Five thousand dollars from the regular appropriation, sS,4S1.51 from the accumulated desk fund and $3967O by the exchange of old books and periodicals.
 The library received as gifts during the year the following articles: Five thousand four hundred and fifty bound and 505 unbound volumes, 3,193 pam phlets, 4,167 numbers of periodicals. 8 maps, 3 broadsides and 13s pieces of music.
 The Conversational Library.
 Herbert Putnam, librarian of the Congressional library, said the other day: "We add to our collection as fast as we can and as fast as the appro- priation of $90,0O0 a year made by con- gress will allow. Our library at the present time has 100000 volumes. The French national library has 30O0,- 900 and that of Great Britain 2000, 900. Since printing was invented total of 100000 to 13,O0O,0O0 books have been printed. Hundreds of thousands of these are not in existence and hun dreds of thousands are so rare our H. brary cannot compete in the purchase of them with the rich men of the coun- try who are hunting them. Our policy of purchase Is a clearly defined one. We do not hunt the curious In form, as do many collectors. We do not under rate the value of collection of curious books, but our aim Is to seek that which Is valuable in matter and not in form. We want to try to make our collection useful to the people of the United States. Yes. we make a spe- cialty of Americana and shall continue to do so."
 Cleaning Ont the White House.
 A great cleaning has been going on In the White House, and the principal object Is to get rid of superfuous gifts. which must be kept on exhibi- ton for a reasonable time after their arrival If ever any one suffered from m embarrassment of riches 1t is the mistress of the White House. The alone are a problem. Some are of friends and their children. others from strangers who have called l sheir children after Mrs Roosevelt others are curios and pictures of his toric spots Clever snapshots of the nrozs.faat or inc children arc senf and l