The Evening statesman. [volume] (Walla Walla, Wash.) 1903-1910, 1906-11-16
WASHINGTON LETTER
Especial Correspondence

vines and trees in this little plot, a
short car ride from the national capi-
tai, one may gather luscious grapes.
apples. pears, figs. pecans. Spanish
chestnuts and many other fruits and
nuts.
Rich Fruit Farm.
This miniature farm Is probably one
of the richest six acre tracts in the
United States. It is located on the
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. 1t was established
years ago to supply the patients OF st.
Elizabeth with fruit. Being in the
hands Of q scientific hOrticulturist and
under government care. the cultivation
Of ordinary fruits has been superseded
by the most highly cultivated and
strangely hybridized fruits, and In late
years it has supplied the agricultural
department with thousands Of grape
cuttings.
One-half of the six acres is devoted
to the grape and the other half to va
rious fruits and nuts. There are 1880
grapevines, comprising seventy-f1ve
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
flavOrs.
A BOuntiful Harvest.
During this season there have been
gathered from this little farm the FOL.
lowing crops: Fifteen thousand bushels
of grapes, 1853 bushels of apples, with
more to harvest; 125 bushels of Amer.
lean pears. 81 bushels of Japanese
pears, 12O quarts Of cherries and near-
ly as many quarts Of strawberries. 5
bushels of gooseberries, besides guam
titles Of figs and nuts. In great
measure the success Of this farm Is
attributed to unique system Of irri-
cation and ventilation, which has been
installed by Mr. 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 dowine
water and pure air. To Alanco Henric.
the horticulturist. Is ascribed the credit
for the fine fruit grown at the st. Eli
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 1901
volumes were added to the library and
4,745 volumes were withdrawn as
worn out On July the net strength
Of the collection was 84,668 volumes.
This years accessions were 4,71O great
er than in 19O4-O5. OF these additions
1909 came by purchase. 2,737 by gift
and 1875 by binding periodicals. The to-
tai cost Of book purchases was 3d.
878.21. This was paid from the follow
ing funds: Five thousand dollars from
the regular appropriation. $S.4S1.51
from the accumulated desk fund and
$396.7O 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 sos unbound volumes, 3,193 PAM
phlets, 4,167 numbers Of periodicals.
maps, broadsides and 1873 pieces of
music
The Congressional Library.
Herbert Putnam, librarian Of the
Congressional library, said the other
day: I'VE add to our collection as fast
as we can and as fast as the apDro.
priation of $4,000 year made by con-
gress will allow. On" library at the
present time has 100000 Volumes
The French national library has 3000,-
600 and that Of Great Britain 100000.
Since printing was invented a total of
100000 to 100000 books have
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 Out the White House.
A great cleaning has been going on
In the White House, and the principal
object is to get rid Of superfluous
gifts. which must be kept on exhibi.
ton for reasonable time after their
arrival. If ever any one suffered from
an embarrassment of riches it is the
mistress of the White House. The
photographs alone are a problem.
Some are Of friends and their children,
others from strangers who have called
their children after Mrs. Roosevelt,
others are curios and pictures Of his