Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1924-04-13
Ne,U Memorial Bridge viii Offer
Short Route to Experimental Farm
Department of Horticulture Believes Historic Arling
ton Reservation viii attract Greater Number
0fVisitOrs to Inspect Outdoor Laboratory.

When the Arlington Memorial
/ bridge is built across the Potomac the
experimental farm. or "out -of-do
laboratory" conducted by the Agri-
cultural Department on the river front
section of the historic Arlington res
crvation, will become better known to
, the public at large than is possible
under existing conditions. That
bridge is designed primarily to con-
meet the Lincoln Memorial in West
Potomac Park with the Arlington ma
tional cemetery. Its southern ap-
proach viii include Il boulevard about
half mile in length through the ex-
detrimental farm to the east entrance
to the cemetery near the Memorial
amphitheater. That will make the
big agricultural laboratory within
] easy access from the National Capital
and bring its open-air experiments in
agriculture under the close observa-
| ton of everybody using that thor
oughfare.
The agricultural experimental farm
! is part Of the GUSTS estate, last oc-
| cupicd by Gen. Robert Il. Lee and
| formerly known as the Arlington
farm. At the beginning of the civil
| war il was seized by the government
/ and the Lee home Was used as a mill
| tary headquarters. After the down
! fail OF the Con ederacy the farm por-
/ ton Of the large estate was occupied
! by negro Squ@ tiers who held posses
sion Of ii until about 1900, when they
were transferred to 4 nearby village
/ then known as Queen City. The area
| then was used for Il short period by
! the Army as corral for mules and
! other animals acquired during the
/ Spanish war of 1885. CERTAIN mi
! prov cments were made. includin.; The
| removal of considerable underbruah.
! the Strengthening of water cou"ses
| and the building OF tile drainage.
Transfer of Farm Area.
! An act OF Congress approved July
!. 1900. authorized the transfer Of the
! farm area. east OF the cemetery, from
! the War Department to the Agricul
tural Department. and the first agri-
: cultural operations by that depart
: ment were undertaken there during
the season of 1901. After July / of
I that year systematic efforts We're
! made with suitable equipment. in
( Guiding several buildings, for the de-
! vClopmcnt Of what has since grown to
! be one OF the most extensive farms
! devoted to experimental research
/ work in the world. The farm consists
! OF approximately 400 acres of land. "A
4
| land and part of which is reclaimed
| river bottom land. Arlington farm is
devoted exclusively to plant activities.
| The only animals maintained upon
/ the place are those used in connection
! with its operation.
! From the small beginning of a
single frame building which had been
! erected upon the place in 1900. the
equipment of the place has grown to
! more than twenty 1ve buildings ranging
! in value from $4,000 to those erected
! for special purposes at cost Of only
| a few hundred dollars. This equip
! ment consists of only two houses
| used primarily for human habitdtion,
| but embraces barns. greenhouses and
I laboratories in great variety and for
; special purposes, many Of which have
no duplicates in any other part of the
world.
! Work Covers Wide Range.
! The experimental work conducted
AT the farm covers a very wide range
| OF plant production from bulb cul-
ture to rose growing, in the field OF
/ horticulture. and from cranberries to
! apples in the field Of fruit culture.
as we'll as the whole gamut of vege-
! table crops. from artichokes to water
! melons. Forage crops, cereal grains
and turf plants, all receive extensive
! consideration in the group Of crop
plants represented in the experimental
| work conducted annually at the farm.
! But plant breeding, variety testing
and selection are only a part of the
/ plant problems carried on at the farm.
F.! for entomologists who are Interested
! in the control of insect enemies OF
! the various fruit and vegetable crop
| plants spend much time in seeking
out new or improving old remedies
/ for the control of such pests. The
students of plant disease control sup
i plenent, the work of the bug men.
and not only seek TO lind methods OF
! control through the use of fungicldes,
! but are extensively engaged in the
development of strains of fruit ana