Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1859-04-12
lCOrrespondsnee of the Horfieu,,r,i,,1

Correspondence Of the HOriicultHrist
WASHINGTON, February.
Whatwould youlike to bear about Washington :,
Doubtless not politics. but some information ike
the following: - The improvements agreed upom
with Mr.. Downing are all carried out, and we
shall soon see one of the handsomest examples of
that the world can exhibit This is i'm accordance
with the public wishes, and am sure you will
rejoice 10 hear il >
such information it would have afforded ne
llntIsense pleasure TO communicate, but unfortu-
natsly 1t would not he true; and as your reputa-
ton for correct statements was made long ago let
me tell you how the matter stands at this moment
Downing died Just after the first effort at spriD.r
planting was made. He placed a number Of tine
trees around the Smithsonian institution, among
whlch were many evergreens; he also partially
laid out the grounds. Lafayettes Square, opp0-
site the Presidents house, was also partially
planted, and has had some proper care bestowed
upon 1t, more by the efforts of private benefac-
tor than the authorities The large space between
the Smithsonian and the Presidents grounds was
LETT Tor future operations; this was designed for
an evergreen or winter garden, aid was to have
been sheltered drive or walk
The evidences of the skill Of the planter and
landscape gardener seen around the Insiitu-
ton. Downing there left his mark in the bold
sweeps Of the roads and in the original planting
The evergreens that have survived neglect or sue
ceCded under bad treatment are there thoup h
many are ruined, and the whole, il something is
not done, Will soon be in a similar condition ;
presently you shall learn the reason.
lhesc Smithsonian grounds are now a disgrace
20 the nation. Early efforts were made, by break
ing the soil properly, to lay il down in good
but neglect has rendered all that expense-and il
was very great-utterly nugatory. / should say
IL has been mown but once year, and that it has
not been rolled. 1t is now better in appearance
than most farmers timothy fields; but that is not
the worst OF il. Some favored owner Of "A large lot
of maple trees has got lately contract To transfer
them To these grounds; where, think YOU. has he
had the good sense to place them. He has closely
bordered the roads in marvellous manner and TO
show his knowledge of how tO treat good design,
anu how TO preserve the evcrgrcens already there,
lac has really planted maple in front and only a
few feet from each and before nearly every choice
specimen. Now, what will be the result unless
some kind authority steps in at once aud removes
them! Why, just this the naples will soon over
TOP The eveTgrcens spoil them and the design, and
urw authority will ere long cut away the ever
greens To make room for the naples No attenti on
TO and no kind of appreciation of Mr. Downing s
plan has entered into either the new planting or
the care OF the grounds. New officers as they
come in derange the plans of their predecessors.
Nothing in Washington is consistent or stable.
ask no questions of whose work was this or
whose plans were these saw only the utter desc
Grafton, ana turned away more in sorrow than in
anger. Walking around the costly Smith. oman
building, to which so much attention was given.
what surprise awaits you at the front door !,
There IL at this moment some forty carloads IF
coal ashes thrown ont in heaps before the door
and on the (prOpOsed) lawn. Now, will YOU. nv
dear HOrticulturist like TO show that and this 10
Foreigners, or to yeur own neat readers. How
viii you redden when Sir William Hooker, fresh
from the admirable ncatncss OF Kew Gardens
strolls about these national efforts at the sublime
Truly. hope he may not be taken there, and !
wish II had not been my duty 10 90.
But perhaps the winter garden is better Let
Us see. Mount the wOrm-edtcn stilc and look over
at the eyeIgreens. Not single one, Is there
nothing Oh, yes. plenty of planting And
pray, what arc those bean and hop poles for, No
doubt To shelter the young plantations of the rarest
trees from every CLINE, which to teach our
people what trees are, and what they may become
Soon we shall see a change the young growts
Will replace these maple poles. for at present il
looks a. If 1t were ma ke for the Indians who come
To see their great father" to play game of
whoOps and war-dances in, Alas. this fine do
main is planted with maple and similar trees, all
trimmed and topped in the most approved city
Stylc-all, including the Smithsonian grounds. a
great Jcb: Sixty acres and more devoted to job
blng trees. Can il be borne No, ii cannot; IL
cannot; il must not be