Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1885-12-22
Nature and Art at the CapitoI.

THE NEW TERRACES-TREES AND sHRUBBERY
IN TIE GROUNDS
Washington Correspondence New York Tribune
During The long recess the Capitol has been
nicely secured and polished all over and the
new Congress finds it as white and smooth and
shining as freshly planted gravestone. The
marble surface had begun TO weather into n
texture to hold the mellowed light instead Of
rejecting il back from glttering points and
streaks and patches from Furnished metal
ana the staring white had begun to cloud into
soil grayS. when the usual resolution to scrub
The buildings exterior was passed. The reason
for whitening up the walls to make the masses of
shadow appear less profound and all the re-
cesses more shallow has not been revaa,aS
Meantime the architectural terrace on the north
OF the capitol has been completed, as has that
on the south side, with the execution of some
surface details, and ii is evident now how the
dignity and nobility OF the entire structure are
Sustained and augmented by the broad-set
s"iidity of the base. 1t Is plain, too that the
grading of the grounds, when ii is completely
strGngthens the architectural purpose and effect
OF the work.
In the planting, there is little of what is
known as landscape gardening, although the
a ar, win which a breadth OF open greensward
Win surrounding masses of foliage has been
secured on the west front of the Capitol's north
wing Is noteworthy. But the prevailing pur-
pose mas been 10 reveal and set forth the COM
nIandlng proportions OF a monumental build
Ing. From every line OF approach it can be
seen, with nothing to obstruct the sight or dis
tract attention, and from many points it is pre-
scented In fitting framework OF foliage To- de-
tach II from surrounding objects while a
drapery or background Of trees has been ar
rams Ell 10 bring out its lines with distinctpess
froffs,oh Tor crowds of people on grand Occa-
sions, Ike the Inauguration of President. re-
qhlre> large paved areas, and many paths are
needed. But belts OF shrubbery without hein1
high enough TO obstruct the view have been
disposed so as To mask the walks and over
come tue hard, stony effect they would other
wise produce.
The street .rees, of which the people here are
Justly proud, naturally come into mind when
ever any pubic planting at the Capitol is
thought of. In no other CITY OF the country
have trees been SO generally used and nowhere
else nave they succeeded so we'll IL has heen
objected to them that they are too close to-
gether, Dut there are two sides to this question
III Is an undeniable misfortune, however that
80 large n proportion OF brittle son wooded
species ike poplar and silver maple were se-
iccted. IL has been prophesied, too that they
are now at their best because the soil is sterile
y little OF this was removed where each tree
was set, anu Its place was filled with rich loan
Inc frees must have already taken up most of
the nutriment contained in this and the fear Is
that the roots will find scant feeding hereafter
i,at ~ VIII Se tiine enough TO take up this lam
epiafion when the deterioration begins Trees
planted here years ago are fiourishiuy AS can
be seen IN the fine growth on the Smifhsoria ian
eroufids me grorplh% of these trees,
ny tie way, Is admirable, and this il not sur
ptlsiilS, Tor ~ WAS the work Of less n master
of his art than A. j. Downing The adjacent
GROUNDS OF the Agricultural department would
nave Deen much more satisfactory III they had
been designed by some one with Downing's
genius. The selection of some American tree
Tor Inc broad avenue would have had a certain
appropriateness In such place, but II an Asiatic
species was needed some better avenue tree
than the gingko, with It's stiff and angular way
OF branching, could have been selected. There
are many rarer and interesting specimens In
THIS attempt at an arbo etum, but the grounds
are too small or the number of trees too great
,;'i now. When the trees are not half grown,
finest young oaks, for example, will soon be
bopciessly disngured.