The Sunday herald and weekly national intelligencer., 1891-05-17

cation of the public playground" The
speaker was Mr.. George H. Brown, the pub
lie gardener, who for the past twenty years has
had the immediate care Of the beautiful parks
and reservations of the city. He is thoroughly
skilled in the culture of trees, shrubs, and
flowers, and a landscape gardener of great ex-
cellence. His handwork is the daily admira-
tion of thousands, and to him falls large
share of the credit for the handsome
parks of this city. "The last appropriation
bill, - he continued, "provided that certain
portion of the monument grounds should be
set apart as public playground. Maj.
Ernst has studied the matter with care, and
the location has about been decided upon
1t will probably be that portion of the grounds
which lie due north of the monument,
bounded by B and Fourteenth streets, the
roadway beside the ish-ponds, and a newly
constructed road running east and west a
short distance north Of the monument. In
fact, it is what was formerly the ST te of Bah
cock Lake, over which Washingtonians for
merly used to glide on skates. The lake was
filed in some time ago, and the grading,
which has been going on since then is about
completed. The area is about ten acres and
will make commodious common. To be
sure, at present the spot is adapted for
anything else rather than q playground
but years time will work a wonderful
change. As soon as the grading is COM
pleted grass will be sown, and by next spring
a beautiful lawn will be there, which will vie
with the public playground of that of many
of our large cities. 1t will be kept in the best
of condition, and every possible method will
be taken to keep the grass from being worn
away. To do this completely, however,
would be an impossibility, and in order to
screen away any unsightliness that might
come from the bare spots and to afford shade
for the players row of shade trees will sur
round the grounds. The work is being
pushed forward very rapidly, and we hope to
open the grounds to the public some time
next spring. OF course, there is still a great
deal to do, and presume some regulations
will have to be adopted as to the use of the
grounds by various teams that wish to play
there. 1t will have to be so arranged that
players in baseball or football matches will
be obliged to secure a permit for the exclu-
sive use of one part of the grounds on set
day at some fixed hour. That is the plan
which has worked with success in other cities.
Yes, suppose some one will object to the To-
cation on account of its being the site of the
former lake, but any claims of dampness will
be unfounded, for the ground will be well
drained and will be perfectly dry in good
weather.
''The other improvements about the monu-
melt are being pushed forward with all
possible speed. new asphalt walk has been
laid from Executive avenue to the base of the
monument, and during the past week the long
grass has been moved.
There is park in portion of
the city where a majority of Washing
tonians do not see it that is destined
to be one of the finest we have. This is
Garfield Park, which is fast nearing com
pletion. 1t is large reservation, situated
south of the Capitol, between South Capitol
and Third streets east, with New Jersey avenue
dividing it in about equal parts. 1t contains
twenty-four acres. 1t is located in a section of
the city which has not been highly improved
by private enterprise During this spring this
park has been greatly improved. The walks
and roads have been graded, guttered, and
well surfaced. portion along the Pennsyl-
vania Railroad has been planted with trees
and shrubs, SO that in time they will make an
effectual screen, which will hide the railroad
from the park.
This is busy time for u.s. and all our men
are now engaged in preparing the parks for
Their summer adolnments. The late spring
and wet weather greatly retarded our work.
but we have accomplished a great deal of
work. We have done a large amount of
planting, more especially in the new parks.
We also continued the planting in the White
Lot, where we have laid out about four hundred
new trees and shrubs
"We have entirely rid the White Lot, a large
part OF the Smithsonian grounds, and, In fact,
many Of the large parks of that Internal pest
garlic. The remedy is a simple one and at the
same time inexpensive and effectual A few
drops Of carbolic acid poured on the heart of
the bulb will kill the garlic so that it will not
return. We have experimental with it widely
and il does not fail To be sure, it kills the
grass within a space about the size of fifty
cent piece, but this grows out again. A small
quantity is plenty for a lawn and barrel of it
only costs $12.
"Ihe number of flowers with which the
parks will be planted is increased each wear.
Last year about 100000 plants of all varieties
were set out, while this year we contemplate
making the number 100000. A number of
new varieties which we have never placed in
the parks before will be planted this year.
The most attractive improvement this year
will probably be made in Lafayette Square
We purpose making the abandoned site of the
Lafayette statue thing of beauty. 1t has been
an unsightly spot, which we will cover up
few days ago the foundation was trans
formed into base for an elaborate