Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1893-07-10
BUILDINGS
Continued from Fifth Pdee.)


plished in constructing and repairing cold
frames, repairing roots, constructing water
tanks and plant boxes, repairing tin
cutters and down spouts, laying brick walks in
green houses, &c. Nearly half million bed
ding plants. covering about 800 varieties. were
propagated for spring planting in the public
grounds, and particular attention was
given to chrysanthemums for autumn
bloom In the autumn sl32 plants,
consisting of roses, smilax, carnations, bego-
mas. heiotrope, geraniums and pansies and
20 ST. bulbs, consisting of hyacinths. fucsbiss.
hiies, tulips. nsrcissus and lilies of the valley,
were planted for winter forcing and early spring
bloom; 47.6l0bulbs were purchased and planted
for decorating the public grounds.
fne nursery grounds were maintained in
good condition.; roads and walks were raked.
repaired and roied; lawns mowu and cutters
and drain traps cleared; all shrubbepy was
properly trimmed, transplanted when nee
essary, and unserviceable trees, &c, removed:
10, iO0 cuttings of Towering shrubs were set out
IN beds; about 500 trees and shrubs were lifted
s anu used In the ornamentation Of various parks
throughout the city.
In the spring about 5000 tube roses and
,.oo0 carnations were set out, and about 40 600
JULIUS Drought In from parks were planted in
oraeI 10 properly ripen for next season About
Io,ooo ornamental foliage and Towering plants
were set out In May within and In front of the
hursery Lor ornamental purposes. The old
6i0"AhB Ndtt lilies Tor the
fountain basins were repaired and one new
TANK sixty feet by twelve feet was constructed.
THE FIRE AT THE NURSERY.
On Sunday, March 26, the brush on the river
hats on the west side Of the nursery was set on
fire and the flames extended to the nursery
fence. burning about sixty feet before il could
be extlnguished by the Waterman on duty.
Extensive Improvements can well be made at
these gardens. Nearly half million plants are
annually propagated at the green houses for
use In the summer and autumn decoration of
the public parks; the beautiful water lilies and
other aquatic plants used in many OF the foun-
tain basins are also propagated here.
The various structures are serviceable for the
purposes for which they are used, and have
been mainly erected by our own workmen at
comparatively cheap cost; they are without
ornamentation OF any kind. and are MAIN
tanned in repair by small annual appro-
priation of $1,000: the buildings should
be increased in number. large PAIN house
and subtropical plant house are especially
needed. Green house pits and cold frames are
also required for the purpose Of growing hardy
herbaceous perennials, no paintings Of which
OF any magnitude have as vet been made in any
Of the parks or other public gardens in WASH
ington.
The nursery grounds Of the gardens, exclu-
sive Of the ground occupied by the green
houses, store houses, sheds, roads and walks
cover an area Of about four acres. one-third Of
which is occupied by green house paintings for
stock and hardy rose grounds; the remaining
portion is thickly planted with young trees
and hardy Towering shrubs, set out in
rows ready for transplanting when required;
this area is not sufficiently large to supply the
tree and shrub paintings of the park ex-
tensions Of the public grounds, and purchases
from commercial nurseries and wherever
they can be found to supply DEFICIENCIES
1t is hoped that in the near future. when the
work Of filling the Potomac fats near the prop.
agating gardens is completed, that the nursery
grounds may be extended SO as to furnish
abundant room for the purposes for which they
are intended.
am frequently in receipt Of requests for the
loan Of plants from the gardens for the use
OF churches, fairs, festivals, &C.. and demands
are constantly made for towering and decora-
tive plants for private purposes.
have been obliged to decline all such re-
quests. as either the loan or gift OF any plants
would be in violation Of the following extrac,
1878:
Provided, That hereafter such trees, shrubs
and plants shall be propagated at the green
houses and nursery as are suitable for planting
In the public reservations. to which purpose
nursery shall be applied"
After the annual spring planting in the parks
Is completed 1t sometimes happens that there is
Q small surplus of bedding plants on hand;
these are divided among such public reserva-
tons or institutions as Fort Meyer. marine bar
racks, State, War and Navy building Ere de-
partment, for vases outside of public buildings
and also to hospitals in the city which receive
government aid.
SMITHSONIAN PARK GROUNDS.
This large park located on the MALL" nearly
midway between the Presidents grounds and
the United States Capitol grounds, and mid
way between the business sections Of North and
South Washington is one Of the popular
park resorts Of the city, 1t contains
within its boundaries the Smithsonian In
stitution, the National Museum and the Army
Medical Museum, al OF which attract many
visitors The area Of the park is about fftv-
eight acres, the greater portion Of which is laid
out in lawn surfaces, little over nine acres
being devoted to road and walks.
During the year the improvement Of the
park has been continued, and it has been MAIN
tanned in good order.
Gravel roads and walks have been repaired,
raEed and rolled, lawns mown, trees and shrubs
pruned, cutters and traps cleaned 605ls
square yards Of asphalt roadway pave
ment have been laid upon the gravel road
ways northeast of the museum building and
266 square yards Of asphalt footwalks laid upon
paths leading toward the museum; repairs were
Hiauc W tuo oiu dspnalt Walks covering an area
OF l01s square yards: about 40 square Yards
OF sod was used in sodding along new asphalt
walks and repairing trespass paths.
CONDITION OF THE ROADS
The roads are subjected to heavy and con-
tinuous travel; they are not only thoroughfares
connecting the streets Of north and south WASH
ington, but they are direct routes to the
principal city market the Center market, the
hay, straw and grain markets.
On the public space just north of the park is
the hucksters market, and the debris from this
place, which Is blown or thrown into the PAL L,
entails a great deal Of additional labor to
maintain 1t in slightly condition
On account OF the constant passage Of teams
many OF them heavily laden, over the gravel
roads, 1t has been somewhat difficult to main
tain them In good condition for travel, espec-
tally during the winter season.
The lawn surfaces Of this park need renova-
uon. and after the completion of the roadways
this important portion Of the reservation will
be renewed and besutified.
HENRY AND sEAroN PARKS
These two parks have an aggregate area Of
about "a acres, and extend from the Smithsonian
grounds to the Botanical Gardens, which in
their turn edjoin the United States Capitol
grounds, and complete the chain of parks ex-
tending from the Executive Mansion to the
Capitol.
The beauty of the parks are somewhat married
by the depot and tracks of the Baltimore and
Potomac railroad lying between them. A mound
has been constructed bordering the depot and q
section Of the tracks. which il carried to compile
ton and planted as designed with thick belt of