Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1897-09-30
Proposed Additions to the Tropical
Trees There.
old PLAN OF GENERAL N. C. MEIGS
Two Large Palms to Be Taken
From the Botanic Garden.
TREES THAT NEED ROOM

Mention was recently made in The Star
of the fact that the officials at the pension
Office were interested in decorating the in
terror of the building with growing trees
and plants. They have already made
good start in that direction. and, through
the courtesy of the superintendents of the
greenhouses of the Botanic Garden, Agri-
cultural Department and Public Garden,
the fountain basin in the court of the
building has been surrounded by tall and
handsome trees of the tropics, such as
palms, bananas, rubbers. etc. The group
presents a charming appearance, univer-
sally appreciated by the employees of the
office, and it will render the building more
attractive than ever, especially in winter.
when the outside world is wrapped in snow
and ice.
1t is proposed to add to this collection
from time to time. and number of plants
Rave been promised by private parties. 1t
is believed by many that, With proper care
and attention. such tropical fruit trees as
orange, lemon, grape fruit, banana and
mango can be housed safely through the
winter there and. by placing them outside
in summer, be made to grow and bear
fruit in greater perfection than can be at
The temperature In the court of the build
ing rarely falls below 30 degrees even in
the coolest winter nights, this being one of
the best heated and ventilated structures in
Washington.
Gen. Meigs' Plan.
This undertaking is directly in line with
the plans Of Gen. NJ c. Meigs. the archi-
tect of the pension Office. He believed that
growing plants in the interior of the build
ing would not only add greatly to its at
Effectiveness. but that they would serve the
more imDOrfanf Dlirp0se of D,rrifvinp nd
refreshing the atmosphere breathed by 81
many people. The matter was presented to
Congress. and much discussion was had a.
to the practicability OF growing plants un.
der such conditions. A number of large
terra Gotta basins Of ornamental design
were placed around the upper gallery and
II was intended that these should be made
to blossom as the rose" 1t was a very
pretty idea; but never became a reality.
The best local authorities, including vii
liam r. Smith of the Botanic Garden vii
liam Saunders of the Agricultural Depart
ment and Public Gardener Brown, were
having the matter under consideration, and
these savants decided. with practical una
nimity, that the proposed location in tn,
gallery was too far away from the sun.
rays That peculiar life-giving chemica
principle in sunlight known as &C tinism
which Is SO essential to the growth O.
most plants. was. they said. lacking Their,
to such q degree as to make the undertak
ing well nigh hopeless. The best that could
be done under the circumstances was TO pu
plants and flowers In the ba sina take tn,
best possible care Of them as long as the,
remained fresh and renew them wher
faded. Under such unfavorable condition.
the project fell through. and General Meig.
lever lived to see green leaves and brieh
flowers gracing the edifice he had planned.
A More Promising Outlook.
The outlook for the group Of trees and
plants around the fountain basin Is NOR