Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-07-30
CARING FOR LAWNS
Columbia Heights Citizens
Competing for a Prize.
MARKED IMPROVEMENT
SHOWN IN MANY OF THE GRASS
PLATS.
Unsightly Spaces in Front of Houses
Owned by Those Who Leave
Town for the Summer.

The Columbia Heights Citizens Associa-
ton, through committee, is taking active
measures just now to promote the cultiva-
ton Of the lawns In that part of the city
Some time ago The Evening Star donated
money to provide prizes for the best-kept
lawns on the Heights within the territory
represented by the association. The asso.
citation accordingly appointed a committee
consisting of Judge Charles S. Bundy, Maj
Richard Sylvester and Mr.. Charles E. Kern
requesting them to take measures for ascer-
tanning what lawns on the Heights should
be accorded the prizes provided by The
Stars fund.
This committee has already begun the
work of ascertaining the conditions of the
lawns on the Heights. with a view Of en-
courag1ng the work of identifying the city,
and a careful record is being kept in order
that when the summer season is over and
the grass begins to die it may make re-
Port Of those who will be entitled to The
Stars prizes. There has long been a con-
viction among people in this city that one
OF the most important things for the i'm
provement of the appearance Of the city Is
attention to the lawns. In many other
places. especially in the north and in GER
tain cities of the west, every householder
takes the greatest care of the lawn. There
Is as great effort made In these places to
care for the lawn as to care for the house
Itself. and an ill-kept lawn is regarded with
as much disfavor by the careful housekeep-
er as would be an unclean doorstep
A Marked Improvement.
In cities in which the lawns are a promi-
nent part of the Identification of the resi-
dences the grass Is kept closely trimmed,
weeds are pursued to the death and annual
ly the lawns are properly covered with fer
tilizer, SO that when the warm spring comes
the well-cared-for sod is so preserved that
within few weeks it is again in perfect
condition.
The lawns are now kept in such condt-
ton without an expenditure Of time or
money On the part of the owners. But
time or money Is used for that purpose
with the same regularity that it is devoted
to other things aud it has been found that
a very small expenditure is sufficient to
produce the best results
The great necessity for the improve
ments OF the lawns OF this city is en-
phasized by the fact that in no other city
Of it's size in the country is there such
large proportion Of the residences pro-
vtded with grass spaces The policy of
laying out the streets with space re-
served for parking has given a lawn to
practically every residence of the city
They are not large lawns as a rule and 1t
is thought by many that for that yery
reason their care has often been neglected
Where extensive lawns are provided they
become positive offenders when neglected
and the owners Of such spaces become ac-
customed to making provision for their
careful attention. But the smaIlness of the
area devoted to lawns in this city has
often made the occupants of the houses in
different to their care.
Since the efforts made for the improve
ment Of the lawns of Columbia Heights
there has been a noticeable improvement
in the appearance OF that part Of the city.
AS rule the residents there employ men
for the care of the lawns whose sole work
Is Of that nature. But these men in many
cases have care for. the grass spaces in
held to a strict accountability for the
manner In which they have done their
work. AS rule they have not attended
to the removal Of weeds and do not re-
gard the elimination Of these unsightly
growths as a part Of their duties. They
have been satisfied with merely cutting
the grass once a week or ten days Not
only do they generally neglest the re-
moval OF the weeds, but in cutting the
grass they have paid little atttntion to
care in the performance of their work.
Already many of the residents of the
heights have instructed their caretakers
that there must be more attention to the
manner in doing their work. In many
instances there has been marked inn
provement in the appearance of the lawns.
In some instances such scrupulous care is
being taken in this respect that there are
now many lawns that might be entered in
any well-regulated contest.
In these instances the grass is cut once
a week and Is watered almost daily. Weeds
ara eliminated with such care that II the
work Is continued and taken up by all
the residents the spread of many OF the
weeds will be stopped altogether.
Owners Out Of Town.
But a Il % now some OF the best kent