Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-04-02
DEAUT|fY|hG LAWNS
Taste for Adornment to Be
Encouraged.
BOOKLETS ISSUED
REPORT OF COLUMBIA HEIGHTS
CITIZENS ASSOCIATION.
Refers to Every Section of the Dis
trict-Benefits that Could Be
Derived.
BOOKLETS ISSUED


elected condition of very many of our lawns
is a matter of common remark and regret,
and in response to dissatisfied feeling in
the community over this condition, the Co.
lumba Heights Citizens Association at
recent largely attended meeting. provided,
by a unanimously adopted resolution, for
the appointment of a special committee,
whose duty it should be to encourage the
cultivation of taste for lawn adornment.
With such an introduction the committee
referred to proceeds to make valuable re-
port on the possibilities of identifying the
lawns and gardens of the citizens within
it's jurisdiction There is not line in the
report. which has been issued by the asso-
citation in the form of booklet which
does not refer with equal truth to every sec
ton of the District For several years past
a movement has been on foot with the oD-
ject of encouraging this sort OF thlng
Through the columns of The Star, both edl-
torial and news much space has been
given to the matter, and many arguments
presented for its advancement. There mas
been little nothing that could be SAID IN
Opposition.
Pioneers in the Work.
The members of the Columbia Heights
Citizens Association are the pioneers
| among citizens associations in this par
ticular field and it is the idea of the pro-
| sociations and persons not affiliated with
| such organiza tons to take up the move
ment and carry it forward until it shall
| he possible to point to any home in the
District as a model of horticultural beauty.
! None of those who have so far been loen-
| titled with the movement is expecting TO
profit in any manner from his services, ex-
| cept in the way that all good citizens proht
| through work for the betterment OF the city
| in which they live.
The booklet containing the report OF the
| committee of the Columbia Heights AS
| ISOLATION is a valuable piece of literature FOR
| the amateur flower culture wherever he
| may be situated. Besides giving an idea
| of the history of the movement Tor the
| Identification of the city it contains many
| helpful suggestions as to the culture OF
| various plants and as to the arrangement
of flowers on the lawn. 1t says, among
other things:
Attractive plant life would relieve the
| monotonous outlook now presented on many
streets lined by long rows of brick, stone
and mortar The presence or trees on the
streets and shrubs and flowers on the
lawns will produce healthy and cooling
effect, shielding in a great measure the
interior of the houses from street dust.
OF this there is danger. with the natural
desire for variety, and with such large
| list to select from.
Repetition, or copying after our neigh
| bors, should be avoided also. Each one
should strive to excel and present an en-
| tirely new effect, and this can be done
readily with the almost limitless resources
| at hand.
Should Be Cooperation.
I'm this work of identifying our homes
| there should be an ever-present spirit OF
street pride and hearty cooperation on the
part Of residents. in order that harmonious
effect may be secured.
with us the size of the home parking,
exclusive of the walk, when on the street
grade will average about 500 square feet.
| The surface of this space is reduced where
| it stands above grade and is terraced back
! Let us offer a suggestion as TO how this
| space should be treated in order to attain
l. the best results. In the center we would
| place a holly weeping birch, or magnolia
| evergreen, grandifiora). and for companions
| two Towering shrubs-forsythea tgolden
| belD and Althea double pink. and two
hybrid tea roseS-Helen Gould (crimson) and
| Maid of Honor pink), with Mrs. Robert
| Peary "a creamy white, everbloomlng
| climbing rose), running over the porch.
This arrangement is submitted as sug-
| gestion merely and may be changed to suit
| the individual taste. The idea OF central
| tree of small growth, or a large shrub, or
| an urn containing snowy annuais, however,
should be adhered to, and there are great
many varieties to select from The purple
| beech the mountain ash, the magnolias,
| Japanese naples, and some of the smaller
varieties of evergreens, would be suitable.
| Cultivation OF Flowers.
"There is much more as to the flowers and
! foliage in the booklet, and then follows
| good stock of useful information as to
| lawns.
| 'In the cultivation of the flowers and
| plants the grass must not be neglected. II
| is declared. Nothing presents prettier
| appearance during the summer months than
a well-kept greensward This can be easily
| secured by proper Observation-Disclosures fer
| tilizing frequent cutting and copious water
| ing.
| attractive sight. 1t is one of the main ele-
| ments of beauty in connection with city or
| suburban homes On a comparatively level
| surface such lawns can be kept in good
| condition with comparative ease The great
| objection to stable manure is its tendency
| to disseminate weed seeds.
| LAS to varieties of grasses for the lawn
best adapted to this locality, the Kentucky
| blue grass (Poa pratensis), the Rhode Island
| bent grass (Agrostis Canlua), with very
| small proportion of white clover, will be
| found to be the most desirable mixture For
| terrace slopes that are liable to be injured
| during the winter season, or by very heavy
rains. the Canada blue grass (Poa COM
| presSa) is highly recommended. 1t makes
| a beautiful deep, rich bluish-green sward
| and Is superior to kentucky blue grass, as
| the creeping foot-stalks form a very close
| and durable turf of fine texture. Where
| the shade is too dense to grow the ordinary
| grasses the crested Dog's-tail (Cynosurus
cristatus) will grow. The color is the same
as that of Kentucky blue grass, so that II
| desired both can be sown together.
| 1.-The leaves of the street trees should
| never be burned, but rather ought to be
| gathered and compressed in an open box in
| the rear of the house, where, If watered oc-
| casionally, their decay would be fastened.
| Early the following winter the rich, vege-
| table mold thus formed should be evenly
| distributed over the lawn or parking.
| Whenever the lawn is mown, the clippings
| should be utilized in the same way or used
| at once, as mulch about the shrubbery."
| Window Gardens.
| The booklet also contains much informa-
| ton of a useful kind relative to window
| gardens and such matters, every bit of
| which is appreciated by the householders
| throughout the District. But the members
| of the association, particularly the members
| of the committee. have not stopped at CON-
| piling the pooKrer, they have gone much
| further. After placing in the hands of
| the residents of their section this vast
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