Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-05-04
CHANCE FOR THE GRASS
Careless Feet as Enemies to
Lawns of the City.
TREES ALSO A HINDRANCE
Municipal Officials to Solve Serious
Problem.
MUST SAVE FOLIAGE AND TURF
Elements in the Variety and Attrac-
tiveness Of Washington as Place
Of Residence.
TREES ALSO A HINDRANCE
lust SAVE FOLIAGE AND TURF

Usually at this period Of the year spring
weather Is expected. There Is hardly any
reason except precedent to lead any one
to suppose UP to this time that there is
such thing as a succession Of the seasons
and that period Of cold weather Is followed
by one OF warm. The backwardness Of the
spring Is not merely local. but general: but
1t IL asserted by authorities on the subject
that the spring Is only delayed and that II
will surely come.
Therefore. 1t Is seasonable to suggest that
attention Of househoders be directed to-
ward the care OF the lawns, or to use the
official designation. 1.-The parkings." in front
Of their residences. The portions of the
public street that lie between the building
line and the inside line Of the sidewalks
along all the streets Is left to the care Of
the householder by the city authorities, and
as a rule the space Is not neglected. II 10
like the front door yard in a village. the
chief difference being that the land while
apparently in the control OF the property
owner Is not assessed against him on the
tax list.
Look Like Private Lawns
The average visitor to the city. not being
accustomed to such width In streets. natur-
ally reaches the conclusion that the trim
SlTcUNueS VI ln ITOHt Ok uOuSe6 DelOu8
to the individual. Certainly they could not
be cared for with more attention IL they
were the actual property of the house.
holder. The grass IL renewed and kept
trimmed. while In many instances shrubbsry
and flowers are planted There is hardly q
feature about the streets that is more orna-
mental and 10 more admired than the lawns.
Like every other good thing. neat and
fourishing condition of the lawns is not al
- 49, al To AroN ala
good crop of grass IL most difficult to raise
in this climate, whether one makes the trial
outside or inside the city. In the second
place there are conditions due to the city
surroundings that add to the uncertainty,
as, for example, the pavements and side
walks with their quality OF retaining. re-
f1ecting and giving out heat.
Careless Footsteps.
The people who are either too selfish or
too busy to care about avoiding disfguring
the grass plot add another item In the strug-
gle Of the city lawns for existence. or late
years the luxuriance Of the trees with their
spreading foliage and expanding area OF the
shade cast by the limbs has come to be
another serious drawback to the well-being
Of turf. In fact, the latter cause Is looked
upon as largely responsible for the bare and
shabby appearance Of the parking here and
there throughout the city. for as 1t may be
cOnCluQeQ the crop OI grass Is Hot
tanned from year to year without trouble
and expense on the part OF the house,
holder a, -.
Nearly every one who has home spends
each year time and labor and money in get
ting the patch of parking in front In good
shape. In some sections OF the city this
civic service Is encouraged by the Offering
of prizes to be awarded to those who are
pronounced by competent committee to
have made the best use of their parking
In addition. there IL the natural emulation
that comes from one neighbor desiring to
have his home look as well as that Of the
adjoining house. and also the motive which
Is more general than Is commonly sup
posed. and which Is due to the love for the
beautiful and the pride which the average
American takes In his home.
Need Both Grass and Trees.
It Is believed the time has come for thu
city authorities to cooperate with the citi-
zens in this particular to q larger extent
than ever before. The necessity for such
action arises from the effect Of trees on
the lawns. The shade has become 80 dense
that grass growth lie impossible. and some
thing viii have to be done either in the
way OF trimming the lower branche Of the
trees 80 as to allow the sunlight to get
near the base of the trees or some other
device will have to be adopted.
There Is no feeling against the trees
which are looked upon with justice as the
chief source of the beauty Of the city. The
trees are wanted, but SO vs. the grass, ana
the problem that is now pressing for solu-
ton is the preservation Of both trees and
grass. slight observation In any part
Of the city would convince any one at the
present time the trees hold the advantage.
The parking shows not merely bare spots,
but stretches Of them. Where the shade
from the trees is the densest there is to be
found the widest expanse Of bare earth.
Up to the City Authorities.
There IL said to be no use expecting
the individual property owner to resod or
reseed the parking in front Of his house
each year. when 1t ia his experience that
owing to the shade of the trees it II i'm
possible for any green thing to survive
within the sweep Of the boughs. The trees
are public property and cannot be touched
In any way by the individual. 30 that 1t is
up to the city authorities in very em-
phatc way to do something and do IL
quickly IL the famed beauty Of the city
thoroughfares is to be preserved.