Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1916-07-21


inconspicuous corner OF Potomac Park.
away from tho we'll. worn ways OF the
siGhtscers. arc the War Departments
greenhouses. These houses have no
connection with military matters, but
are used for the propagation Of all the
various species OF flowers. shrubs and
plants that ornament, the parks OF the
National Capital. with the exception OF
the bulb supply. which comes from.
Holland. This summer the whole city
~ brilliant with beds OF red cannas,
purple hcliotrope and pink and red
Ecra NUNS all OF which have been
grow" ana planted by the War De.
PARTNER
Just why tho administration OF a
municipal park system. including The
propagation or flowers, should be as
'iRncd 10 the War Department has
never been satisfactorily explained TO
the War Department itsclf. but the
popular story is that the parks were
originally planned for military rcu-
$ ms. AZ the time Major I.kufan, was
preparing his plans OF the capital for
iresiucnt Washington, the French Rev
olnti"n was drawing to an end. \
young torsican, by the name OF Bona
partc. had suddenly appeared. placed
his cannon in the center OF the pubh,.
20 four streets at once. Immediately
tic mobrule was broken and replaced
by martial law, and the whole world
including Major LEnfant was much
Impressed by the strategic oualinca-
tons OF city parks. Hence Washing
ton was given many squares and cir
cies and trtanSles after the fashion OF
Paris. and these were placed under
ne supervision OF the War Depart
ment.
Whatever tho true reason for plac-
ms the management with the DEPART
'nent' the results have proved that tho
choice was wise. With their usual
remarkable executive ability the milf
tary authorities have put as much en-
trI% and thought into taking care of
The PARKS and growing flowers as they
would into planning military cam.
paiGn. To-day, Washington has the
finest park system in the country, with
worhins force OF thirty skilled gard
cners, large greenhouse facilities and
lis own mounted police force. There
are 400 parks in all, comprising. an
area OF l.20o acres and for the flower
beds scattered throughout their length
me greenhouses raise between SIX and
.Vo'ooo plants each year. Brock Creek
Park is not included in these figures
since il alone is under municipal iuris-
dction.)
Floral Displays Change.
AS eacn new season approaches. the
old flowers are removed and new ones
substituted, the change being made so
quickly in some Instances that one
morning there arc pansics In n nowcr
bed and the next morning tall red
cannaS. Take. for example. Lafayette
Park. which is directly opposite the
White House. and for that reason is
probably more familiar to visitors than
any other. This park is never without
floral displays of one kind or another
from early March to late October. In
October the fading summer plants are
dug up and the soil fertilzed, after
which in some beds are planted Hol-
land bulbs while in others are placed
pansy plants that have been growing
in the greenhouses ever since the pre-
ceding July. Fly the first of ANhch the
first crocuses and ionquils have crept
up; a little later the hyacinths and
tulips are all in bloom. and in May
the pansics begin to blossom The
color effects achieved by using these
different varieties OF plants are such
as TO command the admiration of the
most casual pedestrian. y bed OF
bright red tulips against tho light
green background OF carly spring
foliage. or "A bed of purple, yellow and
white pansies Invariably causes the
stranger 10 stop and pay silent or OK
clamatory tribute to their beauty
BY the end OF May. however. the
pansies arc all gone, as we'll as tho
bulb flowers, and the beds arc then
planted with landscape effects Of
heiiotrope and -geraniums, and masses
OF tall cannas. These plants are
propagated in the greenhouses from
slips taken from the original plants.
and, In the case OF cannas, the roots.
The parks are patrolled by q number
OF bicycle and unmounted policemen.
who see that waste paper and rubbish
are not scattered over the wcll-kcpt
lawns. and who protect tho flowers
and blooming shrubs from acts OF van
dalism. This separate police force has
proved SO extremely efficient and sat
isfactory with the Washington park
system that now other cities arc con-
templa ting adopting the plan.
washingtons Recreation Park.
The most attractive of the city parks
is Potomac Park, which stretches for
several miles along the Potomac River
and Is traversed by wide boulovards,
fringed with splendid shade trees.
Here, In the spring. hundreds OF iris
flowers line tho river banks, and guam
titles OF pconies burst Into bloom. while
later many varieties Of summer roscs
and other hardy perenlais extend
along its course for two or three miles
Potomac Park is the big public park