The Idaho recorder. [volume] (Salmon City, Idaho) 1886-1927, 1922-08-18

The problem Is only half solved when provision
Is made for flowers for member OF Congress ana
for the present limited output Of shrubs ana
cuttings. There is demand for Il real botanic
garden IN which the public may examine living
specimens OF the enormous varieties of trees.
shrubs. vines. and herbaceOus plants native TO this
locality or capable Of being grown here, freely
out OF doors. These plants should be classified
and the public should be made free OF the grounds
for recreation and study.
large area Is required to grow well-developed
specimens Of the different kinds Of trees which
are native to the District alone TO say nothing
OF showing the very different aspects or those
trees when grouped as In u wood and when grown
singly as lawn or street trees. The great numbers
OF native shrubs. the equally important and In
terestng trees and shrubs which have been In
troduced and viii be introduced from all over the
world requires an outlying running into
some hundreds Of acres. 1t presents wholly
different problem from that of place limited
primarily to the exhibition of garden flowers In
the usual sense OF the term 1t calls not only for
a large tract OF land but for one OF diversified
soil and varied exposure.
An exhaustive search has been made of areas
available for garden purposes In the District Of
Columbia. The commission has sought location
on which Il botanic garden might be established.
with such area and such diversity OF soils as
would enable It to take rank great institution
examinations were made Of tracts at Rock Creek
Park, Brightwood. Foundry Branch Mount Hamll
ton, on the eastern side of the Anacostia River,
and In Virginia.
OF the sites suggested. the one at the head OF
Rock Creek Park is given first consideration be-
cause II has frequently been mentioned as avail.
able ut no cost for land The entire park COM
prlses 16o6 acres, most OF which Is in steep wood
ed hillsides
One objection to Rock Creek Park is that II has
many steep slopes, So that the LAYOUT and sd
ministration would be inconvenient and costly
more vital objection is that the park is a natural
beauty spot which is too scenic as 1t Is to be
used for any other purpose.
Ii is not necessary TO express an opinion ma m
whether the purposes Of national botanic psrdan
are more or less important than those for which
Rock Greek acquired. The point Is that both
purposes cannot dominate the management of ons
piece OF ground without conflict. and this nice.
OF ground was set apart by Congress for the pres
ervaton Of Its natural scenery II the oririna,
intention OF Congress in this instance ia IN bs
observed. the introduction OF such a foreign s,a
ment as botanic garden is too dangerous m ~
ventured. Therefore, the use of Rock Creek pa RI
for this purpose cannot be recommended
The Mount Hamilton site Is situated hetwssp ,h
Biadensburg Road and the Anacostia RECLAIM,
ton project. Just south OF the National Tr.In,,,
School for Boys. II is now privately owned I,
has three round-top peaks Immediately adiacent -
the Bladensburg RoSd which In themselves c,vs,
about 80 acres. The tract fronts on the Anacost,a
River for a distance OF about 1900 feet md 80 =
ries large variety OF soils in such condition tho,
very Ettle preparation for re uses OF a botan,,
garden would be needed. Little grading other thar