Evening star., 1922-10-29
The Flower Capital.

Washington is the mower Cdpildi
of this country.
The recent gathering here of the
Garden Club of America, the annual
mum" show of the Department OF
Agriculture. which opens today, to
continue for one week; the conven-
tions here OF horticultural florists, of
chrysanthemum growers, or the
American Rose Society, of the carna-
tion growers, the establishment of an
exhibition rose garden on the Airing
ton experimental farm-all emphasize
this fact.
Washington, during all seasons OF
the year. has flower beds lavishly dis
tributed through the parks. which
sustain its claim to the title or
flower capital But probably even
more effective than outward indica-
tions in iustifyinS this title is the
invisible influence of scores and even
hundreds Of horticultural and floral
experts. either in the federal service
or living here. who create flower al
mosphere such as cannot be found
elsewhere.
From all over the country flower
lovers and growers-such as the
women of the Garden Club of Amer
ica-as well as the commercial florists,
come here for advice and instruction
from these experts. Specialists in the
government service are constantly
studying the botany and flora and
plant life of all the world, partially to
protect the American gardens from
invasion of destructive pests and par
TALLY TO find new plants and varieties
of pla MT life that would thrive here
and beautify or otherwise benefit the
country.
All Of this love of flowers and study
of botany the wa~ld over flows natu-
rally into greS- reservoir of botanl-
cal information here, which can be
readily tapped by interested students
from all over the United States. and
students frequently come here from
the far corners of the earth.
Then, too, Washington has three
distinct agencies which visualize to
the visitors from all over the United
States and the world besides the re-
suits of the study of expert scientists
the National Botanic Garden. the
greenhouses of the Department Of
Agriculture and the propagating gar
dens, more commonly known as the
Presidents greenhouses"
cd ut ha
foot of Capitol Hill, supplies members
of Congress with seeds, bulbs, cuttings
of new plants and old plants, which
are sent all over the country to make
the local communities more beautiful,
and to colleges and other institutions
to develop a love for the beautiful and
to increase the sum total OF knowl-
edge.
The Department of Agriculture
greenhouses are used particularly by
the scientists for testing soils, fer
tilIzers, methods of care and cultiva
ton, plant pets and for the propaga-
ton of new varieties and new plants
from all over the world.
The so-called presidents green
houses" supply the White House and
care for the White House grounds,
but perform a larger function in set
ting out and caring for the flower
beds in the parks, which have long
been noted feature Of this capital
beautiful
With all of this unequaled wealth
Of scientific and practical botanical
skill available, and with the finest
examples of plant life at hand. 1t is
regrettable that there is no large ex-
hibition greenhouse where seasonal
shows could be held which would at
tract large numbers of interested peO-
pie from far and near. For years,
prompted by the annual mum" show
o. the Department of Agriculture, in
dividual members of Congress have
said that they are anxious to see such
a conservatory built, but concerted
action has been lacking.
The flower lovers Of the country will
accept any excuse offered them to
como to Washington, because they
find here inspiration. the best Of bo-
tanical counsel, practical example and
the Intangible love Of the beautiful.