The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1922-12-28
THE FLOWER CAPITOL.
Conventions and Gardens Entitle
Washington to the Claim.

Washington is the flower capitol
of this country.
| The recent gathering here Of the
| Garden Club OF America, the annual
mum" show of the department OF
agriculture, the conventions here OF
horticultural florists, of chrysanthemum
growers. of the American Rose So
ciety, Of the carnation growers, the
establishment of an exhibition rose
garden on the Arlington experimental
farm-all emphasize this fact.
Washington, during all the seasons
of the year, has flower beds layishly
distributed through the parks which
sustain its claim TO the title of flower
capitol" But probably even pore eff
fective than outward indications in
justifying this title is the invisible in
fluence of scores and even hundreds
of horticultural and floral experts, Ell
Their in the federal service or living
here, who create flower atmosphere
such as can not be found elsewhere.
From all over the country flower
lovers and growers--such as the wom-
en- of the Garden Club of America
as well as the commercial florists, come
here for advice and instruction from
these experts. Specialists in the gov
eminent service are constantly study
ing the botany and floral and plant
life Of all the world, practically to
protect the American gardens from in
vasion of destructive pests and par
TALLY to find new plants and varieties
of plant life that would thrive here
and beautify or otherwise benefit the
country.
All of this love Of flowers and study
of botany the world over flows nat
urally into great reservoir of botani-
cal information here, which can be read<
lily tapped by interested students from
all over the United States. and stu
dents 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 agri-
culture and the propagating gardens,
more commonly known as "the prcsi
dents greenhouses"
The Botanic garden located at the
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, |
md to colleges and other institutions |
10 develop love for the beautiful |
md to increase the sum total of |
knowledge.
The department of agriculture green
houses are used particularly by the /
scientists for testing the soils, fertil-
izers, methods Of care anu cultivation.
liant pests and for the propaganda of
lew varieties and new plants from all
,ver the world.
The so-called presidents green
louses" supply the White House and 1
are for the White House grounds, but
perform a larger function in setting
ut and caring for the flower beds in
he parks. which have long been a
ioted feature of this capitol beau
iful."
With all of this nnequaled wealth
4 scientific and practical botanical
kill available, and with the finest ex-
mples of plant life at hand, it is re-
reliable that there is no large greens
ouse which would attract large num-
ers of interested people from far and /.
ear. For years, prompted by the an
ual "mum" show of the department {
I agriculture, individual members Of
congress have said that they are anx-
ous to see such conservatory built, i
ut concerted action has been lacking.
The flower lovers of the country
ill accept any excuse offered them TO
ONE to Washington, because they find
ere inspiration, the best of botani-
al counsel, practical example and the
Intangible love of the beautiful
Star.