, 1922-08-10

The problem is only half solved when provision
is made for flowers for member of Congress and
for the present limited output of shrubs and
cuttings. There is u demand for n 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 classiileu,
and the public should be made free of the grounds
for recreation and study.
A 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 of those
trees when grouped as In a wood and when grown
singly as lawn or street trees. The great numbers
of native shrubs, the equally important and in
teresting trees and shrubs which have been IN
troduced and will be introduced from all over the
world requires an outlying area running into
some hundreds of acres. 1t presents a wholly
different problem from that of "A place limited
primarily to the exhibition of garden flowers In
the usual sense Of the term. 1t calls not only for
Il 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 n location
on which n botanic garden might he established.
with such area and such diversity of soils MS
would cradle it to take rank as a great institution.
examinations were made of tracts at Rock Creek
Park, Brlghtwood. Foundry Branch. Mount Hnmll.
ton. on the eastern side of the Anaeostia River,
and In Virginia.
VI the sites suggested, the one at the bend OF
Rock Greek Park is given first consideration. be-
cause 1t has frequently been mentioned as avail
able Mt no cost for land. The entire park com
prises LOG 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 nd
ministration would be inconvenient and costly.
A more vital objection is that the park is a natural
beauty spot, which Is too scenic as It is to be
used for any other purpose.
II Is not necessary to express an opinion ms to
whether the purposes of a national botanic garden
are more or less important than those for which
Rock Creek WINS acquired. The point is that both
purposes cannot dominate the management of one
piece cf ground without conflict, and this piece
of ground was set apart by Congress for the pres
ervntion Of its natural scenery. IL the original
intention OF Congress in this Instance Is to be
observed, the Introduction OF such n foreign ele-
ment as a botanic garden Is too dangerous to he
vcntured. Therefore, the use Of Rock Creek Park
for this purpose cannot be recommended.
The Mount Hamilton site Is situated between the
Bladensburg Road and the new Anacostin reclnmn.
ton project. just south OF the National Training
school for Boys. 1t Is now privately owned. II
has three r%ound-top peaks Immediately adjacent to
the Bladcnsburg Road which Ia themselves cover
about 50 acres. The tract fronts on the Anacostla
River for n distance Of about 1900 feet, and cur
rles n large variety Of soils In such condition that
very little preparation for the uses OF n botanic
garden would be needed. Little grading other than