Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1922-02-18
W AsHINGToN is already rec
NN ognized as the flower
capital Of the western


hemisphere, apd only very
small appropriations by Congress are
needed to make this city. the mecca
of flower lovers from all over the
world and to assure a fuller enjoy
ment by the American people of the
really wonderful achievements by
botanical scientists who are devoting
their lives to so guiding the mys-
terious forces of life and nature as
to produce marvellous floral speci-
mems that will be q delight and
benefit to future generations.
In this city are three distinct
groups of greenhouses under three
distinct government agencies, each
of which serves a distinct purpose.
All three of these groups OF green
houses have for years been a among
seeing Washington" They are the
National Botanic Garden. the green
houses Of the Department OF Agr1cul-
ture and the propagating gardens
which supply the White House ana
the hundreds of parks and circles and
reservations. at which visitors ex-
largely to make Washington the most
beautiful city in the world.
II + +
i The American Rose Society. in CO.
operation with the Department of
Agriculture, is maintaining a rose
garden museum at the Arlington
farm, across the Potomac on the
road to the Arlington national ceme-
terry.
a.
lions Of botanists, flower growers
florists and horticulturists and land
scape gardeners gather each year In
this city.
men, flower lovers, officials OF the
federal departments and members o!
Congress have for years discussed
the idea that the appeal to Washing
ton as q meeting place for those IN
terested in flowers should be stressed.
Practically all that Is needed is to
provide what the visiting organiza-
tons of botanists and florists have
for years been urging large con;
servatory. truly fitting the National
Capital, in which seasonal flower
shows can be held. 1t has been re-
peatedly pointed out that the loca-
ton of such a conservatory IN the
grounds of the Department OF Agrl-
culture would give wonderful I'M
petuS TO nO"eT-6Io"ihs' p
viding great free shows which would
be enjoyed by people from all over the
continent.
mittees Of both House and senate
and other leaders in Congress, al OF
whom realize the refining innuence,
the universal delight, the advantage
to science and the development OF
the plant life of the country that
would result, have repeatedly prom
ised their support to such legisiatioh'
That people would flock here TO
see a bulb plant show in the early
spring-hyacinths, tulips, narcissi
crocuses, etc. - roses throughout
the entire year and chrysanthemums
in the fall. with exhibitions OF other
nIants in season, ia already proved
The bureau of plant industr' has fol
more than twenty years maintained a
collection Of representative vtrieties OF
the chrysanthemum. ana !, 9n Sss c cne ted
many new varieties, scores OF WMcn
have since been grown Commentary.
An annual exhibit Of these chrysantne-
NUNS Is held in a small greenhouse, en-
tirely inadequate to display the varietles
yet the atIeuUdNCc ASSoiN :
year after year, and has now cnmPeo ~
nearly 100000 visitors in single week:
f. Similarly, each spring the department
has an amaryllis snow. A collection o.
hybrid amaryllis, with large and warn,
colored flowers-a trumpet shapeo
bloom of vivid shades-has been pro
duced. These bulbs are native 70 SCUM
America but nowhere else In the worid
has anything like the number OF va
rieties been cultivated as by tne Depart
ment Of Agriculture. and exnloned mere
free to the public. Flower lovers nave
come here from Europe and tne oIieht 20
see this show. Last season the depart
ment greenhouse for the first time known
to botanical students produced a pure
white amaryllis bloom.
*F* + \
No whit the less notable have been the
achievements Of DR.. Van Fleet in the
development Of new roses. Of such char
acter as to draw here rose growers from
all over the world. This resulted in the
award to DR.. Van Fleet in 1919, OF the
Geoge Robert White medal for dis
tinguished attainment in plant breeding
the award being made by the Massa-
.chusetts Horticultural Society.
DR.. w, A. Taylor, longtime chief OF
the bureau of plant industry. and the
last six Secretaries Of Agriculture have
looked forward to the day when large