The Arvada enterprise., 1922-08-10

The problem II only half solved when provision
Ia made for flowers for member Of Congress and
for the present limited output OF shrubs and
cuttings. There is demand for 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 he classified
and the public should be made free Of the grounds
for recreation and study
large area IL 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 wood and when grown
singiy as lawn or street trees The great numbers
of native shrubs. the equally important md In
tercstinz trees and shrubs which have beeh H.
trtsuccd and will be introduced from all the
world. requires outlying running into
some hundreds OF acres. II presents . wholly
different problem from that Of place limited
primarily to the exhibition Of garden flowers In
the usual sense Of the term. II calls not only for
a large tract III land hut for one Of diversified
soil md varied exposure.
An exhaustive search has heen made of nreas
available for garden purposes In the District Of
Columbia. The commission hns sought location
on which a botanic garden might he established.
with such area and such diversity Of soils ~
would ennble II to take rank grent Institution.
Examinations were made of tractx At Rock Creek
Park. BrlxhtwoOI. Foundry Branch. Mount Hnmil'
ton. on the cnstern side Of the AnncOstn River,
and In Virginla.
Of the sites suggested. the one at the head Of
Rock Greek Park Is given first consideration. he.
cause II has frequently been mentioned avail.
able Mt cost for land. The entire pnrk com.
prses 1.0H ncres, MOST Of which Is In steep wood.
Ell hsides
One objection to Rock Creek rnrk is TINT n hns
many steep slopes, thnt the layout mnd nd.
ministrntlon would be incOnvenient and costly.
more vital objection Is that the park is natural
beauty spot, which IL toO scenic ms II II To BE-
used for nny either purp"sc
1t Is not necessary to express mn opinion ms 10
whether the purposes of national botanic garden
sarc more or less Important than those for which
purposes cannot dominate the management OF onr
piece of ground without conflict. and this piece
Of ground was set apart by Congress for the pres.
cryation Of It's natural scenery. II the original
intention ~ Congress In this Instance II to be
observed, the introduction ~ such II foreign cc.
nhent MS n botanic garden Ii too dangerous to he
vcnturrd Therefore. the use 0f N"ck Greek Park
for this purpose cannot In recommended.
The Mount Hamilton site is situated between the
Uladensburg Road nnd the new AnacOstla rccin,na.
ton project. just south Of tho National TRIMMING
School for BOya. II In now privately owned Il
has three round.top peaks Immediately adjacent to
the Bindrnaburw Road which In themselves cOvss
abou& ~ scres The tract fronts on the Anacostie
River <ot distance of about Vy00O feet. and car.
r!es lassc variety Of soils in such condition that
vrry little prrparatloa Tor the uses Of q botanc
snrdea would ~ needed. Little sradlns other tAaa