Evening star., 1925-11-29
TakOma Park Is an Unusual Product of Community EffC

makes d. specially of roses. His gar
den Is the most beautiful in Wash
lnston. when one considers that II con
talns more than 100 different varieties
and Is cared for exclusively by it's
owner. Another man grows 200 diff
ferent kinds of ddhlia, can identify
each flower, and give you it's scientific
history. Another scientist ranks as
one Of Americas most successful iris
farmers. His bulbs are in demand all
over the United States. His exhibits
generally rank among the top-notch
showfngs at our most prominent horti-
cultural eXpositions. Yet another ex-
pert grows Easter lilies-a dozen vari-
etfeS - outdoors as pleasurabls
pastime.
There is no other community IN
Washingtons vicinity which has avail
able the services of d trained lands
cape architect who will aid the mill
run of neiShbors in the design, plan
ming and layout of their gardens
paintings and grounds. One of the
specialists Of the Takoma Park Horti-
cultural Club is annually delegated 10
such duties. He visits the homes Of
the different club members on request.
and confers with them about their
planting campaign. He advises them
how to map and arrange their plant
ingS so that the best effects will be
secured. He recommends groupings
and combinations of ornamentals. He
gives, free of charge, real service
which would be very costly If puf-
chased from professional sources.
The remarkable horticultural club
also purchases seeds, bulbs. planting
material, cuttings, slips, fertilizer, lime
and other gardening supplies for its
members in cooperative wholesale
quantities. For example. the Fall
club bulb order of this club, which
was purchased from leading Holland
firm, aggregated $500 On January
/ /, 1926, Uncle Sam, through the Fed
cral Horticultural Board, will place an
embargo against foreign bulbs in
order to protect our domestic plant
ings against insidius diseases which
might be introduced on such imported
material The Takoma Park garden
ers are preparing for this bulb block
ade by recruiting their supplies be
fore 1t is too late.
Lime and fertilizer, as needed, are
purchased in large amounts. This
system Of cooperative buying mate
rally reduces the cost to the individ-
ual gardener on his small order An
arrangement is made with a dealer
whereby he provides Takona Park
gardeners with seed. fertilizer and
supplies at a special 10 per cent dis
count. The club members, among
| themselves, also keep active a novel
swapping exchange" For example,
one member has certain bulbs which
he wishes to exchange for certain
seeds or slips. He notifies the club
secretary. This official. through his
exchange directory, finds another
grower who wishes to make such a
trade. Berry bushes. strawberry
plants. seeds, bulbs, cuttings, vines
and other gardening accessories are
exchanged in this manner. This
neishhorly system of barter minimizes
gardening expenses.
= x K
A DOZEN different flower shows
and public exhibitions are held
annually. \ public exposition for all
varieties represented BY the champion
| flowers or plants is held during the
peak of the production season. For
example, when the roses are at their
best special rose display, attended
by thousands of visitors from all sec
tions of Washington, is held Sim
ilarly, iris, sladiolus, chrysanthemum
and other exhibitions are held in the
Takoma Park Public Library.
4 vegetable show is another feature.
Appropriate prizes, including seed,
plant material, tools. supplies and
cash awards, are presented to the out
standing exhibitors by expert Judges
Agricultural demonstrations in prun-
ing. spraying and allied practices are
features of early Springtime. The
members gather at the gardens or or
ChardS of different growers who spe.
! cialize in certain crops. One Of the
| professional authorities OF the national
| Department of Agriculture shows the
amateurs how TO prune, trim or spray.
! These are really certain phases of an
! intensive short course in horticulture
! imported to the Takoma Park lati-
| tude. Other demonstrations in plant
! ing and propa eating are outstanding
educational factors in the horticul-
tural improvement of this community
Lectures by experts during the Win
ter season on various important points
in garden management and plant pro-
duction are invaluable.
/ Excellence and uniformity in COM
munity planning and planting are the
! keys to what the Horticultural Club
| has effected in the attractiveness of
| Takoma Park lawns, homesteads,
! parkways and parks. In the newer
| sections, where tree planting has been
| inaugurated on a cooperative and
community basis, several blocks of
consecutive curbside have been plant.
ed to the same variety of trees
notably pin oaks. This neighborly in
terest in tree planting will be reflected
in the natural beauty Of potential
streets and avenues. Washington
ranks as one of the finest cities I'm
the world in its tree Development
an example of standardized forestry
which has made for uniform munich
pal beauty along our leading streets
and avenues. Takoma Park is fol-
lowing in the tracks of George Wash
ington's namesake in 80 far as 1t is
striving to engender systematic and
standardized street planting and curb
side Identification.