Evening star., 1925-08-22
THIS AND THAT
BY CHARLES E. TRACEWELL.

Washington's parks look better now
than at any time this Summer, due to
the large amount Of rain that has
fallen so far during August.
The heavy rains were veritable life
savers for the grass in all the parks
large and small. scattered around the
National Capital. They helped the
trees, too.
Lovers of beauty, especially natural
loveliness, were much distressed dur
ing July at the appearance of various
places. such as Franklin Square. at
Fourteenth and X streets.
Normally one of the beauty spots
of Washington, that park las well as
many others) presented a moth-eater
look. Moths, however, We're not &C
countable for the yellow grass.
Lack of water. caused the trouble, In
the main.
Water. and plenty of 1t, is the Sc
cret of good grass. There are other
secrets. too. but this is perhaps the
main one. Grass must have water to
be turf.
There is a distinction between
grass" and turf" at least as com
monty used Grass" may be almost
any sort of ground covering that is
secured by sowing grass seed.
Turf" on the other hand. is close
ly matted. we'll grown, healthy green
sward, such grass" as can only be
secured by proper care. which In
cludes plenty of water and mowings
close enough together to make the
grass spread out.
Owing to the lack of water, very
few Of the public parks presented any
real turf" during July. 1t Is true
that there are various hose connec
tions in the parks, but much more
adequate watering would be neces
grass in the public parks were to be
kept in a condition to vie with home
lawns.
Lack of money seems to be respon-
sible for lack of water in the parks.
The annual appropriations for the
Office OF public buildings and public
parks of the National Capital and for
the Office Of trees and parking OF the
District government would sseu in.
adequate. when the prime function of
our trees and parks in making Wash.
ington a beautiful place Is taken into
consideration.
One of the greatest charms, IL not
the charm, OF Washington durin &
Spring and Summer. is that secured
by the grass of the parks and the
green of the trees, both along the
street and in the various squares,
circles and triangles.
Clifford Lanham. superintendent OF
trees and parking for the District gov
eminent, stated this truth very sue
cinctly in his annual report to the
Commissioners the other day. He said,
in part:
primarily in its elaborate system of
shade trees. 1t Immediately impresses
strangers on their first visit to the
city.
1T would seem, therefore. that
when the first cost Of setting out trees
Is known to be so Insignificant when
compared with their increased value
few years later, that An adequate
appropriation would be provided. not
only to keep up with the rapid growth
of the city, but to enable this Office
to maintain the trees that already
exist.
Trees on the streets are growing
under the most adverse conditions
and require constant care"
Mr.. Lanham has been given some
$4,000 a year for all tree work, to
plant young ones and to take care
of the 104,S 500 trees that already exist
and he hopes that the appropriation
will be substa ntially increased.
Any householder who has attended
to his own lawn and what trees he
may have knows that 1t takes money
Trees benefit from plenty OF water
given grass. Caring for parks is In
tegral with caring for trees.
Any one who will remember the
prime beauty purpose OF our parks
and trees, and who will then peruse