Evening star., 1926-01-19
URGE ARBORETUM
PLAN BE RUSHED:
HASTE HELD VITAL

CONTINUED from First PageD
mittee the bill is essentially the same
as wear ago This arborotum. he
said VIII he the leading institution in
the country FOR the study Of trees and
all shrubs. He explained that the site
contemplated consists Of 400 acres OF
marshldnd along the upper AnaC0stia
River already owned 10y the Govern
mcul and slightly less than 400 adj
joining acres in the Mount Hamilton
tract, making a total site OF nearly
$50 acres. The bill authorizes an ap-
preparation Of not To exceed $500, 900
for the purchase OF such lands as is
needed adjoining that already owned
by the Government.
Budget Bureau Approves.
\ member OF the committee asked
Representative Luce concerning the
possibility of going further out and
acquiring more land at the same cost.
Mr.. Luce explained that the Arnold
lrburetum outside of Boston has only
POO acres and that 500 acres is re
garded by experts as a proper working
s4Ze.
The need for this early hearing" "
Mr. Luce said, is that there is pres
this land to sell. and the situation
has become so serious II may soon
be cut up into lots and lost 10 the
public forever. II you go out to the
Mount Hamilton tract, you viii come
back with a profound impression that
it would be a disaster ii this site We're
lost / venture to urge that you
reach u conclusion as soon as pos
Sible'
the bill was in accord with the pro-
gram Of the administration. Definite
information was not available at that
time. but before the hearing was con-
cluded word was received that the
Budget Bureau had decided the bill
does not conflict with the financial
program.
Stresses Importance.
Mrs. PratC stressed the importance
of having a national arbOretum in
order TO develop an American horti-
culture. Many of the plants now used
Europe. she said. Mrs. Pratt said
there are private institutions that
have developed tree museums, but
that the Department of Agriculture
could make far greater headway in the
systematic study of plant life with an
arb0retum in the National Capital.
Mrs Pratt told the committee it was
unfortunate that such an agency had
not been started % years ago.
DR.. Coven explained to the commit
tee that the main body Of the Mount
Hamilton tract is still intact and that
the marshland is now being reclaimed
by Army Engineers for park pur-
poses.
The bill authorizes the President to
transfer the portion needed for the
arboretum to the Secretary of Agri-
culture. Answering questions OF
committee members, DIR. Covell stated
that the soil in this land is eXcep-
tionally we'll adapted for the growing
and carrying on of experiments in
a. great variety of plant specimens.
A survey made some years ago con-
filmed the belief that in the proposed
arboretum area there is good soil
of practically all varieties, except the
extremely rocky.
..Of course, DIR. Cover said, I'VE
cannot put in any one area the
climate of the whole United States,
but the climate here is mild enough
to grow many types that cannot
thrive in the Arnold arboretum, in
cluding specimens from Japan and
Eastern Asia" DR.. Covel pointed
out that TINS is q ueSlfdble location
for an arhoretum because in this
vicinity climatic conditions of the
North and South overlap.
Stresses Need for Trees.
Mr.. Pyle of the Nurserymen's As
sociation emphasized the importance
Of the arboretum in order to stand
ardize plant life. There is need, he
said. for a-central station in which
to assemble plants from other nations
for study and experimentation by al
those interested. Mr.. Pyle touched
upon the large amount invested in
interests relating to forestry and hor
ticulture. He called attention to the
fact that experiments carried on il
the arDoretum would prove helpful
from an economic standpoint by aid
ing in the growth of trees throughout
the country.
Dr.. Merriam of the Carnegie Insti-
tuition said he was interested in the
arboretum as q means of establish
ing a laboratory for the fundamental
study of trees. There is fast ap-