Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1926-12-26
CARE IN ARLINGTON
TREE PLAN URGED
American Women's Legion
Advised on Proposed
Cemetery Planting.

Moving to bring the World War
section Of Arlington National Gene
terry into conformity in shaded areas
and tree growth with the older sec
tions of the cemetery. the Commits
sion of Fine Arts yesterday notified
the American Womens Legion that
shade trees of permanent character
and noble growth should be planted
in preference to other kinds of trees.
The legion proposed to spend about
81 900 in planting trees in the World
War section, and the commission
said that sum would need to be trebled
to do the work adequately. The ques-
ton was taken up with James L..
Greenleaf, landscape architect men,
Der of the commission. Chairman
Moore wrote to Mrs. George H.
Thompson Of The Chaumont unit of
the Legion, 1920 Q street, in part. as
follows:
"Mr. Greenleaf feels that the in
formation from the War Department
as to planting trees TX inches in
diameter and to 10 feet high is based
upon estimates Of routine work and
rot on work suitable to memorial
planting by so important a body as
yours.
Tpye Called Too Small.
He feels that trees of that type
would appear very small and be de-
cidedly disappointing to the American
Women's Legion, as well as to others
While trees which are larger in size
cost more and are more difficult to
care for, he suggests that both of
these items be met in broad, enthusi
astic and thorough manner by the
legion, of course, with the approval
of the War Department.
MIR. Greenleaf says: L think the
legion might do well to consider as a
very important part of its project an
especially thorough preparation Of
each planting bed and thorough
anchorage Of the trees after planting,
such as would be required for some
what large specimens. Then l would
advocate the use of selected specimen
trees of double the diameter and
height advocated by the War Depart
ment; that is, trees Is to 20 feet high
and 8 to ga inches in diameter. If
this standard is followed, / doubt If
II will complete the work under three
times the dollar estimate
by the War Department
LAS to the variety of trees, he feels
that the oak is the more perma nently
durable tree and in that respect is SUI
perior to the maple, especially the bet
ter variety of maple trees, such as the
sugar maple or the Norway maple.
The silver maple should not be con-
sidered for moment.
40 Trees Needed.
1--WE have been informed that 140
trees, planted go feet apart, are needed
from the Treasury gate to the World
War section. If the American Wom-
ems Legion does not feel like spending
more than 81 900 it would be much
more satisfactory to the legion and
to all concerned for it to take one
section and treat that section ade-
quately."
The tenth report of the commission
declared a few weeks ago that "it is
the tree-shaded areas that give Airing
ton it's fine and characteristic quality.
Formerly these shaded areas pre-
dominated, but with the buriais of
World War soldiers in open fields
Arlington is fast losing it's distinction.
Already the irregular white stones at
Arlington are a disturbance to the
landscape as seen from Washington.
1t viii be necessary to plant trees to
perpetuate the distinction of this ma
tional cemetery.
Extensive planting of trees, prefer
ably oaks, should begin at once, SO
that quarter of a century hence the
entire cemetery may come into the
fine condition that the best portions
now display"