Evening star., 1928-02-05
BY W. VI. JARDlNE.


HE National Arboretum about to
be established at Washington Is
to contain permanent living
collection Of trees and otner
outdoor plants maintained for
p,rposes of scientific research and ed
i,cation. II will include the trees.
shrubs and perennials used in forestry
and horticulture, and the wild relatives
of these plants.
For many years the Department OF
Agriculture has been importing useful
plants from all parts of the world. but
il has had no place in Washington III
which IL could maintain living collec-
ton OF these importationS. where they
could always be available for use In ex-
perimentation. Several thousand spe-
cics and varieties Of trees will probably
thrive In this latitude. and they re-
cu.re an area OF many hundreds OF
acres. single large spreading tree
often requires a quarter OF an acre:
and two 10 ten trees OF each klno WIN
ordinarily be needed. Probably 100
acres will he required for oaks alone.
The Mount Hamilton and Hickey
Hill tracts east OF the Bladensburg road.
together with the Anacostia marshes
above Benning Bridge. constitute de-
sirabIe site for the National Aboretlim.
especially convenient in location ana
with a great variety Of soils. from wen
drained gravel and clay hills 10 sandy
ioam. fertile bottom lands. and water
gardens fed with springs.
About 400 acres OF the proposed site.
consisting Of swamp land. Is ALREADY
owned by the Government. II Is part
Of the Anacostia marsh area now IN
process of drainage by Army engineers.
Part OF this land viii need To BE- taken
out for use as public playgrounds.
and Hickey Hin and the low ground
connecting these hills with the marches
are privately owned
Because Of the Legislative limitations
regarding purchase money and price OF
land IL was At one time d0ubtfui
whether II would be possible To locate
the National Arboretum In this very de-
fIrable situation Fortunately. however
the department has been promised sub
stsntiai assistance IN acquiring these
lanes, beyond the sum appropriated ny
Congress IL probably VIII not he DOS.
sjbIs however. 70 acouire all The land
within the area outlined as desirable
LIVER since ] became Secretary Of
Agriculture ! have been deeply I'M
pressed with tho inadequacy OF our
| present knowledge Of trees 70 meet sue
eessfnlIy the agricultural problems OF
the future. The National Arb0fetum
will help US tremendously ~ conducting
| The researches that are required 10 solve
| these problems.
| One of the most important reasons for
| locating the Arb0fetum near the city OF
Washington is that II may constitute
| a great outdoor laboratory In which
| the several hundred b0tanists. fofestefs,
plant patbGlogists and hortieultufists
now on the scientific staff Of the De-
partment of Agriculture may work To-
getber effectively IN acquire the scien"
| the knowledge that We need, In an
| air line the National Arbofetum IL
only little more than two miles from
the Capitol and three miles from the
Department of Agriculture The dis
ianee IL but little greater by the street
| route for Maryland avenue furnishes
d broad paved way directly from the
| Capitol W Fifteenth and II streets
northeast, ann Maryland avenue when
extended viii 60 straight on and meet
| ths ATbGfrtiim at NJ street.
The Department nf Agriculture Ii
working In cooperation with the Ma.