Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-05-19
NEW ARBORETUM TO BE
ONE OF WORLDS FINEST
Completion of 8OO-Acre Project on
Mount Hamilton Now Is Only
Question of Time.


IA the plant life of the world. a
4 \ project long advocated by
scientists. is soon to become a
reality. Two years ago Congress
authorized an appropriation Of $780, 900
to develop the project. With the selec-
ton of a site and the appointment OF
National Arboretum Council. as pro-
taking is only a matter of time.
A tract has been selected near the
Anacostia River. above the Benning
bridge on Mount Hamilton. When
completed the arboretum will be one
of the largest and finest in the world.
Students and lovers Of plant and tree
life who lack the opportunity for wide
travel will here be enabled to take a
short cut in pursuit Of their favorite
study.
Planned as Educational Center.
The arboretum will be both an edu-
cational and recreational center, and
it will be also an important adjunct to
the scientific activities of the Govern
ment, especially those of the Depart
ment OF Agriculture. To the fullest de-
gree possible plants and trees will be
collected from all parts of the world
for cultivation, study and propagation.
In the words of DIR. F. v. Coville, a
member of the council. the arboretum
will be both living library of the
plants of the world" and a five foot
shelf" of the more important plants.
/, Economically, the aboretum would
make the work of the Department of
Agriculture more valuable to the coun-
try in many ways, but especially
| through plant breeding. The develop
ment of faster-growing timber trees,
, improved fruits, and disease-reSistant
plants generally, through the facilities
afforded by the arboretum, would in
crease profoundly the agricultural
wealth and welfare Of the United
! States.
Nurserymen have recommended the
establishment of the arboretum, espe-
cially because Of the urgent need in the
American horticultural trade of an
automatically named living collection of
plants. Such collection would be the
basis for the correct identification of
existing varieties and for the registra-
ton of new ones. 1t would constitute
for the nurserymen and for the public
bureau of standards" for horticul-
ture.
Project Covers 500 Acres.
The project will cover about 800
acres. The Government already owned
about half of this acreage, consisting
of marsh land known as the Anacostia
River flats. Army engineers have
drained this. Adjoining this are about
400 acres known as the Mount Hamil-
ton and Hickey Hill tracts. The site is
considered an admirable one, as it has
great variety of soils.
The plan includes the preservation
of large tract of the original wild rice
growth of the Anacostia River marshes
as a feeding ground and refuge for
bobolinkS, blackbirds and other mlgra-
tory birds which have frequented these
marshes by the hundreds of thousands.
The marsh area Is also considered well
adapted to the development Of a water
garden. The Shaw water lily gardens,
now occupying a portion of the
marshes, give an idea of the beauty
which may be expected when the water
garden Is extended in area.
To Serve as Introductory Garden.
The arboretum will have many func-
tons. 1t will contain comprehensive
collection of trees and other outdoor
plants for purposes Of scientific re-
search and education, and it will serve
as an introduction garden for the per-
manent preservation Of the authentic
living specimens of the thousands Of
plants which the Department Of Agri-
culture has introduced from foreign
countries. Containing all the wild rel
atives of cultivated plants which will
grow out of doors in this climate, 1t
will be a fine source of material for
the breeding Of the more valuable
species.
Through the knowledge Of the breed
ing of trees which scientists hope to
obtain from the arboretum, they are
confident that it will be possible, when
the country reaches the point Of set
ting out It's forests, to use improved
varities which will grow twice as fast
as those we now have.
Furthermore, the arboretum will con-
stitute an outdoors recreation area OF
500 acres, which will likewise be an
instrument of widespread public edu-
cation in botanical science, horticul-
ture, agriculture and landscape garden
ing. To Washington. the scene of
labors for 200 botanistS. the arboretum
will mean much. for it will increase
enormously the efficiency Of the work
of these men and women. most Of
whom are employed by Government