Evening star., 1930-05-21
PLANTING Of TREES
ON j. S. HIGHWAYS
URGED AT MEETING
National Program Discussed
at Session Called by
Garden Club Group.
IMPROVING ENTRANCES
TO CAPITAL ADVOCATED
Mrs. Frank B. Noyes Favors Coun-
try-Wide Project for Beauti.
flying Roads.

Proposals for more "dignifled and
beautiful" entrances to Washington and
for a national program of tree planting
along the highways were discussed yes
terday at a distinguished gathering OF
oficials. members of Congress and
others, called by the National Capitel
Committee of the Garden Club OF
America, of which Mrs. Frank B. Noyes
is chairman, and held at Mrs. Noyes
home, 1899 Vermont avenue.
Explanation of work already under
way and pledges OF cooperation IN the
future were given by speakers, several
European tree paintings along roadsides
over the American system.
Leaders from the Federal Govern
ment, Maryland and Virginia expressed
hope that through cooperation 1urtnef
progress might be made in improving
the entrances to the National Capital
through which the great tourist stream
flows.
List of Speakers.
The membership of the committee of
the National Capital Of the Garden
Club of America, sponsoring the new
movements, includes: Mrs. Frank b.
Moves, chairman; Mrs. Fairfax Har-
rison, vice chairman; Mrs. Robert
Bacon, Mrs. William E. Borah. Mrs.
Frederick Brooke, Mrs. William Castle,
jr.; Mrs. William G. Eustis, Mrs. Cary
Grayson, Mrs. Borden Hartman, Mrs
Hamiltou Kean, Mrs. T. H. B. Mcknight,
Mrs. Charles L. McNary, Mrs: Jesse
Metcalf, Representative r. Walton
Moore. Mrs. George H. Moses, Mrs.
Tasker Oddie, James Parmelee, Mrs.
David Reed, Mrs. Arthur Vandenberg,
Mrs. Charles D. Walcott, Mrs. Frederic
Walcott, Mrs. Harry B. Hawes. Inc
honorary chairman Of the committee is
AIRS. Herbert Hoover. The advisory
.o-..cu of the committee includes:
mission of Fine Arts; Frederic A.:
Delano, chairman of the National
Capital Park and Planning Commission:
Lieut.. Col. u. S. Grant, Sd, director OF
the Ofice Of Public Buildings and Public
Parks of the National Capital: DR..
Frederick v. Coville of the Department
of Agriculture and acting director OF
the National Arboretum; DR.. A. F.
woods, director of scientific work, De-
par.ment of Agriculture; DR.. John 9.
Merriam, president of the Carnegie
Institution of Washington, and DR..
Vernon Kellogg, permanent secretary,
National Research Council.
Among the speakers at the meeting
yesterday were: Representative Moore
State Senator Frank L. Ball of Virginia.
E. Brooke Lee, Speaker OF the Mary
land House of Delegates; Col. Grant.
Charles W. Eliot I'd, city planner OF
the National Capital Park and Planning
Commission; :. Mrs. Charles L. McNary,
Dr. Merriam. DR.. Coville, Mr. Delano
-a,u others. Mrs j. Willis Martin of
Philadelphia. honorary president of the
Garden Club Of America, presided.
In opening the meeting Mrs. Noyes
declared that in connection with the
WASHINGTON Bicentennial program, the
approaches to Washigton from Mary
land and Virginia might be considered
by the garden clubs of those States,
in connection with the committee OF
the National Capital of the Garden Club
Of America.
"The great memorial bridge and its
environment" she said. already is pro-
vided for, and, understand, an avenue
of trees leading to Mount Vernon may
be planted by the various States Could
not we at once, with the aid OF Mary
land and Virginia. consider the arteries
leading from them at the District line,
or approaching 1t, over which thousands
OF people will come for the Washington
Bicentennial, and in some way together
render them a dignified and beautiful
entrance to our Capital?
"a general national program OF tree
planting in connection with the enor-
NOUS highway construction about 10
begin could be later considered in each
state of the Union by the Garden Club
Of America. The planting OF Uees ~
connection with this program Woulo
add forever to their charm. as Is evi-
denced in the highways Of Europe, Asia
and Africa"
I'm Morocco" she continued, "the
new highways already are planted
everywhere, and many of us are IA
n1iliar with the Old World stretches
Of giant expresses, cryptomarias ana
poplars. I was told that the new ma
tional highways in Illinois, with per
feet cement roads stretching over nat
nrairies for innumerable miles OF blaZ-
ing sun, have not a single tree to re-
lieye them. Think how lovely they
would be with the avenues of poplars,
IL such trees are suitable. But soil
should be carefully tested, not only IN
various States and counties. out IN
every town. for the correct tree TO DE
used In that special place to fuifiil lts
highest perfection. -.
Some arrangement similar to that
for the building and maintenance OF
the highways with State and Federal
appropriations combined should be ar
ranged. it seems to me, and the LegiS.
latures in States enact laws that Will
safeguard the planting, free from OIL
fensiye types of roadside stations and
signs. Perhaps it will be a slow matter
of education, but I believe a national
program Of this character will appear
to every one"
Women Need Greater Interest.
Mrs. Noyes said she felt that most
of the women in the Garden Club OF
America needed a larger program than
the fostering of individual gardens or
even flower shows, great as the benefit
has been to America through this inter-
est" Trees, she said, "are greater
feature and a new one for many of us.
We promoted the National Arboretum
snd this should be the natural outcome
of that effort, I think The fact that
such a laboratory has been established
in the Capital gives us the advantage
through propinquity to establish q
precedent here, and, although as YET
the nurseries of our arboretum are not
available, the trees indigenous to the
soil are there and the Government
nurseries elsewhere, and under the
guidance of our acting director we
should at least make a beginning in the
National Capital"
Turning to the question Of street and
small park trees in Washington, Mrs
Moves declared that they require
much more careful supervision than
think is being given them, largely be-
cient appropriation for their care, fol
replacement and new trees. The re-
sponsibility," she said, sis divided, also
which Is regrettable."
Letters were read from Senator Rec
of PENNSYLVANIA and from Senator Wal