Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-01-17

the progeny until we have developed a
wide range of varieties. more beautiful
even than the wild trees and more fully
adopted to the purposes of landscape
art. cannot believe, however, that we
shall ever develop any crabapple trees
more fragrant than the wild ones.
For some reason which Is unex-
planned, Providence did not allow the
wild crabapple to enter New England,
the home of our early poets. In conse-
ouence its beauty and its fragrance long
remained unsung but ask the man from
Des Moines or from Tallahassee II he
knows the wild crabapple, and you will
get q new lesson in the appreciation OF
nature.
Will Concentrate on Forestry.
although many of the botanical ex-
periments and discoveries made at the
Arboretum will be of value chiefly to
horticulture and to landscape art, the
most important work of the Arbore-
tum will find its application in forestry.
In a recent address in New York, before
the Garden Club of America, I made
statement which I may be permitted 10
repeat here:
ut Is we'll known to American for
esters that our original stands of TIM
Der are fast disappearing. White pine
Is already gone. At the present rate OF
cutting. the original stand OF southern
long leaf pine is expected to last eight
years. The irregular process OF natu-
raj reseeding will replace, ultimately,
some of the timber that we have cut
We shall be compelled, however, before
long to grow trees as crop. just as we
grow corn, or wheat or potatoes. When
we begin to plant trees as timber
crop. should we plant wild seedlings or
should we plant improved strains, just
as we now plant improved strains OF
corn, wheat and potatoes? There can
the expense of growing trees as crop,
we shall plant improved kinds just as
soon as we have the improved kinds TO
plant 1t Is the primary function OF
the National Arboretum to develop i'm
proved kinds of timber trees by selec-
ton, by hybridization and by compara-
tive tests Of wild seed, selected seed and
hybrid seed. We have every confidence
in the outcome OF such research and
experimentation, for the tree Is only
a plant, and that kind of experiment.
has succeeded with every other plant
to which it has been scientifically ap-
piled. A white pine. so improved In It's
rate of growth that 1t will reach in SO
wears or In 80 years the size that now
requires 80 years, would repay the cost
of the National Arboretum for gen.
GRAFTON.
THE members of the American So
ciety OF Landscape Architects here
present may with propriety be asking
for what purpose is this address deliv-
cred before this society. for although
much has been said about the rela-
ton of the Arboretum to forestry and
to horticulture, little has been said
about its relation to landscape art.
must confess that at the present time
I am chiefly concerned. not with what
the National Arboretum can do Tor
landscape art, but with what landscape
art can do for the National Arboretum.
Asks Architects Cooperation.
"The Secretary of Agriculture has
purchased. or Is in process Of purchs5-
ing, 268 acres Of land for the Arbore-
tum. He expects to make additional
purchases which, with other land al
ready owned or claimed by the Gov
eminent. will make a total of approx
mately the 1000 acres originally plan
ned for the Arboretum. The site con-
tatins several elements of great dignity
and beauty: Mount Hamilton. covered
with a growth of mature hardwood
timber and overlooking the city, with
an excellent view of the Capitol, the
Washington Monument and the Airing
ton Hills In Virginia: Hicky Hill. with
fine views up the AnacoStia River and
down it to the Potomac; the curve OF
the upper Anacostia, bordered with
wild rice and sweeping around to the
old deer lick at Licking Banks: and
the water-lily gardens at Kenilworth,
one of the most beautiful sights in the
city OF Washington.
This area is to constitute an OUT
door laboratory for scientific research
on trees. The materials for research
are the trees and shrubs that will be
planted in the area. 1t is planned to
bring there every kind of tree that will
thrive out Of doors under this climate.
There will be buildings. greenhouses
and nurseries. Broad highways will
border the Arboretum. and 1t is ex-
frances to Washington will pass
through it. The parts Of the Arbore-
tum in contact with these principal
streets. or in view from them, should
be developed with all the natural beau
ty that the situation affords. The
greenhouses. the nurseries. the expert
mental paintings in straight lines, and
the everyday work with spades and
hoes should be secluded from the main
highways.
I'm the development Of the National
Arboretum the Secretary Of Agricul-
ture has the hearty cooperation of the
Garden Club of America and of the
American Association of Nurserymen.
He would greatly appreciate the CO.
operation and advice of the American
Society OF Landscape Architects"