Evening star., 1931-12-12

Mrs McNary quoted extensively from
former President Taft as to the need
for supervision of corporations en-
gagged in the operations OF public utili-
ties and the value of adding to the
beauty of the city.
Mrs. McNary said she had been in
formed by Clifford Lanham, superin-
tendent of trees and planting of the
| District of Columbia, that the silver
maple trees. for instance, along YER
| mont avenue and in many other
neighborhoods should be replaced with
larger, more shade-giving trees. This
work was predicted to start in the near
future.
Mrs. F. Harrison, reporting for the
Committee on the Small Parks of
Washington, said that considering the
extent of the territory to be main
tanned, 670 reservations with a total of
| 4.53987 acres, and in view of the lin
| tied funds available for the care and
! renewal of the planting in the small
! parks 1t would seem advisable to re-
move all deciduous shrubs and bed
| ding plants from these parks and when
! replanting use more material having an
| -year-round value, as holly, box,
! yew and the evergreen thornS and
| privets.
THE public has taken pride and
| pleasure in the rose beds" said Mrs.
| Harrison. 1T Is, therefore recommend
ed that wherever possible more rose
beds be added. especially as they are
better suited than any other flower to
| Washington climatic conditions.
When replanting trees" she con-
! tinued, 1T should prove more interest
ing to continue the variety already es-
tabliShed in any particular park. As
! for example, in Farragut Square are
/ found beautiful specimens of the Jap
anese pagooa tree and in Lafayette
/ Square are wonderful beecheS. In ad-
/ dItlon, ceratin beautiful Towering trees
/ are especially adapted to this locality,
| for instance, deciduous magnolias, var
niSh trees, mimosa and others. 1t
would seem wise also in smaller areas,
such as street intersections, to limit the
planting to trees.
THE present plan Of opening up Wis
/ tas and larger areas for grass is COM
mended. An open lawn is an essential
! principle in a park and it is suggested
that means be found to keep them
! green all Winter
The committee also wishes to COM
/ mend the successful use Of evergreen
| privet in Farragut Square and ether
places where it is replacing the box
hedges which seldom survive city con-
ditions.
In streets with central planting,
such as Maryland avenue, it would
seem more economical and effective to
plant a row of trees in the center or
massed evergreen or deciduous shrubs,
one variety TO block.
The committee wishes to ask the
authorities to consider seriously the use
of more water in the parks"
Suggestions Prove Helpful.
Mrs. Harrison expressed appreciation
for the tour of the park system ar
ranged for the committee by Col.
Grant and his assistants. Col. Grant
said the suggestions of the committee
had proved very helpful. While it was
not possible at the present time to
carry all of these into effect on account
of shortage of funds, Col. Grant said
he hoped Mrs. Harrison's committee
would meet with officials Of his office
before the planting program starts next
March.
Agreeing with Mrs. Noyes that there
was insufficient money for maintenance
of the present parks, Col. Grant SAID
he would welcome support Tor more
maintenance funds. He said that value
was being lost in the present parks now
because of inadequate upkeep.
Plans for the garden in Rock Greek
Park were proposed by c. Phelps Oooge,
volunteer director of the George Wash
ington Memorial Parkway project. He
recommended the garden be developed
in an old stone quarry about 300 feet
west of the south end of the Connec-
ticut Avenue Bridge.
Its natural beauty is superb" saic
MI Dodge "A great seml-Circle OF
cliffs. 40 to so feet high, surround or
three sides an open area about l5O Zee
across by 200 feet deep, with an oper
approach on the fourth side. A natura
depression, perhaps so feet across
against the base Of the cliffs on one
side makes a perfect basin for pool
which could easily be emptied into thu
creek nearby. The introduction o.
water to dash over the face of the cliff
would be a comparatively simple mat
ter. The background Of rock is ALREADY
perfect, and even the setting OF trees il
almost complete AS a site for a rocl
garden in which native plants WoulC
/ predominant it is almost perfect.
Garden Extension Suggested.
/ "If the quarry site is selected" HI
said, the committee suggests the pos
. sibiiity of extending the rock gardei
, ueVeIopment from tne connecticut ave
nue. bridge to the quarry and beyont
the quarry as far as the rocks extenc
in the other direction, beginning gradu
: ally, working up to a climax in tn
]. quarry, and reducing the number ant
l variety Of plants again beyond tn
= quarry to blend naturally into the eX
= isting woodland. 1t suggests the de
t velopment Of rock garden which
e would be capable of extension, and con
: siders the fact that this site lends itsel
S to such treatment. one of its grea