Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1934-07-21
A Botanic Garden.

the aid OF group OF scientists and
garden people. has begun an inten-
sive study OF plans TO develop in
Washington great National Botanic
Garden. It's purpose is to provide al
the Capital garden that will be OF
scientific and educational value and
that at the same time will be All
interesting and beautiful exhibit for
the non scientific men and women
who visit the Capital by the millions.
The committee is going about its
task methodicslly and properly. 1t
has invited scientific men in charge
OF great botanic gardens in various
parts Of the country TO aid in draft
ing the plans which will be reported
to Congress at its next session. 1t
has designated Frederic A. Delano,
chairman OF the National Capital
Park and Planning Commission. to
serve as general chairman for this
committee OF members of Congress
and their scientific assistants. The
proposed development of the United
States Botanic Garden may, there
fore. be expected to f1t well into the
whole plan for the National Capita.
For years the United States Botanic
Garden, under the control OF the
Joint Committee on Library Of Con-
gress. has nestled at the foot Of the
Capitol. More recently there has been
an expansion, with the erection OF
new greenhouse at cost OF some
thing less than a million dollars.
Housed in this garden are plants OF
botanic interest and value. Much has
been done to put them into good
shape in the new greenhouse. To the
scientist and the botanist, however,
the establishment as it stands today
stin falls far short OF real botanic
garden. And even as permanent dis
play OF plants for the benefit Of the
public it cannot compare with the
great gardens of other capitals and OF
other American cities.
When a movement was started
year or two ago to have the United
States Botanic Garden turned over
10 the scientists OF the Department
of Agriculture to operate there was
immediate protest from some MEM
bers of Congress, who demanded that
the tradition OF a congressionally
controlled garden be maintained.
Some OF the members protested that
the Department OF Agriculture was
far removed from the real purpose OF
a botanic garden; that the work OF
the department was economic and
utilitarian and had nothing in COM
mon with botany. In that they were
mistaken. But even had they been
correct, it could have been said Win
much more justice that the Joint
Library Committee OF Congress had
nothing in common with botany. Nor
did the congressional committee even
see to It that a scientific botaniSt was
placed in charge OF the garden. The
establishment had become a propagat-
ing garden for the distribution OF
plants and flowers to members OF
Congress. This, happily, has been
halted in the last year or two.
The great number OF garden clubs
when have grown up in this country
in recent years demonstrates that the
people have become more garden
MINDED. These garden clubs, as well
as the scientists, have done much to
foster the plan for great botanic
garden in the National Capital. Rep
resentative Kent Keller OF Illinois,
chairman OF the House Committee on
Library and other members OF his
committee, have accomplished a great
deal toward stirring the interest in
Congress itself in the creation of such
garden.
II is obvious that committee OF
Congress. with its constantly changing
personnel and without men OF scien-
tine and botanical knowledge included
in its membership, Is not the place to
lodge control OF a really great botanic
garden The Suppositlon is that III
the report made to Congress by the
House Library Committee plan for
administration will be worked out
satisfactorily.