Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1934-04-03
The U. S. Botanic Garden.

states Botanic GdrQen unOeT the COIL
troll of the Secretary Of Agriculture,
as contained in the pending Robinson
bill, has merit from the standpoint of
both science and economy. II the
National Capital is to have a botanic
garden equal, II not surprising. In
value and interest and beauty the
botanic gardens OF the world. as it
should, the place to lodge control OF
1t is in that department Of the Gov
eminent already equipped with sci
entists capable Of handling 1t. The
Department OF Agriculture Is so
equipped. 1t would be unwise and
uneconomical to undertake to build
up another organization to carry on
this work that would parallel in many
respects that already set up in the
Department of Agriculture.
The Botanic Garden at present is
under the control Of Congress. and
more particularly under the control
OF the Joint Committee on Library.
The bill offered by Senator Robinson
Of Arkansas, Democratic leader Of the
Senate. proposes to place the garden
under the Department Of Agriculture,
under the control of scientists and
trained botanists The members Of
the Congressional Committee on Lii
brary would themselves be the last to
claim that they qualified as scientists
and botanists. They have control OF
this garden, and have been vested with
that control for years. And the gar
den has been dealt with as . part,
almost, Of the Capitol Grounds, an
adjunct OF the Capitol itself. located
as it has been at the foot Of Capitol
Hill. A botanic garden. however, has
other purposes than serving as part
OF the Capitol Grounds, or as q con-
servatory to which members of Con-
gress may or may not go.
A proper botanic garden is a place
for the culture Of plants collected
chiefly to illustrate taxonomic or sys-
tematic botany. 1t is garden also
for the collection of rare and interest
ing plants, both for scientific purposes
and for the benefit OF the people who
may come to view them. Taxonomy
Is the classification Of plants accord
ing to natural relationships. And in
botanic garden is given the oppor-
tunity for the study of the laws and
principles of such classification.
Just why the Congress itself, or
through one of its committees, should
desire to maintain and control such
an establishment is not clear. 1t is,
of course, true that the United States
Botanic Garden has been for greet
many years under the direct control
of the Congress. But that fact in
itself Is no good reason for its con-
tinuing in such control. Members Of
Congress themselves have come to the
conclusion that steps should pe taken
to develop a magnificent and valuable
botanic garden. There has been talk
of setting up separate institution to
handle such a garden. But a sepa-
rate institution of this kind-still re-
sponsible to the Library Committee
of Congress-would be a costly az
fair, particularly at a time when the
administration is opposing increases
in the permanent and regular appro-
priations for the Government.
The people of the country have be-
come more and more garden minded
in recent years. Garden clubs and
horticultural societies are scattered
thickly throughout the country. Their
members are taking keen interest
in gardens and particularly in the
United States Botanic Garden. which
is located at the National Capital.
They are strongly backing the pro-
posal to have the administration of
the garden placed under the Depart
ment Of Agriculture. It has been
argued by opponents in Congress Of
the move that the Department OF
Agriculture is designed for the farm
ers and their interests and has no
part in q botanic garden. A study of
the work OF immense value in botany.
in plants and flowers. which IS done
by the department is clear refutation
| of this argument.