Evening star., 1934-02-20

placed In the new. He said he con-
sidered the new greenhouses good for
| exhibition purposes but not Tor grow
ing plants.
Support Of Garden Club.
Mrs. Fairfax Harrison spoke as
representative Of the Garden Club OF
| America and of Mrs. Frank B. Noyes.
Mrs. Harrison said Mrs. Noyes was
the special representative OF the club,
but was out Of the city and unable
to attend the hearing today. She de-
scribed the growth OF the Garden
Club of America until 1t has 103 clubs
with 1000 to 5000 members. The
club, she said, had initiated the gar
den movement and has been respon-
sible for the country's becoming gar
den club conscious" She said fed
Grated State and local clubs have
125, 900 members. She presented to
the committee resolutions adopted by
the directors of the Garden Club OF
America giving unqualified support to
the Robinson bill.
Mrs. Harrison said the directors
approved Of the proposed transfer be-
cause of the educational and scien-
tific advantages to be gained by CO.
ordinating the work Of the Botanic
Garden with that Of the Agriculture
Department, where it will be IN the
hands of experts Of the highest In
telligence and experience. A second
reason was that the Botanic Garden
would provide the department with
an excellent place for the display OF
its work with plants through public
exhibitions. The work Of the DEPART
ment is of increasing interest to many
visitors to Washington, she said, but
their grounds at best are not easily
accessible to the public, and the space
fusing to visitors with limited time.
A third reason for the Endorsement
for the transfer by the garden club
was that the present interest in gar
dening and horticulture in all their
phases Is so widespread that the op-
portunity to make the Botanic Gar
den of national and not local i'm
portance is too urgent to be ignored
or passed by.
Sees Better Results.
After reading the statement Of the
Garden Club Of America, MIS-. HaF-
rison added that the club Is not
criticizing anything that has been
done, but believes the Botanic Garden
could be developed and improved with
better results under the Department
of Agriculture.
Senator Barkley of Kentucky and
Representative Keller OF Illinois asked
several of the witnesses II there Is
any reason why some Independent
agency could not develop q suitable
Botanic Garden instead Of placing
it under the Agriculture Department.
The witnesses all adhered to the view
that it could best be developed as an
adjunct of the Agriculture Depart
ment.
Kelsey said the Massachusetts, So
ciety had 5000 members and the
Board of Trustees voted unanimously
in favor of the bill to transfer the
Botanic Garden to the Agriculture
Department. Kelsey declared the ex-
isting garden "has not given adequate
returns for the cost" Referring to
the aim Of developing in Washington
one of the finest botanic gardens In
the world, Kelsey continued:
THAT could never be done on its
present location. 1t Is merely a con-
servatory."
He testified that the type of mate
rial in the present Botanic Garden
is regarded as third, fourth or fifth
rate.
New Site Proposed.
His suggestion was that q suitable
Botanic Garden be developed on an
adequate site in connection with the
arboretum on the outskirts Of tho
city, and that the present Botanic
Garden be used only as central dis
play place. Referring to the existing
gardens near the Capitol, Kelsey said
in conclusion:
In the name Of horticulture, pro-
test against calling this affair down
here a botanic garden"
Representative Keller agreed that
the Botanic Garden has not been
properly developed In the past. He
said the whole question comes down
to one Of management and cost and
that the institution has not had
chance to become a real botanic gar
den in the past. He said, however.
he did not see why joint committee
Of Congress could not develop .
proper botanic garden, as 1t has de-
veloped the Library Of Congress into
a great library. The witness replied
that the garden could be developed at
q minimum cost to the Government
near the arboretum, which already Is
in the Department Of Agriculture.
Keller answered that on the question
Of cost he believes he can sustain his
contention.
Barron said the New York Horti-
cultural Society, having $500 mem
bers, favors placing the garden under
the Department Of Agriculture.
Nurserymen interested.
Pyle told the committee the nursery
men are interested in the develop
ment Of an adequate Botanic Garden
because of the research work that
could be carried on to meet the de-
mand of the public for new types Of
plants. Advocating opportunities for
more widespread education in botany
and horticulture in this country, Pyle
said that experts sometimes come here
from abroad, find new plant speci-
mems, take them back to Europe for
development and that later Americans
buy them. Pyle said washington is
the logical place to develop fine
Botanic Garden in America, because
so many people come here and be-
cause there are In Washington 30
many scientists.
The statement Of Secretary Wallace
presented to the committee was as
follows:
There are many reasons why q
transfer Of the Botanic Garden might
be considered advantageous not only
to the Department of Agriculture but
to any future development of a capt-
talized national Botanic Garden.
IT transferred the garden would
have Immediately available the CO.
operation and assistance Of a corps
of botanists as well as horticulturists.