Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1934-07-19
BOTANIC GARDEN
STUDY IS STARTED
House Library Committee
Begins on Report to
Next Congress.

The House Library Committee to-
day began laying the groundwork for
report to the next Congress on the de-
velopment of a great Botanic Garden
here.
Acting under authority Of a reso-
luton adopted by the committee Just
before Congress adjourned, Repre-
sentative Keller Of Illinois chairman,
invited number OF distinguished
scientists and representatives OF
garden clubs to serve with the House
committee in developing reeommen-
dations for the Botanic Garden.
Agreed for Development
While the meeting of the committee
today was executive, 1t is known that
the discussion covered a wide field
and that there was unanimous agree
ment that steps be taken to build up
United States Botanic Garden COM
parable to the great botanic gardens
in Europe and in other parts of this
country. The present Botanic Garden.
which has been under the direction
VI Lie JOlIiI SOuIullIbCC OIl L1iDIal
Of Congress ever since its establish
ment many years ago, was described
as entirely lacking in scientific value
and as totally inadequate
The discussion revealed that exist
ing agencies of the Government. in
GLIDING the Agriculture Department,
the Smithsonian Institution and the
Library of Congress. have much to
contribute to the upbuilding OF q
botanic garden.
The closest kind of cooperation, 1t
was said. is both desirable and essen
tial in the development of the garden.
What Government agency is to adj
minister the proposed great Botanic
Garden was not decided upon. Wheth
er a new agency should be set up,
or whether 1t should be turned over
to the Agriculture Department. the
Smithsonian Institution or some other
Government agency, is question to
be reached later.
Present at Meeting.
Those attending the meeting today
in addition to Chairman Keller, were
DR.. Rodney H. True, director Of the
Morris Arboretum, University of PenE-
sylvania; DR.. William r. MaXon, as
Sistant curator, Division of Plants,
Smithsonian Institution DR.. Fred
erick Coville, acting director of the
National Arboretum; DR.. B. Y. Nor
riSon, head of the Division Of Foreign
Plant Introduction. Bureau Of Plant
Industry, Agriculture Department; J.
Horace Mcfarland. president Of the
American Rose Society; Mrs. F. Har
rison, representing the Garden Club
of America; DR.. Leicester B. Holland,
chief Of the Division OF Fine Arts,
Library Of Congress, and B. X. Chest
nut, retired plant chemist of the
Agriculture Department.
In calling the meeting to order,
Chairman Keller said the primary
purpose Of the group was to prepare
report for the next Congress as
to what should be done with the
United States Botanic Garden. He
said he hoped a plan could be worked
out which would put every member of
the committee to work along certain
lines Of this study during the Sum-
mer months. 1t is expected that a
subcommittee will be appointed to
make this plan effective.
DelanO Unable to Attend.
Frederic A. Delano, chairman Of
the National Capital Park and Plan
ming Commission, a member of the
committee, was unable to be present
today Keller said, however, he eX-
pected Delano to take an active part
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