Evening star., 1937-06-13
Preservation of Grass
in America.
BY FREDERIC J. HASKIN.

with this growth as an ornamental fea-
ture Of parks and the lawns OF house
holders. The city man. especially the
suburban mar, regards his lawn as the
apple of his eye. He looks forward eae-
erly, In Summer, to the hour when he
can reach home and unreel his water
ing hose. He may hire a boy or have a
boy OF his own to NOV the lawn but not
infrequently takes delight in doing that
Job himself.
This man may not be so careful Of
the grass in public parks, however jea-
Gus he may be of his own lawn. He NAV
go apicnicking and dig his heels in
smooth lawns and leave them cluttered
up with the remnants of shoe box
lunches. Or he may not But as for
both the householders lawn and the
public park lawn, solicitude is shown.
The sign Keep of the Grass" is per-
haps the most familiar sign in the land
even though the Department of Agricul-
ture says grass is not harmed by foot
steps provided the footsteps are not con-
centrated in such way as to maks
paths. The best lawns are rolled with
rollers far heavier than any man.
This universal adjuration to keep of
the grass was utilized once on a time
with great political force. The incident
will be remembered by many living peo-
pie. AS result of the panic Of 1893
which resulted in widespread unemploy-
ment, Jacob Coxey led a numerous army
of the INDECENT TO Washington, demand-
ing legislation which would be remedial
in the situation.
The invaders, many Of them hungry,
seemed a dangerous lot They proceeded
to the Capitol and encamped in the
park surrounding it. The police author
tiles were at loss to know what do do
with them. They were citizens they
were exercising their constitutional right
of peaceable assembly and of petition
to Congress. They were not disorderly.
But they were threat to the peace OF
mind Of a harassed Congress and q
source of nervousness to the populace OF
the National Capital. Something had to
be done.
Some bright policeman had an inspir-
alton. These men were sprawled over
the lawns of the Capitol park just as,
many years later the bonus marchers
were. Sparsely placed, here and there.
were modest signs reading Keep Of
the Grass" The policeman's inspiration
was that this warning was being wanton-
ly violated. The result was that arrests
of few-the leaders chiefy-were made
and the army gradually melted away.
Even these harried jobless seemed TO
feel that they had made mistake.
Some individuals and number OF
park officials have sought to find less
peremptory more courteous notices Some
signs merely read Please The most
gracious and still incislve sign yet TO
appear in America is one which has
been placed in New York City park
overlooking the Hudson River On q
tasteful mahogany signboard, OF Colonial
design looking bit like an old fashioned
fire screen, there are lettered in gold
the words:
Let no one say and say it to your shame
That all was beauty here until you came
Such sign relates. of course not only
to the grass but to flowers. shrubs and
other paintings in public park. There
would be. of course, many people who
would not be affected by such an address.
but they would belong to an ilk that
doubtless would regard no sign save a
policemans whistle.
This sign is said first to have been
observed in a garden at Malvern IN Eng
land. That might we'll be, as English
men are probably the most enthusiastic
gardeners in the world from peers TO
the poorest cottager The finest lawn In
the world is said to be that covering the
great quadrangle Of Warwick Castle An
American tourist something of an ANA
teur gardener himself, made bold to ask
the head gardener in charge at War
wick Castle how to produce such q
smooth, fne-textured lawn The gar
dener replied: First you need five hun
dred years a statement a trife dis
couraging to native Of a country which
had not been discovered by white men
that long ago but the statement is an
indication of how some people value
grass.
Washington, the National Capital, has
achieved the reputation of having some
of the finest public parks and gardens in
this country. 1t has superb lawns, pub
lie and private. For example the gar
dener of the White House has. after long
experiment. discovered a mixture of
grasses which grow well under the deep
shade of trees. Experts OF the Depart
ment of Agriculture and the Botanic
Gardens have much lore on the subject.
At Washington are the famous cherry
blossom trees to see which thousands Of
people make pilgrimage. There is
public rose garden Of acres and enor-
nous pansy beds. Parked streets are
planted with rare Towering plants.
Now and then some tourist, perhaps a
lover of plants or merely Of the souvenir
gathering type, will strip bough of
cherry blossoms or pluck rose. 1t Ia
the exception, Even without signs-and
there are very few warning signs-the
people allow these horticultural beauties
to bloom in peace. There probably is
less warning off the grass in Washington
than in any other city, so far as public
places are concerned. Now and then
there is warning not to make paths,
but for the most part, signs are not
needed, Throngs of people troop un-
molested over greenswards, but avoid
path making.
Recently Secretary of Agriculture
Wallace expressed the hope that soon
the day would come when the American
people would take as much interest in
grass as they have begun to take in trees.
About forty years ago. widespread inter-
est in trees began and has continued
until tree surgery has become a largo
profession and forestry and conservation
are subjects of enthusiasm. Secretary
Wallace wants to see the same mount.
ing interest in grass