Evening star., 1939-04-29
Show Places
Opened for
Ten Days
Sheep Used to Trim
Grass on Private
Landing Field
BY FRANCESCA MCKINNEY.

by nANOESCA MChLNN6A.
Hundreds of people will journey
through the IL counties of Maryland
to view the historic estates and
houses that are open to the pub
lie until May 7, inclusive. To main
tain the atmosphere Of Colonial
times all matrons and debutantes
acting as hostesses at the various
homes are wearing authentic cos
tunes Of the 18th century.
Hampton, the ancestral estate Of
the Ridgelys in Dulaney Valley, is
among those open during the tour.
This estate has been in the un-
broken possession of the Ridgely
family for over 200 years, and Is one
Of the few estates in America which
by law must be handed down through
the family from generation to gen.
Grafton.
LEnfant, the architect who de-
signed Washington, laid out the
beautiful gardens of Hampton.
These famous boxwood gardens give
the general impression of the Ma
tons Capital. in that all lockwood
paths radiate from a central point in
much the same manner that the
streets Of Washington radiate from
the Capitol.
Another estate in this vicinity is
that belonging to Mrs. John S. Gibbs,
which is copied after the famous
Villa dEste gardens in Italy
One of the most picturesque
estates is Cremona, in st. Marys
County, owned by Col. Howard G.
Davidson. This historic farm on the
Patuxent River is renowned for its
beautiful old trees. The house is
situated close to the water and is
filled with a collection Of rare Amer
ican and English antiques suitable to
the surroundings.
In addition to being able to view
this magnificently appointed house
and the beautifully designed gar
dens, the stock raising activities In
progress on this estate are open
for inspection. Included in the list
of fine stock are Black Angus cattle
and sheep, Duroc hogs, and special
strain of turkeys and geese.
The sheep on this place not only
furnish their owners with wool and
lamb chops, but substitute for a
power lawn mower, which would
be necessary to keep the grass of
the flying field cut. This combi-
nation Of q private landing field
and pasture was at first q problem
to its owner, for herds Of Black
Angus cattle were given q chance
to keep the grass trimmed down,
but on approach Of plane they
scattered In all directions In usual
cattle fashion, making an undesir-
able hazard for the pilot and his
passengers. The assignment Of
grass cutting" was turned over to
the sheep due to their tendency to
herd or run In nocks upon the ap-
proach of q plane.
Other places to be visited during
the house and garden tour will
be Evergreen, the home of Mr.. and
Mrs. John w. Garrett, and Kerne-
wood, home Of Mrs. Miles White.
jr., with its priceless collection Of
antiques and gardens Of century,
old lockwood. Places featured in
the tours are examples of archi-
lecture, interior decoration and gar
dens not to be seen by the public
at any other period Of the year.
All funds derived from these tours
are to be used for the preservation
Of Colonial Annapolis. Among the
projects undertaken through the
fund is the restoration of the Ham
mond-Harwood house, which was
visited by Sir Anthony Eden on his
recent visit to America.
The largest single delegation to
60 to Maryland to see these his
toric places will be 4 group of 100
women from Texas. Mrs. H. Row.
land Clapp, chairman of the Mary
land Garden Pilgrimage Committee
of the Federated Garden Clubs of
Maryland, has announced that this
is the largest delegation from q far
distant State to attend the house
and garden tourA
H