Evening star., 1940-03-10
Arboretun IS Taking Shape
With Steady dyInprovements
Visitors Received on Northeost Tract
Z Destined to Become Natures Shrine
fSee Page T. Grauure Section, for Fun Page
s.&% OF Pictures on the Aboretum)

hills and little valleys that furnish
almost every conceivable exposure.
The soil conditions are almost
as varied as the topography. Care
ful soil surveys show many soil
types, THIS making II possible to
meet the requirements Of . wide
range Of species in this respect.
Native Growth Abundant.
The area contains good represen-
tations of our existing native trees
and shrubs, deciduous trees pre-
dominating, with particularly fine
representation Of our native oaks.
naples and beeches. Careful lists
made Of existing trees and shrubs
show the presence Of about 1000
different species now growing on the
property.
Two types Of plants will be de-
veloped In the nurseries. First will
be those needed in quantity to es-
tablish q plant character that will
dif1erentiate this arboretum from
all others in the country. The other
type will be those needed to build
up the scientific collections that
constitute the major purpose Of any
arboretum.
Special attention is being given
to the possibility Of creating larger
areas Of evergreens, since the
arboretum tract has large numbers
Of only one local evergreen, the
common scrub pine. These collec-
tions will probably contain repre-
sentatives of those conifers which
do best here. pines, yews, jumpers,
hemlocks, with lesser groups Of true
cedars, cryptomerias, sequoias, cum
ninghamias and the like for use by
plant breeders and eventual propa-
CATION and distribution by nursery
men. There are already growing at
another Government nursery many
white-barked pines from China
that some day will show their snow
white trunks against an evergreen
hill.
Broad-leaved evergreens also will
be planted. Already there are
many magnolias on the tract, one
of them a beautiful hybrid devel-
oped by Mr.. Olver M. Freeman Of
the bureau, who has worked with
the arboretum since its inception.
1t is q cross between the great
Southern magnolia and our native
Virginia sweetbay. Hollies, too, are
being collected and representations
of this family, not only from our
own country but from Europe and
the Orient, are being prepared for
hillside where they will furnish q
background for Towering trees and
shrubs.
Floral Displays.
Flowering cherries, crabapples.
Ilacs. styrax, dogwoods, shadbushes,
locusts, all will form displays which
will attract scientists and other Wis
itors from all over the world.
Probably the most spectacular shrub
collection will be made by the rhodo-
dendrons and azaleas. There are
already many thousands of the latter
growing in the nurseries. These
plants will later be moved to their
permanent locations.
Another important phase Of the
development will be the series of ar
tif1cial lakes. in some Of which will be
large collections of water lilies. Mrs.
Helen Fowler, who developed the
famous gardens just across the river
and which are now incorporated IN
the park system, has expressed great
enthusiasm for the pools and gra-
ciously offered her assistance. 90
There also will be great collec-
tions of wild roses, flrethorns, coton-
casters, viburnums, hawthornes and
all such plants which are often
| more beautiful in their frliiting
stages than in flower.
At present there are no institu-
tional buildings at the arboretum.
Visitors are welcome, but must en-
ter from the gate at Twenty eighth
and M streets and must call at the
ofice before driving or walking
through the grounds. No visitors
are received after S o'clock, except
by special arrangement, since the
institution Is still in its construction
stages and is not yet in position to
of1er unlimited hospitality to the
lNlhlic