Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1949-05-15
Garden Club 10 Plant
Trees in Arboretum
Ravines as Sesqui Gift

NuvutSS VI StSSU VII
The Garden Club of America
will provide for the planting OF
three small ravines forming sec.
ton of the National Arboretum
as a gift marking the Capitals
sesquicentennial celebration in
1850. it was announced yesterday
Mrs. Hermann G. Place of New
York. president of the club. and
Mrs. Gilbert M. Hitchcock OF
Washington, chairman of its
National Capital Committee. will
present a check for the purpose
to President Truman at II am
Friday.
The fund will be used by B. Y
Morrison. acting director of the
a2boretum and a member al
large OF the club. for the proposed
planting. IL is hoped that in the
spring of 1850. at the time Of the
sesquicentennial celebration, club
members from all over the country
will come 10 Washington and at
tend a dedication ceremony at
the arboretum.
To Plant True Cedars.
The ravines start from the road
on Hickey Ridge and run down
to the Anacositia River. Mr.. Nor
rison's plans call for planting the
ridges that separates them solidly
with evergreens; one with the true
cedars, Atlas, Lebanon and De-
odar; another with Himalaya pines
and the third with Cryptomerias.
When the evergreens are estab-
lished, suitable feature" plant
ings will be put below them.
The club, formed in 1913 by IL
separate garden clubs, now has
139 groups throughout the coun-
try. with a membership of nearly
5000. 1t was instrumental in aid
ing passage of legislation making
the Arboretum possible.
The Cryptomeria planting is the
gift of the National Capital Com
mittee. The clubs all over the
country contributed for planting
one ravine, and the third part of
the fund came from members at
large and individuals,
Dutch Gift Recalled.
A year ago, the Netherlands
made a gift ,of more than 5000
hybrid Dutch azaleas to the Ar
boretum. many of which are
blooming now. The official cele-
bration of this gift was withheld
until next spring. when plans are
contemplated for "a real official
reception"
The Arboretum, consisting of
about 40 acres of land lying
within less than three miles of
the Capitol, is not yet open to
the public because of a lack of
facilities to handle large crowds.
Arboretum officials hope that a
public opening may be possible
next year.
The $4,000 allotment for the
Arboretum in the Agriculture De-
partment appropriation bill for
the fiscal year beginning July l
will not permit roadway construc-
ton and other improvements
planned for the second year of
five-year development program
for the preserve.
The Budget Bureau recon-
mended postponement Of further
large scale improvements and ap-
proved funds only for normal
Housekeeping" work, together
with some drainage work, fenc-
ing. grading and construction of
a shop building. Two houses
would be reconditioned for en-
ployes' use.
Annual Meeting This Week.
The bill as passed by the House
and reported out by the Senate
Appropriations Committee con-
tains the Budget Bureau figure
The amount is $253,90 less than
that made available for the cur
rent fiscal year. the first of the
five-year plan.
The Agriculture Department
had hoped to get approximately
$1,000, 900 for the next year, in
Gliding about 100000 for the
first unit of an administration
building.
The Advisory Board of the ar
boretum. of which Frederick P.
Lee is chairman, will hold its an
nual meeting Thursday and Fri
day. The Thursday schedule in
cludes an afternoon meeting with
Secretary of Agriculture Brannan.
The Thursday session opens at
$50 am. at the Office on the ar
boretum grounds.