EEPOET OF ARCHITECT OF UNITED STATES CAPITOL. 17 



Xo spruces or other large-growing coniferous trees have been included in the recent 

 planting, because if placed in the central parts they would obstruct views of the 

 buildings; if placed on the outer parts they would disturb the general quiet and un- 

 obtrusive foliage effects desired, and lessen the apparent depth of the local sylvan 

 scene. A few clusters of junipers, yews, and thuyas (Chamcecyparis), of established 

 hardiness, will be found at points where they cauuot interrupt views toward the Cap- 

 itol, and where they will be obscured and overlooked in views from it. 



The'nurnber of l>road-leafed (laurel-like) evergreens that can be trusted to flourish 

 iu the climate of Washington is unfortunately limited. The fact that the ground is 

 more visited in winter than in summer makes this the more regrettable. For this rea- 

 son a considerable number of sorts have been introduced, the permanent success of 

 which is not thought fully assured. All such are of low growth in this climate, and 

 should they fail to meet expectations maybe withdrawn without permanent injury to 

 the designed summer landscape character. Should they flourish, it is hoped that 

 others will be thinned out and the evergreens grow into moderate masses.* 



The Capitol ground is declared by act of Congress to be formed "to serve the quiet 

 and dignity of the Capitol and to prevent the occurrence near it of such disturbances 

 as are incident to the ordinary use of public streets and places." Incidentally to this 

 purpose, however, it is much used as a public park, especially during the hot season 

 or when Congress is not in session. The need to provide seats in which people could 

 rest for a moment in passing up the Capitol hill from Pennsylvania avenue, which is 

 the point of entrance for most, and the need of a place in which children could obtain 

 water being apparent, and as the necessary extent of accommodation in these respects 

 would otherwise cause an unseemly obstruction of the walks or become too conspicu- 

 ous a feature of the scenery, a summer-house was designed, with a view to the follow- 

 ing advantages : It is entered by a few steps from three different lines of walk ; it 

 contains separate seats for twenty-five people, protected under all circumstances 

 from ordinary summer showers; "it allows six children to take water from the fount- 

 ain at once; it is very airy, the softest breeze passing freely through it. The seats 

 are so disposed as, though shadowed, to be well lighted, and to be each under con- 

 stant inspection of the passing watchmen and the public through an opposite arch- 

 way. The house is closed at nightfall and in winter. These precautions have enabled 

 ladies to nse it in large numbers, free from the annoyances which often deter them 

 from entering sheltered resting places in parks. Standing on sloping ground, the 

 floor is kept at the lower level and the walls and roof of brick and tile as low as 

 practicable, so that at a short distance the eye ranges over them. That they may 

 be more inconspicuous, the walls are banked about with natural rock, and slopes of 

 specially-prepared soils favorable to the growth of various creepers and rock plants, 

 by which, except to one standing opposite to the entrance arches and turning to ob- 

 serve them, the entire structure will be wholly lost to view. From within the 

 walls there opens on the up-hill side a cool dark runnel of water, supplied from the 

 overflow of the fountain at the west entrance to the Capitol. The spray of this 

 rapid rivulet, with that from the waste water of the drinking-fountain, maintains a 

 moisture of the air favorable to the growth of ferns and mosses upon the inner rock- 

 work. What is chiefly hoped for, however, is that, under the conditions provided, a 

 growth of ivy may have been secured, gradually reproducing the characteristic exqui- 

 site beauty of this evergreen in its native haunts. Many good examples of it, though 

 not of its best estate, may be seen about Washington. The visitor interested, is par- 

 ticularly advised to see those in the cemetery at West Washington (Georgetown). 



The trees about the summer-house, though hardy and suited to the circumstances, 

 will all have a somewhat quaint or exotic aspect. They include the Willow oak, the 

 Cedrella, the Oleaster, two sorts of Aralias, and the Golden Catalpa. 



The vistas or general lines of view to which all the planting and all the structures 

 upon the ground have been fitted may be more fully stated. 



Disregarding shrubbery, to be kept below the plane of sight toward the Capitol, 

 openings are maintained, through w T hich direct front views of the central portico and 

 the dome will be had from the outer parts of the ground, upon opposite sides, and 

 diagonal perspective views of the entire facades from four directions. In six other 

 directions from the center of the structure only low-headed trees are planted, so that 

 in each case the Capitol may be seen rising above banks of foliage from points several 

 miles distant. 



It is unnecessary to say that by the same disposition of the plantations, views out- 

 wardly from the Capitol are kept open, but attention may be called to the beauty and 



*The Evergreen Thorn (Crataegus pyracanthas), the Oregon Grape (Berleris aquefo- 

 lium), the Coton-easter (C. microphilla), the Chinese evergreen Azalea (A. Amocna), 

 and an English hot-house shrub (Abelia rupestris), have each passed through vt ithout 

 injury several severe summers and winters, and promise to be of the highest value for 

 the landscape purposes for which they have been tentatively used. The three first 

 are already to be seen in profusion and in vigorous health. 



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