16 REPORT OF ARCHITECT OF UNITED STATES CAPITOL. 



park or private residence grounds, to a great degree out of the question. The diffi- 

 culty was complicated hy the hillside position of the building, compelling circuitous 

 courses to be taken as a means of avoiding oversteep grades in the carriage ap- 

 proaches from the west.* 



That the Capitol, in its several more admirable aspects, might be happily presented 

 to view, it was necessary that the plantations should be so disposed as to leave nu- 

 merous clear spaces between the central and the outer parts of the ground, and desir- 

 able that the openings or vistas should be disturbed as little as practicable by roads 

 or other constructions. At the same time, the summer climate of Washington and the 

 glaring whiteness of the great central mass made a general umbrageousness of char- 

 acter desirable in the ground, and a bare, bald, unfurnished quality to be, as much as 

 possible, guarded against. It was then to be considered that customs are established 

 that bring at intervals great processions and ceremonious assemblies into the ground, 

 and that attending these, vast bodies of people, without order or discipline, surge 

 through it in a manner that overrules all ordinary guardianship, and that, with in- 

 creasing population and increasing means of communication, such throngs are likely to 

 grow larger and more sweeping. This difficulty was increased by the long-established 

 habit of regarding the Capitol ground as a common to be crossed or occupied in any 

 part as suited individual convenience. 



These considerations not only called for multiplied routes of passage, but for a 

 degree of amplitude inpavemeuts'and flagging unfortunate with reference to the desired 

 general effect of umbrageousness and verdancy. They also compelled a resort to many 

 expedients for inoffensively restraining the movements of visitors in certain directions 

 and leading them easily in others. 



If these several more or less conflicting requirements are weighed, it will be seen 

 that no attempt to reconcile them or compromise between them could be made that 

 did not involve a disjointeduess in the plantations unfavorable to the general aspect 

 of dignity and cornjlbsure desirable to be associated with so stately a building. Hence, 

 where it remained permissible to plant trees at all, to have selected and arranged 

 them with a view to exhibit marked individual qualities, would, as tending to increase 

 such disjointeduess, have been an unwise policy. The better motive was to select and 

 place trees with a view to their growing together in groups iu which their individual 

 qualities would gradually merge harmoniously ; to avoid a distinct definition of these 

 groups, to aim to draw them into broader compositions, and to secure as much effect 

 of depth and distance as possible by obscuring minor objects, especially in the outer 

 part of the ground. 



In the undergrowth, however, a degree of variety, cheerfulness, and vivacity, to be 

 gained by moderate contrasts of form and color, might be studied. Hence not only the 

 amount but the range of shrubbery used has been considerable, so much so that it 

 must be admitted thai at present it holds attention too much. As beyond a certain 

 point the landscape effect of trees increases with age many times faster than that of 

 bushes, the general effect will soon be much quieter. The chief reason for what would 

 otherwise lie an excessive proportion of shrubs and low growth is the necessity of miti- 

 gating the effect of the large extent of dead grouud in the roads, walks, and adjoining 

 streets, otherwise to be looked down upon from the Capitol and to be conspicuous in 

 views across the ground. 



Two minor motives influencing tin- choice and disposition of the undergrowth may 

 lie noted. 



The summer climate of Washington being unfavorable to turf in situations where, 

 owing to the numbei of trees growing in them, or for other reasons, the care of the 

 turf would be difficult, the aim has been to cover the ground with foliage of creepers 

 and of low perennials likely to retain greenness during droughts and requiring little 

 labor to keep tidy. These low plantings also serve the purpose of connecting and 

 merging the higher foliage with the verdure of the lawns and of increasing apparent 

 perspective distance. 



The shrubbery has been selected from regard to its fitness in foliage qualities, form, 

 and size, when grown, to serve general purposes in the several localities in which it 

 is placed. Its blooming qualities have been regarded as of subordinate consequence, 

 but simple and natural bloom has been generally preferred to the more large, strik- 

 ing, ami showy quality of flowers resulting from the art of the florist, the design being 

 always not to make a lounging place or hold attention to details. 



"Some may ask whether, under the circumstances, a strictly architectural design 

 would not have had advantages. It is enough to say that, for several reasons, no 

 such plan, if understood, would have been acceptable to Congress or the public taste 

 of tin' period. Ir would, therefore, have soon been ruined in the treatment of details. 

 Public taste strangely admits topiary work to be mixed up with natural forms of vege- 

 tation, and applauds a profusion of artificial features in what passes for natural gar- 

 dening. Nevertheless, it condemns, even in situations where they would be most par- 

 donable, the grander and more essential aims of ancient gardening. 



