66 ESTABLISHMENT OF A NATIONAL BOTANIC GARDEN. 



Congress in this instance is to be observed, the introduction of such 

 a foreign element as a botanic garden is too dangerous to be ventured. 

 Therefore, the use of Rock Creek Park for this purpose can not be 

 recommended. 



The Mount Hamilton site. — The Mount Hamilton site is situated 

 between the Bladensburg Road and the new Anacostia reclamation 

 project, just south of the National Training School for Boys. The 

 larger hill itself is shown on the park plan of 1901 as a desirable 

 addition to the park system. It is now privately owned. It has 

 three round-top peaks immediately adjacent to the Bladensburg 

 Road, which in themselves cover about 80 acres; nearly all wooded, 

 mostly with oaks in good condition. The eastern slope of the hill 

 has an outcrop of yellow sand, which supports a vigorous growth of 

 pine. The hill itself is of a heavier gravel soil. Immediate^ north 

 of this hill there is a comparatively level area extending to Hickey 

 Road, which is of rich farming soil. Connecting these two areas 

 with the National Training School for Boys is another small hill, 

 densely wooded, whose precipitous sides drop abruptly to the bank 

 of the Anacostia River. 



The tract fronts on the Anacostia River for a distance of about 

 9,000 feet, and carries a large variety of soils in such condition that 

 very little, preparation for the uses of a botanic garden would be 

 needed. Little grading other than that required for roads is required. 

 It has north, south, east, and west slopes, and the level area between 

 the hill and Hickey Road would work out well for greenhouses and 

 herbaceous gardens; while the other areas would be ideal for shrub 

 and small flowering-tree arboretum uses, especially as the northern 

 and southeastern slopes of the hill form two amphitheaters which 

 would display such exhibits on a large scale. An examination of 

 the soil has been made by the Department of Agriculture and its 

 report may be found in the appendix. Briefly summarized, the in- 

 vestigation by that department indicates that it will be possible to 

 grow plants of even the most exacting soil requirements, the diverse 

 types of soil affording almost every variation which can be secured 

 in this section of the country. According to this report practically 

 any plant which can thrive in this climate can be grown in this area. 



The whole area contains about 476 acres. About 109 acres of it 

 is to be acquired for the Anacostia Park reclamation, so that only 

 about 367 acres need to be considered for purchase in connection with 

 this project. It is on the main highway line between Baltimore and 

 Washington. The Lincoln Highway, with little difficulty, could be 

 brought along the shores of the Anacostia Park and thence by way 

 of Maryland Avenue to the Capitol Building, affording an entrance 

 to Washington of unequaled beauty. As to accessibility, there is 

 already an electric car line along the Bladensburg Road, and the 

 junction of the Pennsylvania and Baltimore & Ohio Railroads is 

 only about 2,000 feet away, while the Pennsylvania Railroad is about 

 800 feet from the excellent possible sites for the greenhouses and the 

 herbaceous gardens. 



For extension of the gardens the Anacostia Park is available. 

 That portion of the park between the Pennsylvania Railroad and 

 Benninsr Bridge contains about 563 acres, lowland and water, thus 



