During his more than two decades as head of the 

 Garden, Hess traveled extensively throughout the Nation 

 and frequently returned with new plants to add to the 

 Garden's collections. In addition, he added new material 

 through trades with other public gardens. Unfortunately, 

 accession records do not appear to have been maintained, 

 and the details of when different species were added to the 

 Garden are not known. Only through various newspaper 

 accounts of the period is it possible to glean some idea of 

 the unusual and "freak plants" that were grown at the 

 Garden during the Hess years. 42 



While Hess was Director, the Botanic Garden was also 

 active in nationwide plant distribution through a system of 

 congressional allotments. Each year, Senators and Represent- 

 atives were given a box containing approximately 80 varie- 

 ties of shrubs, trees, and plants from the Botanic Garden. 

 Plants selected for inclusion in each box depended upon the 

 climate of the member's home State. Hess enthusiastically 

 supported this program, maintaining that whenever a con- 

 stituent received these plants and included them in his 

 garden, neighbors would be motivated to improve their 

 properties as well, and the results would be a more beauti- 

 ful America. 



Preparation for the annual distribution was a year-long 

 effort. The magnitude of the task facing the Garden's staff, 

 Washington's Evening Star reported in January 1916, was a 

 tremendous undertaking in view of the vast contrasts in 

 climate found throughout the country: 



All year a force of men has been working at the 

 National Botanic Garden to prepare for the annual 

 distribution of plants to Senators and Representa- 

 tives, now being made. During ten months of the 

 year these men are actually busy with the propa- 

 gation and care of trees, shrubs and vines for the 

 Members of Congress. The other two months are 

 spent in preparation for greenhouse activity. 



The fruit of their labors is spread broadcast over 

 the country; and the United States has within its 

 confines practically every variety of temperature, 

 every physical characteristic known in the world, 



42 The plants named in various newspaper articles are compiled in 

 Appendix 8. 



