home in the church where Washington worshipped for so many- 
years, and again one regretted the necessity of haste. 
After a brief rest we met again in the National Museum, and 
listened Avith absorbed interest to two illustrated lectures on the 
"Improvement of Washington" by Mr. Charles Moore and Mr. 
James Greenleaf of the Fine Arts Commission, and from the 
enthusiasm of the audience one realized that indeed we did feel 
that it was ' ' our ' ' Washington which was laid before us. Later, 
as the guests of Mr. and Mrs. Charles Walcott we were received 
at the Smithsonian and. given an opportunity to see Mrs. 
Walcott 's wonderful collection of water color sketches of 
our native plants, made by her over a period of many years. 
The next morning's program began with a view of the green- 
houses belonging to the Bureau of Plant Industry — under the 
Department of Agriculture — and again we longed to linger and 
talk with Dr. Taylor and his assistants, who were so ready to tell 
us what we wished to know. There are many kinds of horticul- 
tural research going on in these twenty houses, covering the 
entire field of fruits, flowers and vegetables, of soils and fertil- 
izers, fumigation, study of plant pests, refrigeration, hybridiza- 
tion, and the entire run of practical and scientific methods for 
plant culture. We had, however, been warned that if we stayed 
too long we could not see the Historic Houses and Gardens which 
were listed on our programs. 
Bellevue "Bellevue," the home of Mr. John Newbold, was built in 
1800 and the original site was across the street from its present 
location. It stands high above the street with a brick retaining 
wall which is covered with English Ivy and surmounted by a 
white Colonial picket fence. A broad flight of brick steps leads 
to a grass terrace in front of the house where two fine old 
Magnolia trees stand guard. Here gravel paths, box-edged, 
lead one through a gate into the small but formal garden beyond, 
an irregular planting of tall Cedars gives an air of seclusion and 
rest to this charming spot, which at this season of the year, is 
planted with Ageratum, pink Begonias and graceful Buddleia. 
Casting its shadow over the flagged paths and stone benches 
of this little garden stands a magnificent Paulownia tree — its 
brown velvety flower-buds giving promise of its coming spring 
glory of lavender blossoms. 
In one corner is a small brick pool bordered with low grow- 
ing Arbor Vitae and English Ivy, delightfully intermingled and 
drooping into the water, making an alluring green hiding place 
for the gold fish therein. 
The Colonial house has several interesting and unusual 
Architectural features, especially the wings with doorways so 
beautifully carved and on the side towards the north, the two 
rounded, tower-like ends. Close about the house is an especially 
good planting of Rhododendrons, Hemlock and Box, with Ivy 
