<--PREV Doc #1078  |  Memorial Commission Home Page  |  First Term Table of Contents  |  Presidential Papers Home Page  |  Doc#  |  NEXT--> Doc #1080 Document #1079; September 27, 1954 To Robert Ludwig Schulz Series: EM, AWF, Gettysburg Series ; Category: Memorandum The Papers of Dwight David Eisenhower, Volume XV - The Presidency: The Middle Way Part VI: Crises Abroad, Party Problems at Home; September 1954 to December 1954 Chapter 132: Asia: A "boiling kettle of possible trouble"   I read over the memoranda and looked at the sketches sent to me by Mr. Peaslee. 1 Of course they comprise a plan that would make a most beautiful place, but I do have to think of the cost of maintenance, as well as the difficulty of getting a man who can take care of gardens of a formal, or even complicated, character. So far as the planting of the trees, dogwood, and thickening the trees along the lane, I agree wholeheartedly and believe we have to do it.2 The only exception to this is that instead of getting a third holly tree at considerable additional cost, I would merely plant these two so that there would be no relation between them, thus getting away from any awkardness due to their different sizes. I am sure the kitchen garden is in the right place, and I think should be well outlined, but not with planting. Should we outline it and divide it with permanent plants, we would then have the necessity each spring of spading it up by hand; whereas items of cost and labor would almost compel us to use a plow. So far as the flower garden is concerned, I think we should concentrate: (a). on getting the levels and gradings we want; (b). on a fine stand of grass (I suppose blue grass) and (c). the rose garden, which I think would be very useful and attractive. I suggest in this connection that you accept the offer to get the plants at half the normal price and the advice of the expert for the fall planting. (d). Possibly preparing a narrow strip all around the back and sides of the grass where Mrs. Eisenhower could, on her own, raise seasonal flowers, such as zinnias and so on. This arrangement, I think, would be the most economical and at the same time the most attractive that we could work out. The entrance layout looks to me to be completely suitable. I think there is no necessity to make provision for a marker on the entrance posts themselves, since a friend of mine is making up some wrought iron markers which could be put at a spot that would not be objectionable. Incidentally, if Mr. Peaslee thinks that the guns should not be at the entrance, I do not have to get them. Two railroad friends have each made provisions for sending to the farm a bell of the type that was formerly used on steam locomotives. One of these is the Frisco Line, and the other the Wabash.3 I wonder whether it would not be possible to set them up on the same axle so that we would get a duplicate chime when using them. I think some plain and simple concrete base around which we can even plant ivy would be a suitable mounting. They could be put somewhere in the area (I think) of the old windmill. I believe that Mr. Tompkins is already aware of the desire of the Nurserymen's Association to plant some trees at the farm.4 I am hopeful of eventually getting a nice grove started around the pond. However, Mr. Peaslee himself might better decide where these present trees should go because he would do so with an eye for appearance. I think I have no need for an outdoor barbeque pit, since I am now the possessor of about five different kinds of machines for barbecue purposes. 1 Horace Whittier Peaslee (B. Arch. Cornell University 1919) was an architect assisting with building and grounds construction on the Eisenhowers' farm. Peaslee's study is not in EM. 2 As it turned out, Eisenhower's farm manager, Arthur Nevins, would purchase 1,000 pine seedlings from the Pennsylvania State University. Dogwood and spruce would also be planted (Memorandum of telephone conversation, Jan. 27, 1955, and Eisenhower to Potter, Jan. 28, 1955, both in AWF/Gettysburg). For developments see no. 1295. 3 For background on the bells see no. 1044. Nevins would write the President on December 13 that the two bells had arrived (AWF/Gettysburg; see also Cross Reference Sheet, July 13, 1954, ibid.). 4 Presidential Secretary Ann Whitman had notified Tompkins on August 11 (AWF/Gettysburg). Bibliographic reference to this document: Eisenhower, Dwight D. Memorandum To Robert Ludwig Schulz, 27 September 1954. In The Papers of Dwight David Eisenhower, ed. L. Galambos and D. van Ee, doc. 1079. World Wide Web facsimile by The Dwight D. Eisenhower Memorial Commission of the print edition; Baltimore, MD: The Johns Hopkins University Press, 1996, http://www.eisenhowermemorial.org/presidential-papers/first-term/documents/1079.cfm <--PREV Doc #1078  |  Memorial Commission Home Page  |  First Term Table of Contents  |  Presidential Papers Home Page  |  Doc#  |  NEXT--> Doc #1080

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