Evening Star Newspaper, March 27, 1937, Page 31

REAL ESTATE. BUILDINGS' VALUE HANGS ON REPAIRS Modernization Held Feature of First Stages of Busi- ness Revival. Reconstruction and modernization of outdated but latently valuable prop- erty is featuring the first stages of the building trades revival already under way as a part of the general business upturn throughout the country, de- clares Ely Jacques Kahn of New York, chairman of the Committee on Allied Arts of the American Institute of Architects. Reviewing the field in a report to the institute, Kahn says that only by in- n of modern improvements, fn cases amounting to almost com- plete redesigning, can the “actual value” of many neglected structures | be brought to light. Included among the improvements he mentions are up- to-date elevators, air conditioning, proper lighting and effective fire safe- guards. “For many years little has been done to preserve existing buildings,”| explains Kahn, “There are countless homes, schools, churches, office build- ings and factories that need moderni- gation urgently. Qutlook for 1937 Good. “The actual value of so much prop- erty can be brought to light by minor or major improvements, additions or possible rebuilding. So much is being done successfully at this moment that it is not an exaggeration to assume that a great number of buildings will come under similar scrutiny in 1937. “Many stores will be redesigned completely. They are dingy, old fash- loned and lack modern conveniences. “Many office buildings cannot com- pete with the newer ones—their low- ered incomes are directly the result of physical conditions that need correc- tion. The owner who refuses to analyze his investment is like the man who insists on preserving worthless stock certificates because he likes the paper on which they are printed. “The pressure is here, and there will be more of it. There is a French say- ing that when building develops, everything develops—note the reports of the steel industry and the great companies who supply other building materials. The architect’s function is to direct this work of building and re- building, not only to obtain beauty, but to insure intelligent use of ma- terials and money. Jerry Building Attacked. “As building progresses, it is essen- tial that jerry building be controlled. One of the in rtant building news services is now agitating a demand that the loaning institutions insist on proper supervision of buildings erected with their money. The situation is so elemental that there can be little argument against its acceptance, for we have seen enough of amateur building, where return is the only con- sideration. “The public is interested, for it has geen collapses and deaths and knows that shoddy buildings are the result of carelessness, due primarily to the laxity of those who sponsor such strange investments.” FAIRFAX REALTY SALES ON INCREASE More Deeds Being Recorded—108 Acres on Difficult Run One of Largest Deeds. Bpccial Dispatch to The Star | FAIRFAX, Va. March 27.—With | the advent of Spring local real estate | sales have taken a considerable spurt, #s evidenced by deeds recorded in the office of County Clerk John M. ‘Whalen. Included among recent transactions is the sale of 108.1 acres on Difficult Run in Providence district by Charles B. Hibbs and Elsie G. Hibbs to Hubert Russell and Grace Bell Russell. Three tracts, comprising approxi- mately 70 acres, in Darnesville dis- trict have been conveyed to Leonard L. Reid by Ada E. Reid. In Falls Church district, three other tracts, including about 32 acres, have been sold to Emmett G. Craig and V.| Cameron Craig, his wife. The latter property was formerly owned by the late Juliette Claveloux, and the conveyance was made by Otto Andrew Vogelbach, Lillie Marie Vogelbach and Marius Biscaye. Oswald V. Carper and John H. Carper of McLean have purchased five lots in the George C. Loomis sub= division in McLean from the Riggs National Bank of Washington. A tract of six acres on the Lewins- ville-Falls Church road in Providence district has been purchased by Eu- gene H. Piggott and Adah L. Piggott of Clarendon. The property was for- merly owned by Harry E. G. Besley and Sallie M. Besley. Strong Colors for Children. In the decoration of children's rooms it is well to remember that only the strong intense colors make an im- pression on minds not ready to receive | the subtler gradations of color. Green trimmed with red or blue with orange, are pleasing to a child. — . Double Swing Door. A double swing door fitted with hinges which allow it to open from | either side is one of the greatest conveniences in the kitchen. It should be the door which leads from kitchen to dining room. for buying, building or refinancing loans on your home made under Federal Housing Act, Title 2. This bank has made over $2,000,000.00 of these loans. SECURITY SAVINGS AND COMMERCIAL BANK 9th and G Sts. N.W. 1518 K Street N.W. Member Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation. the office of Mrs. Jack Hayes. Physician Buys Home Dr. and Mrs. William Earl Clark have purchased this home at 3303 Woodley road from Comdr. Frederick G. Reinicke, through THE EVENING —Star Staff Photo. BY J. W. WELLINGTON. | ITH Spring actually at hand | it is necessary to complete the pruning of the roses, if this important task has not already been done. Rose bushes, if they grew vigorously last season, may be a mass of growth, some stocky and strong and some weak and spindling. Naturally, in thinning out the plants, the weak growths should be removed, leaving four or five of | the stout canes to form the body of | the plant. | branches, if present, shortened some- what. Usually, in cutting back a cane or side shoot, it is well to cut just |above a strong bud, but this is not | altogether important, as one is never fully certain which of the younger buds will push forth and form the new flowering shoots. This is an | unusual seasom, since there was very little Winter injury in roses and | pruning can be done much more satis- | factorily than has been the situation i for several years. Wilbur H. Youngman, demonstrating rose pruning for the Takoma Horti- cultural Club on Washington's Birth- 1 day, stressed the need of removing all the dead wood at the crown of the plant. Canker and other diseases may be present in this old wood, ready to spread to the new growing tissues. | Hence it is desirable to gather the rose prunings and burn them rather | than let them lie around to serve as a source of reinfection. One argument against severe cutting pruning reduces the number of flow- ers. This is true, especially in the early crops, but the quality of blooms grown on well-pruned plants is so much better that the rose grower is compensated for reduced numbers. | Pruned plants do not occupy so much ARGYLE From trafic light on Georgia Ave: on-Colesville Pike 1 Indian Spring Country Club. OWNERS SURROUND yourself with in a beautiful home. baths, large living porch. APPRECIATE the value of 5520 Conn. Ave. These should be cut back | to 15 or 18 inches and the side | of the rose plant is that such heavy | Y miles to entrance or Argvle Park on left, opposite Drive CROWDER CONSTRUCTION CO., Inc. ARCHITECTS SHEPHERD 1304 6505 MAP Chevy Chase, Md. ENJOY its spacious living and dining rooms, complete kitchen, paneled den, five delightful bedrooms, two the proximity to all schools, the wooded area. Inspect this fine property today or Sunday To Reach: Out Conn. Ave. to Thornapple St., left 3 blocks to Maple Ave. and right to property. EDW. H. JONES & CO., Inc. Exclusive Agents space as unpruned, and the gardener | may very well have more varieties in | a given area. | Climbing roses should not be pruned ‘ until after flowering in late May or June. The pruning of bush roses of | the type of Rosa hugonis should also be delayed until after flowering. Annual Plants. \/ARIOUS of the annuals, such as petunia, salvia and flowering | tobacco, grow so slowly in the early | stages that it is necessary to start | them indoors in late March, later | transplanting them to a protected bed | to stay until all danger of frost is | Others, such as zinnias and marigolds, | | germinate so readily and grow so | rapidly that they may be sown di-| rectly in the open about the first of May. erly handled. Broken pottery or | sifted soil. Very fine seed, cover the seeds two or three times | their diameter. The pots are best watered by setting them in a pan of water until the surface becomes moist. A pane of glass placed over the pot will keep out mice and other pests. | Shortly after the seedlings develop their first true leaves they must be lifted with a knife blade and trans- planted to boxes of soil. | Many city gardeners buy their plants | | from the florist or store, but the sub= urban gardener with larger plantings | still grows much of his stock. He | | usually provides himself with a hot | bed which serves as a miniature green= house in which to hold the plants dur- ing the cool April weather. Recently electric resistance cables have become popular as a substitute for stable A convenient community of fine new homes, close to schools and transportation and only 15 minutes from downtown. 914 FOREST GLEN ROAD One of a Group of 6 New All-Brick Homes Featuring: Large living room with fireplace. Spacious dining room. Tile bath. Large bedrooms. Slate roof. Automatic heat. Full basement. Furred walls. Insulated, caulked. nue at Silver Spring continue east to left three blocks to property. BUILDERS LE AVENUE interesting things and live this restricted community, Cleveland 2300 STAR, WASHINGTON, D. manure. Such beds are cleaner to construct and simpler to manage as the thermostatic control shuts off the current when natural sun heat is suffi- clent and turns it on again when the bed cools down. The initial cost is greater than that of a manure bed, but the bed is good for long use. If operated only during the moderate weather in April and early May, cost of maintenance need not be excessive. Plant Diseases. TH.ERE are some important steps to be taken in the garden directly at the beginning of Spring if certain troubles are to be avoided. Larkspurs or delphiniums should be trimmed of all last year's leaves, leav- ing only the new, young growth. Then & spray of Bordeaux mixture, the con- centrated material of which may be secured at any garden supply store, should be applied to the upper and lower surfaces of the new foliage and to the soil around the plants. This spray should be repeated at weekly in- tervals until the plants are a foot or two in height. Another helpful treat- ment is to work a handful or two of gypsum into the surface soil around the plant. In lieu of gypsum a light sprinkling of lime is valuable. The gypsum treatment should be supple- mental to the Bordeaux and not & substitute therefor. Hollyhock rust may be greatly re- duced by the plucking of spotted leaves and a few repeated sprayings of Bordeaux. In the iris beds much can be gained by pulling off the dead leaves | and clipping diseased ends of spotted leaves. Certain varieties, such as Lent A. Williamson, Mary Garden and Lorelei, are particularly susceptible to | leaf blight and should, therefore, re- | ceive particular attention. All dead foliage should be carefully removed from peony plants and de- stroyed by burning or otherwise dis- posed of. Gladiolus corms should be carefully examined and cleansed of dead tis- sues. Rotted and scabbed corms should be discarded and all the re- maining corms dipped for 90 minutes in a *solution of corrosive sublimate, bichloride of mercury, made up in the proportion of one ounce to seven gal- lons of water. This treatment fis | doubly effective in killing over-Win- | tering thrips and in destroying dis- ease spores. Mercury compounds are highly poisonous and the hands should | be carefully washed after the treating | proces | These precautionary measures are | inexpensive and will save the home gardener lots of trouble and disap- C, roots where it will be available when growth has begun. Fertilizers may easily burn the tender new roots. Dr. L. H. Bailey, editor of the Ency- clopedia of Horticulture and author of many other gardening treatises, has recently written a new book, “The Garden of Gourds,” which brings to- gether valuable information on this interesting group of plants. Like all of Dr. Bailey’s books, this latest is written in simple, entertaining style, that makes for easy reading. Those who admire a scattering of crocus, snowdrops and other early flowers in the lawn should bear in mind that the perpetuation of these species depends on a chance to mature their foliage. Early cutting of the grass will destroy these little plants quicker than any other treatment. The perennial border, with its con- tent of peonies, phlox, columbines, pyrethrums and so forth, should be cleansed of dead foliage, cultivated shallowly and fertilized, because all of these plants are beginning to grow. The Garden Clubs. MASON A. HEIN of the Division of Forage Crops and Diseases of the Department of Agriculture, as guest speaker at the March meeting of the Takoma Horticultural Club, gave the members some valuable suggestions on the maintenance of lawns. Blue grass was recommended as the most impor- tant species for local lawns exposed to the full sun, with perhaps a little White clover added where the owner so de- sires. The clover not only tends to | keep the lawn green in Midsummer, but tends to enrich the soil. Fertilizer should be applied as soon as possible, preferably about the middle of March. A complete fertilizer was suggested for the Spring treatment, followed by an early Autumn application of super- phosphate and potash. Materials of a composition approximating 6 per cent nitrogen, 6 per cent phosphoric acid and 4 per cent potash may be applied {in early Spring at the rate of 15 pounds per 1,000 square feet of lawn | with no danger of burning the grass. | There comes a time in July and August | when it would be better to let the |lawn rest rather than to stimulate | growth with water and fertilizer. Such treatments favor crab grass, a species. naturally adapted to high tempera= tures. Mr. Hein reminded his audi- ence that local lawns survived the severe drought of some years ago and that simply because blue grass turns brown is no indication of its death. | Discussing stable manure, Mr. Hein was frank in admitting that well- | rotted manure, free of weed seed, would | be a most excellent fertilizing material SATURDAY, MARCH 27, 1937. nure and that its cost would be pro- hibitive. Crab grass came up for considera- tion, with the suggestion that control rests primarily in maintaining the better grasses by fertilizing liberally at the right season and by not cutting the lawn too closely in June, July and August. The cutter bar should be raised in these months so as to pref- erably not cut shorter than 11, inches. Crab grass cannot tolerate shade, even that of other grasses. The Woodridge Garden Club will meet on April 5, with Prof. Du Buy of the University of Maryland as guest speaker. The subject will be the| propagation of garden plants, with particular stress on the new root-pro- moting chemicals, the use of which encourages free rooting in holly, crab apples and other species that have been exceedingly difficult to propagate from cuttings. The meeting will be held at 8 pm. in the auditorium of the Sherwood Presbyterian Church. “Marbleizing” Kitchen Floors. If you are considering a change in your kitchen floor color, one especially practical finish that does not show footmarks is accomplished by giving the floor a “marbleized” effect with enamel. After your ground coat has dried thoroughly, apply a light tint. Before this is dry take an elongated wad of wrapping paper, place it firmly on the floor and roll it over and over. In this way some of the wet coat is removed, allowing the ground coat to show through. Finish the job with a coat of wax. — ¢ ‘Warm Colors for Cottages. The cottage or bungalow typifies the small, comfortable house, and for that | reason exterior color schemes should | be selected which help to carry out | this feeling. Colors which are warm in tone are always in good taste. Also it will be found pleasing to paint the body of a bungalow in white with contrasting colors in the trim and shutters. REAL ESTATE. INSURED MORTGAGES SHOW GAINS IN BANKS Home mortgages insured by the Federal Housing Administration have apparently figured largely in the ad- vance during the last two years in the volume of real estate loans held in portfolios of member banks of the Pederal Reserve System. Since the beginning of 1935 the Federal Housing Administration in- sured home mortgages, a new type of Federal Resecrve collateral, have C—7 been gaining in popularity because of their safety through Federal Hous= ing ' Administration imsurance, their long terms (averaging 17 years, against 3 to 5 years of old-style mort= gages) an their ready and Nation= wide marketability. Reports of condition of all mem= ber banks of the Federal Reserve Sys- tem for December 31, 1936, show a gain of $121,000,000 in real estate | loans over December 31, 1925, and & gain of $155,000,000 over March 4, 1935, when such loans reached their low point in the portfolios. UNUSUAL DETACHED CORNER HOME COMPLETELY REDECORATED OLEVELAND PARK — 3701 PORTER ST. SUITABLE FOR PHYSICIAN’S OFFICE-HOME This all-brick home, situated on a large lot (95x12 in one of Washington’s most are built-in garage, basement. FIRST large front porch ond FLOOR—Entrance , located There servant’s bath in eception room, desirable neighborhoods hall, living room, dining room, breakfast room, sun perlor and kitchen with new, modern equipment. coting bed rooms with closet in each room THIRD FLOOR closets in hall. bath and storage room with cedar closet. bright and cheerful. SECOND FLOOR-—4 communi- bath and 2 linen R—3 communicating bed rooms, All bed rooms are PRICED LOW FOR IMMEDIATE SALE Open, Heated and Lighted Saturday and Sunday to 9 P.M. HENRY K. JAWISH Just Off Sixteenth St. N.W. $9,250 4622 15th N.W. Investment Bldg. DI. 5014 Owner % season arrives, lds, | tion is worth pounds of cure, HE sooner now that roses, shrubs Flower pots, especially of the | certain is their success broad low type used for hyacinih | of fact, late Autumn is probably the forcing, make good seed beds if prop- | better pointment later on, when flowering | for the lawn, but stated that it would An ounce of preven- | be very difficult to find weed-free ma- RE-SIDE {| BIRD Asbestos Shingles { | No Money Down. 3 Yrs. to Pay. Home Improvement and Insulation Company 2106 Nichols Ave. S.E. ATlantic 3153 Garden Notes. | and trees are planted, the more As a matter season for planting woody perennial material in this locality but stones should fill the pot half full and | because of Spring enthusiasm much | above this should be placed finely |the greater portion is planted in ch as | Spring. petunia, need very little cover, per-|bushes, don't mix fertilizer directly | haps a very little sand sifted gently to | with the soil but place it beneath the When planting trees or If you are interested in Low-Cost Housing Be Sure to See Our Demonstration Home Built at Cost of $41900 The first Home of its type built in Washington area 302 LINCOLN ST. Huntington Terrace, Bethesda, Md. | I Five large rooms ® Unfinished second floor for fue Studio living room 14x25, larse trusses and balcony Paneled inglenook fireplace Center-stair hall Every room with at least twe posures Second floor canvas roof deck Attached garage directly acces- sible from house ture expansion. 0ak floorine ile bath; built-in fixtures inoleum kitchen Air-conditioned heating system ‘automatic) Insulation board throughout Copper Eutters and leaders Copper tube piping For a slight additional sum due to increased costs the owner will accept a limited number of orders for this or similar homes. + Wisconsin Ave. to Bank of Robert J. YAFFEY ou 2 Bethesda, left on’ Georgetown Rd. 822 Marietta PI. N.W. to Lincoln St., left to home. Georgia 4451 Note: This Home for Sale After Period of Demonstration OPEN DAILY JOIN THE EASTER PARADE SEE THESE HOMES TODAY All Open Daily and Sunday for Inspection No. 1—Klingle Gardens In the Heart of Rock Creek Park Display Home 3514 24th St. N.W. Three Beautiful New Homes —One Sold This Week. Priced most reasonably for this exclusive section. Conn. Ave. to Porter " (at Quebec)—Turn east about one block to 24th and homes. No. 2—Argyle i’ark 4007 18th St. N.W. Will Trade on Small Property New detached brick—Library or bed room and complete bath on Ist floo—3 bed rooms and two baths on 2nd floor—finished attic—recreation room—built-in garage. In beautiful Rock Creek Park section—De Luxe from roof to basement. See it today! No. Hverlook.ing Rock Creek Park Just West of 16th 1608 Concord Ave.—$15,950 Just completed—The most beautiful home under $16,000 that we have ever offered in this exclusive section. Set on your porch look left, straight ahead or right, it's all park—nothing will ever be built in front of you. Home contains 6 extra Iqrge rooms, two complete baths—lavatory on Ist floor—complete, finished and heated attic, in reality a beautiful bed room—Ilarge nled_ recrea- tion room—built-in garage. You will enjoy inspecting this beau- tiful home and our bet is that it will be sold tomorrow. ALL THREE SEE THEM GAS ECONOMY HOMES TODAY METZLER—REALTOR Dist. 8600 1106 Vermont Ave. Sunday and Nights—Pot. 3292 8 Rooms—2 Baths Oil Burner—Garage This attractive 2-story and cellar brick home _with exceptionally large living and dining rooms: (4 bedrooms) 2 baths on 2nd floor; large living and sleeping porches, elec. refrigeration. oil _burne: attic, copper and down- spouts. Open Today and Sunday Afternoon L. T. Gravatte 729 15th REALTOR NA. 0753 NEW LOW-PRICED HOMES BY WARDMAN gutters —Cut to specified sizes at no extra cost to you. See us FIRST for finest quality, seasoned lumber. Special Millwork made from your pattern, in our shops, at low cost. Free Estimates. Always Free Delivery J. FRANK ELLY Lumber and Millwork 2121 Ga. Ave. Sample Home 6020 7th Street N.W. —Featuring— 6 Large Rooms—2 Full Baths—Rec- reation Room—Built-in Garage— Automatic Heat—Furred Walls— Insulation and Weather Stripping OPEN DAILY 10 TO 9 P.M. I HARRY WARDMAN, INC. 1512 K St. N.W. DI. 3830 “Life’s Worih Living in @ Wardman Home" We Will Build Homes to Order Anywhere Open for Inspection Daily and Sunday Until 9 PM. Located on Bradley Boulevard, 8 SEE THIS STURDILY CONSTRUCTED STONE CORNER HOME 4 BED ROOMS —3 BATHS —RECREATION ROOM —SHOWER — GARAGE PRICES $9,250 TO . 515,500 YOMPLETE in every detail, this spacious home, typical of the sturdy homes which have been com- pleted and planned for this new section, warrants your closest inspec- tion before you complete the purchase of a home elsewhere. It is complete throughout and BUILT TO LAST! PROPERTY FULLY IMPROVED WITH CONCRETE STREETS PAID FOR TH‘E feltureu“of uthfll holllde cglsr‘:‘:; STONE construction. poure: LUDOWICI TILE ROOF, PIPE, GUTTERS AND foundation walls, LUD! NSPOUTS: WO BSTONE FIRE- STEEL CASEMENT WINDOWS FIREPROOF CONSTRUCTION on interior and exterior walls DOUBLE INSULATED construction on side walls of entire house The only insulated fireproof roofing made e live Ot Ty, Oakwood Engineering Corporation Builders of Homes of Distinction and Quality Office on Property—Free Transportation, Phone Wis. 1549