The improvments which I shall propose on the grounds at Schuylkill Arsenal are simple and the chief expenses required to carry them out will be [145] the renewal of the existing stone work (chiefly in curbs) which was never very good and is now delapidated with 70 years use. Concrete paving also would be substituted with advantage for the present road surface, on the entrance way and in the Central Court, and flagging or concrete for plank on the rail way platform. The house originally designed as the residence of the officer in charge and now occupied by Captain Rogers is a substantial building of the last century which yet lacks certain conveniences and appliances now commonly thought indispensable for a household living in a civilized town.

Captain Hull’s house is much smaller and is cramped, ill arranged, and approached in a most awkward and embarrassing way. It was originally intended as quarters for a mechanic and was but poorly planned for the purpose. Whatever the exigencies of military service may require on the frontier I cannot think it should be considered suitable for the family of an officer when stationed at Philadelpha.

None of the inconveniences and deprivations which attach to a residence in these houses were pointed out to me by anyone at the depôt and the two officers more directly concerned were both slow to admit them and except as to the lack of any tolerable means of access to the smaller house indisposed to offer or entertain suggestions for their remedy. They obviously did not expect me to concern myself with them.

I am sure however that the defects to which I allude ought not be regarded as irremediable and permanent and as the simplest remedies for them would affect the question of approaches and other use of the adjoining ground I must consider it within my commission, unless you {are} otherwise distinctly instructed, to submit plans to you for some very modest improvments of the character indicated.

I have yours of yesterday.

If we are to have a very dry month, as you apprehend, would {it} not be useless to hasten to sow the seed? We gain nothing by having it in the ground, while, by a further process of harrowing, rolling, harrowing, picking and raking we shall gain much. I leave the determination to your discretion, only again, begging you to keep in mind that upon the refinement of the last [147] process before seeding depends the value of all the rest of our work. If seeding fails it can be done over again but when once seeded we are not likely to improve the lights and shades of the surface or give greater fineness and evenness of quality to the pap of our rootlets. I have always urged carelessness (cheapness of process and wholesale quality of superintendence) in the preparation of the ground up to this point because it is better and more economical to remedy all defects so occurring and to secure delicacy in one or two weeks of finishing work than to be always at it. Now, however, too much attention to detail—too much pains and refinemnt—cannot be taken.

There are two things to be secured, fine modelling, and fine tilth. As to the first it is so much a matter of constant local review of the work as it advances by the educated eye and artistic sense that I have nothing to say. The only danger is that with everything else you have the work will proceed too fast for you—will be run away with. I have only one thing to remind you of—what I wrote last spring & which was then forgotten. Take care that the spread of roots of each tree is fairly to be seen above ground and that the surface slightly falls from, never toward, each tree. If this rule is intelligently adhered to, (here a very slight, then a long and stronger slope according as space gives opportunity) the combination of curves that will (mechanically) result will be always pleasing. Thus the rule will save much consideration for this purpose. But be sure to fix in the mind of the graders that this rule is to be carried out never by heaping up about the trees, but always by combing out vallies between them, surplus soil to be carted away. I am sure there is still room for some improvement in this respect in the North plantation.

As to the tilth, you know that, except among close-planted trees, I would insist on having the greater part of the work done by the process the efficiency of which you have so thoroughly experienced: horses jumping with the harrow and frightened boys following them; the roller following as long as it crushes the lumps the harrow cannot be made to knock to powder. This is simply to save the necessity of spending as much time as would otherwise be necessary in the more costly process of pulverizing by the hand rake. Hand raking and perhaps here & there a little hand shovelling will be needed at last for the finish, but not much of it if men can be got to work briskly; it being quick action not strength that is required.

If you feel satisfied with the seeding of the South plantation let it stand. With a little patching here and there I think it likely that it will do, the weather having been so favorable since I examined it.

If you wish to seed before October, let me know as soon as you think that the surface will be satisfactory and I will, if I can, run on and inspect it. I am more anxious about it than anything else that remains to be done.

If you sow and, especially, if the seed barely or in part germinates before the occurrence of a drought you will have the worst condition to be anticipated. You must then be prepared to water finely and sedulously—an expensive operation which I hope will not happen to be necessary.

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It would be desirable, with reference to a rapid early developmnt of roots, to sow with or upon the grass seeds, some fine quickly stimulating manure. You can judge by consultation with your seedsman or Mr Smith what can best be bought, at this time in Washington, for the purpose & what would be a moderate top dressing.

One of the commercial mixtures of Peruvian Guano and Sup. Phosphate of lime—if you can feel confidence against being cheated, would answer. For convenience of sowing and in order to secure adequate division & distribution it may be mixed with fine dry loam.

Excuse prolixity and repetition. This is a part of the business in which you have no professional knowledge or interest but in which my professional interest culminates.

Radford will tomorrow send you sketch for gas pipe. I should feel much better satisfied to have had it made with the benefit of a plan of the adjoining lighting on streets and the East grounds.