The Daily times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1886-1889, 1888-11-18

eral old and sturdy specimens. probably
the ds scendents Of that on Mr.. Va'en-
tines premises. II is pleasing TO observe
how numerous and fiourishing they are
In every part Of the city, although our
public authorities do not seem 10 regard
them with the favor bestowed upon
other ornamental trees and In all its
gardens In years gone by. along the
grassy sides Of the streets Of this city,
were TO he found an exotic known as the
Pride OF China, or Pride OF indis. It's
harsh and disc0rdant botanical name Is
totally Incompatible with the softness and
beauty OF iis dark green foliage. When
10 full maturity 1t aitains c nsideraole
size in this climate, but IN its native
habitat grows TO a tree Of great breadth,
whose timber is Of peculiar value and
sanciily. The name 1t bears Is insigniii-
cant, for out Of It's largest trunks ale
carved the idols worshippei by the Or
entails, and even 5ugpernaut himself Ia all
his grim and prelentious dignity had to he
made from the wood Of this favored tree.
A few years ago several specimens of The
"Melia A zedaFach" still remained In This
city. One was removed from the
sidewalk on Grace street between fntb
and Sixth streets within year,
whose age and def0rmiiits tempted TOO
much the destroyers axe; and row on
level with the bricks OF the sidewalk It's
sturdy roots present an upper surface,
dense and hard MS they themselves, and
which will survive many leaiy neigh.
Dor who now Iei0ices in youth and
strength. The wood Of the tree IS very
dense and durable, susceptible Of delicate
carving and Orn8mentaliOD. The last re-
naming specimen Of the PiiIe OF
China" bow stands at the corner OF
Main aud Fifth streets. II has not a.
tanned the size of maay others that once
adorned The city but although decrepit
with age, II continues TO bloom aud bear
fruit. The flower is a beautiful purplish
blue star tue fruit a yellow berry II
was on account 81 the noxious 4nsliii,s
Of the latter that this tree has gone into
disuse
Amongst the oldest and rarest trees in
the CITY is an African oak, brought from
he dark continent by the late Captain
Myers OF the United States Navy IT
stands in the front yard of the house
now owned by Judge Crump, Twelfth
and Broad streets, and built by The father
Of Captain Myers This tree is remark
able for It's rich dark foliage which lin
gers longer than that OF most trees in
| the autumn, and is the only pecimen 10
the city. In the same neigEbOrhoOd are
some venerable relics worth menti' ming
When DR.. John BrockenbrOugh bad
| finished his stately mansion, the resi-
dence Of President Davis during the war,
and now the Central school, be decorated
the surrounding space with rare trees
and beautiful flowers The terraces and
shrubbery have disappeared-worn down
| by time and 6esecfetion. But behind
protecting walls some Of his favOrites
still remain as reminders of the pest.
Among these stand cOnspicuously two VA
rieties Of the horse-chestnut, one OF which
bears beautiful pink bloom in The spring
and is certainly the only one in this
city and perhaps in the State. The won
der is that this tree is not reproduced If
it be possible. The largest English wal
nut tree in the city is here; tree that
was once extremely numerous on account
of its value. l. was thought so neces-
sary for domestic purposes that gardens
were not considered complete unless one
of these trees was 10 be found in them.
The fruit was made into pickle and catch
up, and when fully developed the dry
nut was kept for table use a few speci-
mems Of this exotic are now left in the
city bnt are fast dying out. The last
companion to these is live oak, stu
vigorous in its dark evergreen dress. In
this climate il does not attain The size AID
J dignity of those in the far South, hence
although this one is probably more ihan
sixty years ago it is still small. The
only other specimen Of this tree IS 10 be
found in this city is in the yard OF the
cathedral at the corner OF Grace and
Eighth streets. Having been mUtilat,d
and once cut down, it now appears but Il
large sized shrub. still struggling for lie
and future growth In the yard OF the
old Marshall mansion stands 4 venerable
spencimen Of what IS generally known
AS the hOney-shuck tree, iayoriie with
BOYS Of each succeeding generation on
acc cunt OF the long sweet pod It bears,
and which, therefore, accounts for rs
significant name In the East this tree
is very abundant, and in Palestine was
called the Carob tree. Ii was on It's
husky fruit that the prodigal son was
forced 10 feed after he had spent his
money in riotous living. The degrading
point Ia his cnse was tina: The hogs he
tended lived on the same food. Tins
tree is OF slow growth, hence the one
now referred TO must be very old mas
much as 1t has attained great
size. It's age doubtless goes back
10 the time when no houses
were near and when the thicket and
the wild vines were its c0ntemp 0Fies,
until the presence Of man came 10 dis
tub the quiet of the neighboring forests.
The venerable and distinguished inmate
of that historic home probably spared II
for its size and the beauty Of It's delicate
foliage when.he built his home and pro
ceeded to lay of his garden and grounds
Further west, towards the centre OF the
city. is TO be seen a fine specimen of for
est poplar which is worthy OF notice II
stands AT The corner of Grace and ruin
streets. and marks a historic spot. Be
fore the beautiful mansion which now
occupies that space was built, small
brick house stood back from the street.
This tree was then quite small, and was
the only one on the lot la The house