The Daily times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1886-1889, 1888-11-18
Of both citizen and stranger A foreign
gentleman. while enjoying promenade

gentleman, while enjoying q pfomenaoe
In this part Of the city. declared 1t to lie
the most symmetrical and striking orns
ment of the kind he had ever seen. This
was, however, some tine before II be
came a prey 10 the sscriligious hand OF
y telegraph fiend. who, without hes
alton or authority, GU, of several limits
90 It's eastern sid j, under the imprs sion
that The el. ctric current would be there
By less liable 10 obstruction In its pas
sage Notwithstanding this cruel mutt.
lstion, II continues TO be without riy al
in dignity ana EXPIRE sion among the
trees OF the city. 10 the year 1896 a son
of the late Captain William d. Wren,
then sergeant OF Richmoad, wss enjoy
Ing, with his boy companions, hunt 10
The country About four miles out on
tho continuation of Broad street was
place called Rock Castle" noted for the
poverty of the land and the conspicuous
absence Of anything suggestive of lis
rugged name. BIT its thickets ana
swamps were the hsunts Of the hare ano
The partridge. The days tramp had end
Ell the boys were about returning home
when one Uf them. having heard bis
father express wish for young tree 10
occupy That corner, noticed vigorous
young sapling growing close 10 the edge
OF the neighcoring swamp. il occurred
10 him that this young ir,e would SUIT,
and, after great labor and difiiculiy
got IL up by the roots and brought IL
home. The next day it was
planted in prestnce OF the wrllefi
and the other boys. was carefully
cherished, and although since thai lime
exposed 10 many dangers the Nrllo"
sappling from Rock Casue will long con
tinue to command the admiration OF the
denizeDs Of Franklin street. The Euglish
hawthorne YVES once common IN kcG-
mond The perfume Of It's delicate white
Towering in the height OF the spring
aided Iecuiiar charm 10 the season.
Very few are now lefs. Two are 20 be
found on the Lot now owned by MI
James DoOlvy, and one We think On The
opposite side Of the street, aud perhaps
one In the yard tf The Central public
school. What Change OF taste or OF
fashion, could have arrested the propa-
ton OF a tree SO suggestive OF Geicscl
and refinement We cannot understand.
In this connection we may add that he
elm was also fayOrite But the pre-
vAiling variety was that brought from
Holland, where IL iuSuriated in living
with wet feet and ia climate where
sunshine j. rare luxury. They ran their
coui Sc very soon, could not stand the
heat of this region, became prey TO
worms. and happily have alm0s; entirely
disappeared AT the very time ibis
swabian exotic was introduced here, tne
forests OF America abounded in the
noblest specimens OF elms known to ths
world. Very few Of these natives ana
"to the manner born are now 10 De
found within the limits OF the city.
Perhaps the largest is that which still
continues TO sdorn the ancient home of
Adam Craig, so long clerk OF Henrico
County Court. This typical Virginia
country house is to I've seen in the lower
part OF the city on the northwest corner
Of Grace and Nineteenth street
The conspicuous absence OF naive
trees as ornaments 10 our parks ana
streets is due TO a perverted taste, which
in more modern days delighted in the
vulgar O,aheite or paper mulberfy ana
the disgusting ailanihus. We DO not at
all suggest that eXOtiCs should be ex-
cluded from our list Cf ornamental trees.
One Of these much admired foreigners
has Of late excited the curiosity Of some
who feel interested in such matters. In
the wear 1888 a gentleman who lived in
the country some forty miles from itich-
mond imported a variety OF ornamental
trees with which To- decorate his grounds.
Among them were two GinkgOs, from
japan This ir,o grows 10 great size III tie
East, but after many years of naiuraiiIa-
ton here, still remains Comparatively
small. lie was Informed by tire import
ing agent that the specimens sent TO lin
were the first ever known south or me
Potomac. Although thirty years have
passed since these two GiDk2os were
planted, they are not yet well grown.
Bat in The face of this tact there is one
in Richmond which from its size must
have beea brought TO Virginia many
vears anterior 10 the date Of those men
TONED above. No one living can say with
certainty when this tree was placed where
il now stands. Ii is the largest one we
know OF in Virginia, aud tie mystery Is
how il got to Richmond 81 such an
early date. The reader will perhaps be
Surprised to learn that in quite another
part Of the city rare exotic has been
a0ufishing these many year On ihe
corner of NJ and Twenty streets on
Church Hill is an Italian chestnut tree,
such as are seen on the hills bordering
the Mediterranean and on the slopes oi The
Apprentices Its syInetrical outline ana
graceful Trunk make il an ornament 10
that part Of the town. But it l. time 20
bring 90 close this buried sketch, The
aim OF which has been 10 put upon record
something OF interest in regard to our
ancient friends and the associations
which recommend them 10 our yenera-
ton and regard.
II the reader could be tempted to H.
ve.tigate the attractions OF that most
interesting assemblage Of arbOrlal az.
nitaries within the limits OF the Capilei
Square, he would be surprised 10 learn
how much the subject would grow upon
his attention His establishment would
be equally great 20 lind that upon mat
contracted area of ground there are mere
than thirty varieties Of trees. among
which are many rare specimens mol 10
be found elsewhere in this part OF tue
world. This being so he would most
.. .xnr.S. the