Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1889-10-06
RICHMOND'S TREES.
SOME ACCOUNT OF BEAUTIFUL
SPECIMENS.
Commcnt, on the indigenous and Exotic
Varieties and on the Lives
of Each.

Varieties and on the Lives
of Each.
There is n popular belief that trees live
/ TO n great age. This is true as TO the lie Oi
native trees, but does not by any means
/ amply TO exotics. Most persons have no.
| tfced the truth of the latter assertion. Ley
| tho readers of the dispatch who have lived
in this city for thirty years take an evening
stroll over the streets Of Richmond and
they will discover few trees that have not
| been planted and grown 10 their present
state of maturity within their recollection
| II is true shat many of the trees have been
removed or killed by the alteration oil
street lines and the relaying of curbstOnes
and pavements. This action was what
might be called "a military necessity" q
thing TO be depored, but which could not
be helped. the exigencies OF trade and con-
venience requiring Il.
TIE cITY's OWNERSHIP.
The assumption by the city Of the own
ershiD Of trees in the streets, although NJ
first much commented on and " kicked at y
by those who had been at the labor or eX-
Derse Of planting them, has been acqul-
esced in. and the ordinance affirming this
usurpation has been found to be a good
one, rs more trees are now planted tnan
ever before in the history Of the city.
While the native trees of Virginia are
long-lived, there are few that reach even
the age of one hundred years.
Unfortunately these trees, especially the
oak. the pine, and the ash, resent the cui-
tivation and the civilization Of the cities,
and az stubbornly refuse domestlcity az
the wild turkey or goose or even the a0o-
rhymes themselves.
The daily tread Of man around their
bases or trunks is as fatal 10 them as pol
son. But uninterrupted by the presence
and daily contact of man they live proba-
bly, 10 the age Of one hundred years, and
during this time assume proportions of
great beauty and even grandeur. What IN
nature il moro beautiful than a grove Of
our native trees? The AthenianS and
Greeks, famed for their eloquence, taught
in the groves. and resorted to them tor
their inspiration. The founders of this
republic, noted for their eloquence. lite
rally lived in the woods. Patrick Henry
he of the flaming eye and burning tongue,
who could enchaut or wlther with his
words-aO doubt drew much Of his inspi-
ration from the noble forests that envi-
roned him on all sides, and whose sOlitudes
he often sought
In proof Of the assertion that trees DO
not live TO n great age here let the readers
OF the Dispatch look around and Judge for
themselves, and upon a wager they Will
not find in the city and its immediate
vicinity fifty trees Of the age OF htty years,
and these If found will be Of the native
varieties.
SOME or THE OLD TEES.
After a dilieent seach the writer viii
mention few of the old trees Of the city
that have delighted tho eyes OF the citizens
of Richmond for the past fifty years or
moro. and under which the gentleman Of
the Queue and knee-breeches stopped and
mOpped his sweat-beaded forehead with
probably red silk bandara handkerchief,
and while going through this cooling pro-
cess. probably in the style OF the present
Virginia statesman and politician. fingered
long enough 10 tell his passing nelghbOr
what the President Of the United States
fought TO dO.'
First Of these old trees that might have
been SO honored was the large sycamore
on the north side Of Franklin, between
Sixth and Seventh streets and the syca-
mores on the corner OF Main and Fourth
streets also invited perspiriug statesmen
Of the Olden time 10 loiter there and az
range their rhetoric for the first passer-
by ut whom 90 hurl his thunderbOlts Of
logic and clOduence.
The large sycamore on the north side Of
Broad between Third and Fourth streets
offered It's shade 10 the clerks of trades
men and the unsophisticated countryman
from the mountains.
The willow oaks near the corner IF Adams
and Franklin. and the one on Franklin be-
tween jefferson and Madison streets, while
on private property. Outstretched their
arms over the road and invited the dust
stained pedestrian 20 pause If but for a
moment. The northeast corner Of Broad
d 4 a. % ~.
of these relics of a past gencratiOn-a pop
lar which. though somewhat Of an obstruc-
truction 20 the hurrying and scurrying
crowd that now crowd that busy neIghbor-
hood. still commands from some the re-
spect and reverence due its venerable age.
PROBABLY THE OLDEST
The large sycam0res now standing on the
north side Of Broad between Madison and
Monroe streets stall do silent duty, al
though their trunks are rs hollow as bar
rcls and the decay Of age J. very apparent.
They no longer have their once wide
spreading branches extending into the
middle OF the street laden with symmetri-
cal balls that were suspended from their
limbs and looked like tasscls swinging in a
hce-WOrk Of green. Judging these by
their SIG they are perhaps the Oldest trees
il tie city.
Another limo of old sycamores may be
seen on Leigh between Sixth and Eighth
streets. most Of them standing IL front Of
the residence of Tie late Nicholas Mills.
Three quarters of "a century ago. or less
this was the fashionable thOrOughfare, aud
as the City Springs were Oh Dir. Mllis's
property persons who rc5Ortcd TO them
PASSED under these stately trees and the
beaux and bellies OF that period 10 doubt
took advantage Of their oeep shade 70 rest
beneath them aud indulge the rich imagl-
nation of lovers.
Two other notable trees, but not in the
street, though their limbs extended their
protecting shade over the hot and wearied
pedestrian Oh the p.yCm mt. are III the lot
on the corner of Marshall and Eighth
streets. formerly the home OF Chlef-j ustlce
Marshall. and probably planted by him, as
he was q lover of trees. one is honey
shuck tail and and graceful. but probably
not very old: the other IN the front yard
of TINS property IL hardy more than a
stump, with one or two short, gnarly limbs
extending from its broken top. This
almost hmble5s old trunk Is covered with
a creeping vine and Is what is left OF once
beautiful locust tree. a species popular
with the past generation, but now grown
into disfay displaced in popularity by
prettier but less hardy trees.
Last, but not least, IS the historical old
poplar that stands on the corner OF Null
berry and Main streets. Tradition ha5 1t
that Lafayette camped under II.
This tree is stumpy and gnarled, and has
signs Of great age. Its trunk Is four or
five feet in diameter and its limbs are
within reach Of one standing On the
ground.
A fact worth noting about these old trees
is that four fiftns OF them are svcamOres
and are on the north side ot the street.
The old trees Of Richmond are very few
in number-not more than % score. Spare
them. ruthless man At best their years
nre numbered. 4 few more storms and
these tempest-tossed memorials of by-goua
days VIII bo prone upon the ground by
thcir own decay.
DALZELLS TURN TO LAUGH.