The Washington critic., 1890-02-09


stevens Giant of tho Forest-Trees
Planted by Distinguished Men.
The glory and pride of Washington
Is the foreet of magnificent shade trees
that enfolds the entire city In its ar
borcal arms. There are $1,000 shade
trees in Washington. If placed ten
feet apart there would be enough to
shade double boulevard with four
rows Of trccs, extending from this city
to Baltimore.
WHAT WE OWE TO JEFFERSON.
To Thomns Jefferson Is the city di-
recilv indebted for the inception of
The idea TO make Washington the vast
park that il is 1t was he who planted
The first trees and inspired the people
with love for forestry which has been
carefully foslcred, and the beneficial
results Of which are now apparent in
the work OF the Parking Commission.
There are $4,000 monuments to his
memory studding the streets and ave
nues-greeD growing monuments that
in summer reach their outrageous arms
10 the wnnton breezes and flick their
cool shadows across the hot asphalted
streets. II Is said his favoritc tree was
the willow oak, many of which are now
standing that were planted by his own
hand
LINED WITH WILLOW OAKS.
The Parking Commission intend,
with the permission of the Secretary of
the Treasury. to line with willow oaks
both sides Of the street Just south
of the Treasury building, run
ming from Fifteenth street TO the
entrance Of the Executive Mansion
grounds. The trees are of sufficient
size now to he placed there. They were
reared in the city nursery for the ex-
press purpose of forming Jefferson
Row as beautiful memorial to the
father Of forestry in Washington.
There are a number of memorial
trees in the city. trees planted by some
persons noted in the history of the coun.
Try and which bear names.
THADDEUs STEVENS TREE.
In the centre of Lincoln Park a
monster giant Of the forest spreads its
branches. 1t was planted by direction
of the great commoner, Thaddeus
Stevens, originally on the banks OF the
Tiber, at the foot Of Capitol Hill, and
subsequently removed to the park. 1t
is the han6somest tree in the city Of
that species. which Alexander the
Great watered with wine, under which
Socrates Is said TO have taught wisdom
to the Greek youth and a species which
Curator Smith says Is destined to make
the grandest shade trees America boasts
the Oriental plane tree.
Down In the Botanical Gardens are
many memorial trees. They are scat
tered around through the gardens. but
Curator Smith knows where they are
and points them out to the inquisitive
person.
GARFIELD's MASONIC ACACIA.
Here is Garfield's Memorial Masonic
Acacia. At the funeral ceremonies
OF The dead President the Masons, in
celebrating their rites, used a slip of
acacia. Afterwards it was brought
here and planted in the gardens, where
ii is growing rapidly.
Near the eastern entrance is a splendid
specimen Of the Great Overcup Oak, "
nearly five feet in circumference. II
Inns grown from an acorn, brought from
Kentucky in 1858, and planted there by
John ]. Crittenden, dedicating 1t
memorial to his efforts in trying to Sc
cure peace between the North ant
South. His friend, Robert Mallory
planted a similar tree at the other enc
of the garden.
TREES PLANTED BY DISTINGUISHED
MEN.
Senator Beck's tree is a little Ameri
can elm, an elm of high pedigree, be
ing a slip from the old elm which wa
planted ty George Washington at the
east end of the Old Capitol. There
are about twenty Washington elms'
throughout the city sprung from the
roots of this parent tree
John W. Forney and Edwin Fones
were almost inseparable friends ant
were always together One day the,
went over to the Botanical Garden
and planted two cypress trees, one Of
each side of the walk leading to til
southern entrance. A touching Incl
dent is that these two trees in growin
up leaned toward each other until nov
their branches almost interlace a
though typical Of the close relation
existing between the two men. Nea
the northeast corner Of the green hous
isa cypress eighty feet high and sevel
feet girth at the base, 1t was frs
planted In flower.pot by WaTel
Branch. the noted North Carolinian
and was transferred to the place II no,
shelters with its shade.
About twenty years ago Curato
Smith was in Indianapolis and the lat
President Hendricks gave him
buckeye, which was planted near tn
We tern entrance and is now thrivin
tree
THE MAIDEN -HAII. TREE.
A tall. spreading tree, with trunl
OF light color and beautiful foliage, |
called the Japanese Embassy tree, be
cause the japanese Minister brougll
the first one here twenty years age
The tree Is the gingo, or maiden hal
tree. a species never attacked by ID
sects, and ibis spring the Parking Com
mission intend to plant double row @
Them ON Belmont street, Columbi
Heights
TREES WITH HISTORIES.
John Bingham's tree is of the specie
known as the European hornbean
short. low, with great spreadin
branches, the kind of tree that Charlie
Sumner once made such an eloquer
appeal In speech to have preserved
The lawns of the home of the poet Vol
taire in Chatenay were studded wit
the hornbeams.
The hardy Crimean fir, known q
Judge Holman's tree, is typical almo'
of that rugged statesman. 1t wa
planted twenty years ago, and is now
vigorous tree. straight as an arrow.
Ex-Secretary Bayard's little oal
planted four years ago, is now maxim
some pretensions TO being tree. II
a rare Species and holds conspicuol
place in the GaTdens.