Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1891-05-10
FASHIONS In TREES.
The Old Style Was TO Maim Gut Of
All SembIancs to Nature.
rwIGs OF historic INTEREST.
Names Of Families Carved Upon the Trunk
and the Branches.
GROUPINGS 70 BIZ NEARER REALITY
WRITTEN FOR THE DISPATCH J


Everything ornamental about our person
or homes is subject to the freaks OF fashion.
ard tree culture bows as obediently to the
arbitrary laws of this fckle goddess as any
other ethical pursuit. Fashion mars or inn
proves the shape and growth Of the trees
according to some unknown law OF her own,
aud the true or false standards Of taste OF
one generation leave monuments for sue
ceeding generations to decipher. Unliks
fashionable changes in dress and household
ornament, tree culture is more permanent,
and though the fashion in the trees may
change in one season, the relics Of the dead
method cannot be 50 easily eradicated.
The topiary art of tree culture, which
forced conifers Ia various artificial shapes,
was q style Of decoration very common 20
years ago, and though those curiously
knotted trees and shrubs are no longer In
good taste, relics OF the barbarous practices
are still quito common. In ali parts Of the
country oufiously dwarfed and knottsd
trees, resembling every imaginable thing Ia
nature. show tho effect Of that art, and speak
volumes 10 the knowing. A curious fashion
at one time was 10 practice reverse budding
IN trees, aud 10 torture tho limbs and
branches 30 out Of the natural position thas
one could not tell the trunk rom tho limbs.
BY reversing the position Of tho buds ties
grated limbs would grow downward until
they rsaehsd the ground, where they were
trimmed Oh. Tbs top OF the trees were Gus
short, and the odd appearance ol the growth
was such % 10 mystltY one, several auoh
specimens OF queer trees are still existing In
this country, and tha visitor 10 them ex-
plains the curious growth by freak OF
nature" but In reality II 10 one Of the un-
accountable freaks OF fashion,"
The Fashion Of To-day.
One has but TO look around to-day 10 nots
the prevailing craze In tres culture. Memo
rial and genealogical trees have seized tho
popular taste, and they are now planted 70
comnemorate births, deaths and great events
In the life. Gigantic memorial trees ara
purchased at great expense and then trans
planted ut an additional cost equal to the
value Of the tree. Recently q gigantic elm
tree was transpianted frum' tho roadside to
Grassland eometery, Chicago. as monuments
10 the memory OF one Of the founders OF tho
cemetery, at cost nt $1,000. The true memo
riaItree Is one whose roots ars obtained from
some celebrated tree growing In some place as .
conmem0ration Of great event..
Trees that havb been grown from tTigs OBJ
tanned from Ryron's grave or willows that have
been propngated by sticks taken from ths
weeping willows the Island of So. Helena
ro yery l oo d ,n tais ,S anu s,s .ns -
them will soon be fiourishing. Tho hrsr weep
ing willow In America was brought from Pspe's
celebrated home at Twckenham, and 1t be-
came the progenitor OF all the weeping willows
In this country a spray OF the celebrated
weeping willow OF the EAST was sent 10 Ine poes
In a box OF ngs. and IT was stuck Into the oosy
ground on the banks OF the Thames; IL grew
into Gigantic gnarled weeping willow, ceie-
Drated the world over and ir2m one OF lts
Dranches young aide de camp OF General Cln-
lea TO plant: wrapped up IN oiled Six tne
precious twlg passed through several e1clung
scenes anu when the Drltlsh IeIs BOSTON Lno
yeung ade oe camp gave tne sprlg 70 Jonn
farke Sustis, young Aiherlc1n oncer. II wa
planted Dy nlm near MS mousse al Arlington, N1s
and became IN time as iordiy a Tree as US ances-
TOR at IwicKennam From tnlS same Tree nun
oreds OF twlgs nave oeen taken anu Piaoseo as
memorial trees. ana me ancestry OF tae Prizes
nuinan psihss'
The Genealogical Trees,
,, .-.. -
ino custom OF Sslng genoAioslcai lrees. anu
Keeping records OF iamlly names anu events, ID
one that appeals to tho sentiment Of many. and
ft is quits the fashion to select some young tree
or ,ha bo,,a.taad and ,no,h ort tho diff srens
s-.I. -. - 81. rh.oroo 80 a,oh .,,iIa
noHus "i 'uo i"mn!. 4Ho HAA0 y. 0."H N."1
born is cut into the bark or the limbs, and az
the tree grows and dourishes the family in
creasss in size When child leaves the nome
. hr,noh fror, ,ha Ii,nh xyi,h b.a nora an !. in
iAnoA iio- sHe "uiN ".' ~ ~ %
taken 70 osner parIs oi sne couHIy' anu
planted TO represent Lne louhulne oA neH
Lnc sdpnnH spioauS ineo . sLOhE HuHAs s1e