Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1894-05-19


just now the trees Of
the capital are in
Their fullest prime, and. in consequence,
the city itself Ia without doubt more su-
perbly beautiful and attractive than at any
other time In the entire year.
1t IL declared positively by authorities
ON the subject that there are more trees
here than in any other city on the globe.
Whether this be strictly true or not 1t
cannot be questioned that Washington's
trees at least outnumber those of any other
city on the American continent, and in va
rfety. loveliness and perfection excel those
TO be found anywhere else. There are near
" $1,000 trees. all told. in our parks and
squares and streets. and the peculiarly IA
vored conditions that characterize this city
In the matter of cleanliness. structure and
freedom from the CRIME and smoke dust
OF great manufacturing establishments. and
the enlightened system pursued in the care
and culture Of our trees and shrubs. all
conduce to the fullest possible perfection
and development of our arboreal wealth,
enabling each specimen and species to grow
with a degree Of luxuriance and to attain
O size and majesty and completeness and
symmetry Of contour that would be utterly
smpossibls otherwise.
Historic Associations.
II Is not surprising that among all these
noble trees there should be a goodly num-
Der having historic and patriotic associa-
lions. There are, indeed. many such. some
Intimately Identified with the lives and per-
sonalities OF great men in Washington, now
dead and gone, and others connected with
the names Of statesmen still living.
On the south side Of the White House
grounds. on the lawn close to the execu-
7 tive green houses, are two beautiful little
fir trees, planted by Benjamin Harrison
In the spring Of 1892. while President One
of them Is only four feet high as yet. but
II Is growing famously. and the other. six
feet high. is also doing well and giving
promise Of the handsome appearance it
viii present when fully r1atured.
The '"rhaddeus Stevens tree" a magnifi-
cent example of the perfection to which
the oriental sycamore or plane tree can be
brought, forms the central arboreal at
traction OF Lincoln Park, on Capitol Hill.
1t stands just east OF the bronze statue of
Lincoln unshackling the slave, erected by
the contributions Of freedmen and freed
women. and there is a peculiar fitness in
the incident which brought into such happy
tuxtapositton the monument OF Lincoln and
the living memorial Of the great Pennsylva-
MIA commoner in the popular branch of
Congress. who held up the hands and the
policy of the martyr President so faithfully
during the war. The tree was planted by
stevens In 1852, down in the Botanic Gar
den. but its roots being threatened with
decay by the continued overflow of the
Tiber" in 1870, before that tributary of
the Potomac was filled UP, as at present
II was removed bodily 10 Lincoln Park
nfteen blocks distant. where II now thrives
with wonderful vitality Its topmost branch
Is fully ninety feet in the air while its
lower branches sweep the ground. With
out doubt 1t is the grandest OF all the grand
Sycamores at the national capital
In the Botanic Garden.
But IL Is in the National Eotapic
that famous wonderland Of beautiful trees
and shrubs, Of which Superintendent Will
lam r Smith is the chief magician-that the
greatest collection OF historic memorial
trees extant in this country can be seen.
II covers four blocks. from LIST street west
to Sd street. and from Pennsylvania avenue
on the north to Maryland avenue on the
south. Superintendent Smith probably
knows more about trees. both theoretically
and practically, than anybody else in the
United States. and he loves trees almost as
though they were endowed with human
souls He has been in charge Of the garden
ever since Willard Ffllmores administra-
ton. and for a generation back II has been
a favorite fad of his to invite statesmen in
Washington happening TO visit the garden
10 plant memorial trees, of which he keeps
an accurate record. AT the east end of the
garden. near the young Washington elm
planted by Senator Beck Of Kentucky is
great OVercup oak. set out in 1851 by Sena-
tor John G. Crittenden. the famous peace
orator OF Kentucky during the rebellion
Not far from ii are two little cedars of
Lebanon. planted from the seed-One in 1882
by Senator Hosr Of Massachusetts. and the
other in 1890 by his friend ex-senator
EVarts or New York. Hard by is a good
sized Kentucky oak. planted some ten or
twelve years ago by Congressman and Gov
Proctor Knott Of the blue grass state
Near the center Of the garden, and Just
south OF the conservatory tower two "a re
expresses. transplanted from Broad street
Philadelphia, in 1855. by Edwin Forrest the
actor. and John W. Forney. the influential
Washington and Philadelphia journalist. A
IsW PAGES 70 the west of these is the ALBERT
Pike tree. an odd-shaped growth known
as the Masonic cassia. planted in 1852 by
the late Gen. Albert Pike. while occupying
tne position OF chief Of the Scottish Order
the highest rank OF MasOns. Between this
ana the main walk is shapely linden plant
"a Dy the late Senator Zebulon Vance of
North Carolina just about year ago and
close oy this are two cedars. planted re-
spect1vely. by the late Senator Lott Morrill,
81 Maine and Senator Justin s. Morrill, of
Vermont -