Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1897-09-30

promising of success. For the greater part
of the day a considerable amount of sun
shine comes down through the big windows
on the east, south and west sides Of the
building, and the situation also admits of
a liberal use of water. especially sprinkling
of the leaves, which is of vital importance
to some trees. The plants also get liberal
supply of moisture from the fountain
spray. The selection of varieties for this
purpose was made with a view of their
adaptability Of living in a shady place.
1t is very much of an experiment, how
ever, and time alone will tell whether the
trees and plants will go to an early grave
Or not. One years trial will practically de-
eide the success or failure of the under
taking. If it succeeds. the collection will
be largely added to, and 1t will become in
time an important auxiliary to the green
houses of the city. Many of the plants
were placed there four months ago, and
have even improved during their stay.
There is no trouble about room in the pen
sion Office. Few structures could accom-
modate a tree 80 feet high, as this build
ing might, were it possible to secure such
growth.
transplanted from the Botanic Garden to
the National Museum. and placed under
the dome by the fountain. The lack of
sunlight, the dryness of the atmosphere,
and, above ALL the deleteriOus fumes from
the chemical laboratory near by. operated
against the life of the tree, and, after
struggle of over five years, it gave up and
died. Now that the location of the chemi-
cal laboratory has been changed, plants
grow nicely in the museum through the
winter.
Addition Of Two Large Palms.
ed to the collection. One is seaforthia
elegans, Of Australia. and the other is a
species of cocoanut tree from the Island
of Mauritius. The seaforthia is about thir-
ty feet in height, and when in full leaf
will present a splendid appearance. The
cocoanut tree is not quite so tall, but the
finely-cut foliage is very handsome. Both
of these valuable trees were presented to
the pension office by Superintendent Smith
of the Botanical Gardens. and the trans
planting was done by experienced men in
bis employ.
The big palm, the possible transfer
of which to the pension Office has been
widely mentioned in the papers of late,
will probably continue to stand for at least
one more year. under the main dome of the
Botanic Garden, where 1t has stood for the
last forty years or more. The great age of
the tree makes 1t a risky piece of business
| to move 1t, although it is hard to see how
1t can much longer survive in it's present
cramped condition, with its shorn crown
of leaves pressed close against the roof of
the dome.
This majestic tree Is botanically known
as Arenga saccharifera, or sugar palm of
| the East Indies. In Celebes and Ceylon the
black woolly fiber In which the tree is
| swathed from top to bottom is used for
| making ropes. and the Juice of the tree,
| being very sweet. is fermented for drink
| ing, or boiled down into sugar. 1t is also
| called the Gomuti, or Ejoo palm, and is
| said to reach a height Of 17j feet in its ma
! tive soil It's upward growth in the DO
| tanic Garden Is limited to a height of forty
| feet by direct contact with the roof. The
! foliage of this tree, when given full room to
| spread is truly magnificent. A single leaf
| stem often measures fifty feet in length.
/ In 1885, at President Cleveland's first In
| auguration, when the tree still had q
1 chance to grow, leaves were cut from ii
| for decorating the pension Office. They
| were thirty-fve feet in length. The APP
| pearance of tree Of this kind, in full
growth. in a place like the pension office.
! where 1t would have all the room 1t would
/ ever require, may be imagined.
Superintendent Smith of the Botanic
arrived in the career of the big tree. !,
| 10th to give 1t up He has ininistered Il
its wants and watched its growth for more
| than half of his life and 1t is something
| more to him than an interesting botanical
specimen. 1t has an individuality Of its
own. Its mutilated crown of leaves does
not lessen its attraction for him. and he b
| trying to devise some means of keeping 1,
| a little longer.
/ 1t is said that the Arenga blooms bu,
i once and then dies. A tremendous flower
spike, 10 feet long, comes out covered with
myriads OF -cream-colored blossoms fol
i lowed by small, appie-shaped fruits Of Al
intensely acrid taste. The effort exhaust