Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1899-12-16
70 the Editor of The Evening Star:

How many readers of your bright evening
luninary do you suppose are familiar with
the names of the beautiful trees under
whose grateful shade they walk to and fro
TO their daily vocation for one half the
year?
How many Of our city residents do you
suppose know the common or botanical
name of the trees that so refreshingly
shades their door step from the fervent
neat of the sun during our subtroplcal
summers?
Is it not fact that We teach our children
in the public schools certain amount of
botany, and then neglect to open up to
them the more pracucal study of this
science, by placing before them in their
daily walks the knowledge of the trees and
shrubs and flowers. SO iavishly displayed in
our streets and parks? This neglect of a
very important adjunct to the education of
our people was very strongly called to my
attention during a recent visit to the city
Of New Orleans, where, observing a strange
Tree in the streets, tried in vain, from car
conductors, from Ire ladies sitting under
its shade, and from occupants of houses on
The street which it adorned, to learn its
name. Worse, think, than the ignorance
OF these people of the common name of
this common, everyday friend, was the
look of astonishment that crept into their
faces when the question was asked; a look
that said but too plainly that the .aea of a
name to the tree had never even suggested
itself.
This, l fear, is the condition of many
minds in our own community 1t is the
condition of mind that we so wonder at in
the farmer who, seeing birds all his life is
satisfied to think of them as birds without
taking the trouble to differentiate them one
from the other. Is 1t not strange that We
who require handle that our minds nav
lay hold upon for every man, woman and
child; every dog and horse that we love-
or have contact with. should remain con-
tent to designate the many beautiful varie-
ties of tree or shrub with a general name
common to all? Does it not Indicate that
our minds are as the farmer mind-with
him bird, with us tree.
- primrose by the rivers brim.
yellow primrose was to him,
And 1t was nothing more"
In him we wisely attribute it to lack of
appreciation. Are we not then open to the
same charge when we, through want OF the
proper words, are compened to refer to
Towering shrub or tree as that bush in
Iowa Circle. with beautiful yellow flowers.
shaped blossoms? Can we show full appre-
citation Of anything that. through our limi-
tatfons OF language, We are unable to con-
verse intelligently about with our neigh
bors?
But there is no good reason why our
trees and shrubs an. flowers should be un-
known to us, who own them. or to the
stranger within our gates. Let us but de-
mand o our legislators that they be intro
duced to us by neat signs. showing both the
common and the botanical name, and If the
demand Is made rightly 1t will surely be
aeceded to.
The Botanical Garden does at present, in
half-hearted way. name its plants with
wooden tags and stakes, and the extension
of their system, in a whoie-hearted way.
through the mall could be arranged with
comparatively little cost. The AGRICULTURAL
Department prints for the good of farmers
costly bulletins on forestry and then me-
elects to give tongue to its magnificent COL
lection of deciduous and evergreen trees.
Think of that fine grove of oaks, made up
of many varieties. in the west side of its
grounds, growing up into stately, beautiful
trees without any in the citN but a few
specialists, able to name them. Much use