Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1900-09-11

| william Saunderp.
many collaborators and the publication OF
volumes. That this is literally true is evil
denced in the number of government pub
locations which have been issued under the
| authorship of or concerning the work of
| Mr.. Saunders. His life devoted to
the study of flowers, plants and horticul-
ture in its various forms. His official po-
sition with the Department of Agriculture
| was superintendent of the division Of ex-
perimental gardens and grounds. he hav-
! ing been placed In charge at the founda-
ton. Mr. Saunders had been identified
with the department since Its creation In
1862, and had much to do with giving d.
| rectiOn to its earlier activities
His Work In Washington.
Mr.. Saunders was well known to all the
older residents of Washington. He was so
prominently connected with the beautify
ing of the citys parking spaces, and was
deeply interested in every movement which
had the advancement Of the capital as its
motive, that he became widely acquainted
and respected. In his official position he
had charge of the Agricultural grounds
and park. AS the beautiful grounds stand
today they were planned by him. They
| were his pride, and, 1t is said. pretty
| and tasteful as any to be found In this or
any European country There are grounds
more artificial and some doubtless less
| Mr.. Saunders strove to strike a happy
medium and to present to the eye pleas
ing view.
| AS president of the parking commission.
his influence was thrown directly into the
squares, circles. triangles and other park
| spaces of the city-spaces which have made
| Washington perpetual topic with all
visitors. But as stated. the Agricultural
grounds were his particular creation and
| joy. Each tree and flower there was
planted under his supervision. He watched
| the development of the park with Jealous
care and took especial pride in Its latter
| day beauty.
Mr.. Saunders. at the time of his death.
| was in his seventy-eighth year He was
born in Scotland, and earlier in his life
was connected with the public gardens of
| London and elsewhere In Europe. He
afterward came to America. and, as stated.
| had been connected with the Department of
| Agriculture for forty years or more. He
had been in the service of the department
| longer than any other empoye. and was
| held in high esteem by his fellow workers.
| Mr.. Saunders was a man of considerable
| family, having several grown and
| daughters. one Of the former being inter-
| ested in Horticulture in this city. another in
| Maryland, and q third engaged in the
| orange industry of Florida Mr.. Saunders
had been In failing health for some time,
| but had been confined to his bed little more
| than q week. and absent from his duties
| less than month.
Funeral Arrangements.
| He had lived a useful and energetic life.
| and yielded to death reluctantly, the end
| coming this morning at 1 o'clock. The
| funeral will take place firm the late resi-
| dence. Thursday afternoon. at o'clock.
| The interment will be private and the
| countless friends of the deceased have been
| requested by the family to kindly omit
| flowers.
| OF the plants introduced by the expert
| mental gardens under the direction of Mr..
| Saunders, the most conspicuous, probably,
! as adding directly to the wealth of the
country, is the seedless Bahia. or navel
| orange, the parent tree of which in the
/ United States is to be found today In the
| orangery of the department Car loads of
| oranges by tens, scores and hundreds, 1t Is
| said, are sent out from California to supply
not only the domestic, but many of the
| foreign markets with this delicious fruit
| and to return millions Of dollars to the
| growers. Few people realize that this
| great industry Is due to the judgment and
| foresight of one man-Mr. Saunders.
The discovery OF the navel orange was
made. it is said. primarily by an American
| woman travelling in Brazil She wrote to
| friends in this country concerning the SUI
| perior quality of the orange in that South
| ready devoted some attention to the i'm
| provement Of orange culture in the United
| States and had introduced few new va
| rieties from foreign countries. This letter
| being brought to his attention suggested
| the possibility Of a new find in the field Of
| orange culture. In 1870 he secured q ship
ment Of twelve young trees. all OF the
| same variety and well packed in Wet moss
and clay. This was the original stock from
which have sprung all the far-famed
| orange groves, producing what is CONNER
| cially known as the Riverside navel Tor
| seedless) orange Of Southern California.
Process of Cultivation.
All of the twelve plants were set out in
| the department grounds and thrived. At
| the proper time buds from these .Tces were
| grated upon small orange plants then UNI
| der cultivation and the process OF propa-
cation repeated at proper intervals. AS
the supply increased hundreds of the young
plants were distributed through Florida and
California. For some undiscovered reason
| Florida proved unfavorable to the produc-.
| tiveness Of the trees. but the development
| and success of their culture in California
| constitute a subject Of unusual interest.
| The average annual shipment OF oranges
| from Riverside has now increa sed to l..
| 6UO.OOO boxes.
| Another achievement of Mr.. Saunders
| was the organization of that powerful asso-
| citation, the Patrons Of Husbandry. more
| commonly known as the Changers. with a
membership of $685. farmers. This asso-
| citation was his idea. He was instrumental
| in shaping its form and purposes. A Mr..
Thompson supplied the ritual and q Mr..
| Kelly travelled as the active organizer. Mr..
| Saunders however. had more to do than
| any one else with the formation Of the
powerful organization.
| partment of Agriculture. in a recent adj
| dress at Minneapolis. and In describing the
work of the department.. paid a tribute to
Mr.. Saunders. Speaking of the latter's con-
nection with the department.. he said:
| Not a few of the investigations prose-