Evening star., 1901-05-25

to avoid, 1t was thought, the sacrifice Of
the hornbeam. But the soil near it was
disturbed or its roots exposed, or too many
OF them cut, and the Sumner hornbea m
died. A tree was propagated from the
roots and twenty-five years ago the little
sapling was set in the Botanic Garden bv
John A. Bingham, Summers friend
Masonic Trees.
The Albert Pike acacia, planted by that
exalted Mason twenty years ago, rises
above the extra tropical green house at
the south front, and across the walk to
the east of ii is a rather small acacia
which was propagated from a sprig taken
from a wreath of acacia sent by Masons
and which rested on the bier of James A
Garfield. The acacia tree is sacred in Free
Masonry.
Among the noteworthy trees in the gar
demand this tree is noteworthy because
of itself rather than because of it's asso-
ciations-is a large Carolina poplar, the
parent of at least SO.HO other Carolina
poplars living in many states of the Union
This is Familiarity known as the anti-ma-
laria tree, and it is said it's claim in this
regard is regarded seriously by the medi-
cal fraternity. Thousands of these pop
lars are today being planted in the
marshes about Rome to either absorb or
neutralZe malarial poison.
Another curious tree with a vast pro-
geny in various parts of the country is
the Botanic Garden hybrid walnut which
grows at the S8Hth END OF the green house.
1t is an accidental hybrid, black walnut
in the garden having been fertilZed with
pollen from a rock-growing walnut near
by.
The Cameron elm is one of the best
known Washington trees. 1t grows at the
entrance of the Capitol terrace at the
southeast corner and obStructs the way
L was because of this that the architect
dcCreed the stately elm should be de-
stroyed. Senator Don Cameron made a
plea for its preservation. just as Sumner
had done in behalf of the hornbeam and
the tree saved. 1t is vigorous and is
in foliage.
Jefferson as Tree-Planter.
On April - the Secretary of Agriculture
Mr.. B. 7. Galloway, chief of the bureau CT
plant industry of the Department Of Asri-
culture, and Mr. George B. Sudworth. dem
drologist OF the department, planted two
willow oaks in memory of j. M. Rusk at
one time Secretary of Agriculture and his
assistant secretary. Edwin Willis In the
matter of the willow oak it was of interest
to recall that this was one of the favorita
trees of Thomas jefferson. r. S. Raynor
in his Life of jefferson says:
In the catalogue of unofficial services
the improvements which Mr. jefferson be-
slowed upon the national metropolis are
not among the least engaging. He planted
It's walks with trees and strewed it's gar
dens with flowers He was rarely seen re-
turning from his daily excursions on horse
back without bringing some branch of tree
or shrub, or bunch of flowers, for the en-
bellishment of the infant capital. He was
familiar with every tree and plant from
the OAK of the forest to the lowliest flow
er of the valley. The willow oak was
among his faVorte trees, and he was often
seen standing on his horse to gather the
acorns from this tree. He was preparing
to raise nursery of them, which, when
large enough - give shade, should be
made to adorn the walls of the avenues in
the city.
There is an oak in the northeastern part
OF the grounds of the Department of Ag-
riculture which was planted by j. Sterling