Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-08-06
OUR HISTORIC TREES
Interesting Sketch 1ncorpo-
rated in Annual Report.
HALLOWED MEMORIES
ABOUT THE FOLIAGE OF WHITE
HOUSE AND CAPITOL.
Memorials Planted by Presidents
Statesmen Dead and Sur
viving.
HALLOWED MEMORIES

an interesting sketch OF the hls'oiic uoe'
in this city, which will be published as an
appendix to the annual report of the opera
tons for the Improvement Oh inc p
grounds of the District
."rrees as well as statuary' says Mr.
prou,n ..can serve as monuments, and yield
continuous interest as living memorials Vi
mon and history In the parks and gardens
of MANY of the cities of Europe ana Asa
there are MANY such trees, highly Vehera'eu
and around which center traditions anu
baIlowed memories of antiquity dear W
their people. In the United States with
few notable exceptions, there are cohp"
tively few trees of well-known historic
value. and public interest has not YET .peen
thoroughly awakened to this very oesll aple
method of keeping the memory green VI
distinruished men who have deserved wei!
of their country. In Washington, tlle 500 so
of government, the oflcial hone "
Presd dents and the temporary apiulhs
Mace of so many distinguished statesmen
scientists and men of letters, eHcep.ipninh
opportunities have been Afforded OF whien
advantage has been in sc me measuie 'ahI
and there are therefore in our pubic parks
and gardens many specimens of trees nota-
BILE for the historic interest attached W
them. ,,,.o
one of the most notable trees is stately
American elm U'lmus Amerlcana), saio 10
have been planted by President John Quincy
Adams sixth President of the Unlted
States during his incumbency or tnat OF
fee. 1t forms a conspicuous OBJECT towei
ing above the surrounding paintings or
later date, on the mound TO the southeast
of the White House.
AN American elm Ulmus Americana
was planted by President Rutherford 81
Hayes in March, 1873, near the west en-
trance of the north roadway approach 10
the White House.
"A sweet gum tree Uiqudambar styra-
cihua) was planted by President Benjamin
Harr iS Am N
of the White House near the roadway on
the east side of the grounds.
"A scarlet oak tQuercus coccinea) was
planted by President William Mckinley
March, 1895 in the lawn west of the White
House. bordering the walk now leading to
the executive offices.
The Roosevelt Trees.
Two fine specimens of fern-leaved beech
trees (Fagus heterophylla) were planted
with simple ceremonies on Memorial day in
honor of the father of our country, Feb
ruary 90. 1894. by President Theodore
Roosevelt and Mrs. Roosevelt, respectively,
in the lawns east and west of the walk
leading to the entrance to the White House
from Executive avenue. These trees were
Of comparatively mature growth thirty
years ndl and were removed with large
frozen balls of earth to the places desig-
mated for their transplanting by the Presi-
dent and Mrs Roosevelt. and have made
thrifty, vigorous growth the present sea
son. showing no evidence of having re-
ceived any check by their removal from
their original sites in Seaton Park, nearly
mile distant.
"A Russo-American oak was planted by
President Roosevelt, assisted by Secretary
E. \. Hitchcock of the Interior Department
and Secretary James Wilson of the Agr-
cultural Department. April g. 1904, in the
lawn east of the west terrace of the White
House. This tree has an interesting and
novel history. 1t is a lineal descendant of
a native American oak (Quercus bicolor),
which grew above and overshadowed the
old tomb of Washington at Mount Vernon,
on the Potomac river near Washington.
Acorns from this oak were sent by Charles
Sumner while a senator OF the United
States in Washington. to the Car of Rus
STA: The following statement. kindly fur
nished by Secretary +. A. Hitchcock more
fully describes the details of its history:
While ambassador at the court of ST.
Petersburg | made inquiry with respect to
the disposition of some acorns that the
Hon Charles Sumner. while United States
Senator from Massa chusetts is said to
have sent to his imperial ma jesty the czar
the acorns having been taken from mas
sive oak shading the original tomb of
Washington at Mount Vernon
On Czarina Island.
These acorns were planted on what is
known as 'Czarina Island which is in
cluded in the superb surroundings of one of
the palaces of his imperial majesty near
Peterhof and there found a beautiful oak
with a tablet at Its foot bearing a Russian
Inscription, the translation of which is as
follows:
The acorn planted here was taken from
IN oak which shades the tomb of the cele-
grated and never to be forgotten Washing
on; is presented to his imperial majesty,
he emperor of all the Russians as a sign
81 the greatest respect.
By an American
81 was fortunate, at the time of nv visit
which was In the fall of 1895 in finding n
o hot 4
been dropped from this historic tree. Gath
.ring a handful, | sent them home and
secured from the seed thus planted a few
oak saplings, one of which is here and now
planted, with the kind permission of Presi-
lent, In the grounds of the White House
while another is TO be planted In a few days
nearby Its grandparent, which is still In ex-
lstence at Mount Vernon both of which
Toung trees. hope, will reach such age and
strength as will. for years to come, typify
the continued friendship of the governme mt 8
and people, respectively, of the United
States and Russia. each for the other
"A superb specimen of the oriental plane
tree tplatanus orfentalis), originally planted
In 1SC2 in the United States botanical Car
dens by direction of Mr.. Thaddeus Ste
vens, Il member of Congress from Pennsyl-
vania, forms one of the chief attrac-
lions of Lincoln Park. Having suffered
from an overflow of the Potomac in 1870,
which Threatened Its destruction, IT was re-
moved from the Botanical Gardens to Lin
coin Park. then an unimproved government
reservation. and transplanted to It's present
location In the center of this park. In 1872
when this park was regarded and improv ed
with walks and ornamental paintings, etc
part of the plan adopted of Improvement
was the construction of an oval mound In The
center, intended to form the site of a CO.
lossal statue of the martyred President
Abraham Lincoln, which was at that time
projected to be placed there. II an appropri
alton could be secured from Congress fol
that purpose. This tree was bare stemmet
with a few small branches near the tor
about eight feet from the original GROUND
surface. The mound was made around 4
and from this bare stem, which subsequent
ly covered with earth. II speedily sen
out roots and commenced a vigorous growth
Of phenomenal rapidity and luXurianct
which has continued to the present time. L
1t now over seventy feet In height. with
nearly equal spread of branches and is by
many regarded the most highly orna
mental tree In the park.
Planted by Senator Hoar
"A young European hornbeam (carpinu.
betulus, donated by Mr.. VIM. r. Smith SUI
perintendent of the United States botanical
Gardens. was planted by the senior senator
from the state OF Massachusetts (Senato,
Hoar) on the 18th of April 1904 In tn,