Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-04-16
WASHINGTON IS RICH
IN TREES AND SHRUBS

and municipal governments and by private
parties to cultivate numerous and exotic
species. Special attention has been paid to
tree culture here by the United States and
the District governments and large sums of
money have been spent on this particular
work The best known methods for induc-
ing the growth of imported species have
been employed under competent supervision
and success has been the result of careful
and systematic effort
But even without the imported specimens,
trees, the number of different native spe-
cies being exceeded by probably very
few localities in the world.
On Washington's streets and avenues
alone there are more than thirty, different
varieties of trees, furnishing shade ard
adding to the beauty of the city. There
are nearly $4,000 trees growing along the
capitals thoroughfares and these. If placed
about thirty feet apart, would line both
sides Of boulevard between Washington
and New York city. There are naples, sy',-
amores, elms, lindens. poplars, oaks. gfng-
kos, locusts and numerous other kinds of
tain many other kinds, including large
collection of ornamental foliage and flower
ing trees and shrubs, the cultivation OF
which has been given special attention.
X *
There is a larger variety of native oaks
In the District than in any other ten-mile-
square tract Of land in the world. In the
parks and on the streets twenty-five dir
ferent varieties Of oaks are growing. Twen-
ty-two different varieties of naples may
be found In the District, eight varieties Of
ash and six varieties each OF beech, birch
and elm. The tree growth of both China
and Japan Is well represented here. More
than dozen varieties of the magnolia tree
from these two countries are successfully
grown In the public grounds. These trees
will not thrive north of Washington.
Among some of the imported specimens,
many of which are rarely found in this
country. are the Rivers purple-leaved
beech, the Japan Judas tree, Norway
spruce fir, Indian bean tree European
holly. japanese weeping cherry, Russian
garian oak, Austrian pine Swiss stone pine,
Japan sophora and others.
The fern-leaved beech tree, which Is
found in Lafayette and other parks here,
is a favorite. There are only few spec
linens of the Rivers purple-leaved beech in
the District One of the finest trees of this
species is in Rock Creek Park, along the
bank of the creek. This tree was imported
from Germany many years ago and planted
in the national park. About two years ago
President Roosevelt, who is great admirer
of this particular species of tree, noticed
that it was being undermined by the waters
of the stream, and called the attention of
the park authorities to the matter. In Or
der to save the tree a stone embankment
was constructed along that portion of the
creek, the earth was packed about its roots
and 1t has continued to put forth its beau
tiful purple leaves conspicuous among the
other trees in the park.
Among the many varieties of shrubbery
in the parks may be found the althea,
Rose of Sharon, slender branched Deutzia,
purple-leaved hazel, golden bell Adams
needle, spirea, viburnums. wegelas, box
wood and numerous other varieties.