Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1909-12-31
HER LABOR Or: LOVE
Miss Scidmore Procured
Cherry Trees for Us.
SHE INTERESTED MRS. TAFT
DR.. Takamine Asked Toxic to Make
Splendid Gift.
WILL BLOOM IN SPRING, 1911
To Line Driveway of Potomac Park.
Expected to Arrive Here by
January Is.
SHE INTERESTED MRS. TAFT
WILL BLOOM IN SPRING, 1911

Eliza Ruhamah Scidmore and the CO.
operation of Mrs. Taft aud the city of
Toxic. Japan, 1000 Japanese cherry trees
Will lend their delicate coloring to en-
nance the beauty of the river bank In
Potomac Park. The trees, in three spe-
cial cars. are now en- route from Seattle
and will arrive here about January Is.
The cherry trees are the gift to the
American capital from the mayor of
Toxic, through DR.. Takamine, q Japanese
consular official in New York. Each of
the 1000 trees was carefully selected from
different sections of the Japanese empire.
They represent the soft colorings and
fragrance Of the 10 varieties of cherry
trees that grow in the land of cherry
blossoms.
Bloom in Spring of 1911.
The trees will not be In full bloom next
spring. Miss Scidmore explained today,
although there may be a few blossoms.
But in the spring Of 1911 more than two
mileg Of the riverside drive will present
a scene OF rare beauty with tho many
colored blooms on the trees that will line
each side Of the drive.
The picture in Potomac Park will be
similar to THAT presented In the world-fa-
nous Mukojima of Toxic, where holiday
crowds promenade under fragrant floral
bowers each spring.
For number of years Miss Scidmore
endeavored to interest the officials who
have charge Of Potomac Park In the
project of having Japanese cherry trees
manifested an Indifference to her request.
Nothing daunted, Miss Scidmore waited
until after President Taft had been in
stalled at the White House. One day
she wrote to Mrs. Taft requesting her
to use her influence in behalf of the prop
osition.
Mrs. Taft was asked If she would not
take UP the matter Of having Japanese
cherry trees planted along the reclaimed
land on the river front. Miss Scidmore
explained that the trees in bloom there
could be seen to better advantage than
II planted elsewhere.
Mrs. Taft at once entered into the
spirit Of the plan and took up the matter
Japanese cherry trees were ordered from
New York nurseryman and planted the
first week in last April.
Toxic Offers Gift.
Miss Scidmore then communicated with
DR.. Takamine He in turn wrote to the
authorities Of Toxic and secured the
promise of 1000 trees, the number being
afterward increased to 1000.
Then DIR. Takamine, through Miss Scid-
more, asked Mrs. Taft If she would &C
cept the trees from the mayor of Toxic.
Mrs. Taft's acceptance was prompt, and
shipped to this country.
The trees are approximately ten feet
high. Many of them will grow to a
height Of about fifteen feet. They will
line each side of the driveway so that
vehicles will pass beneath.
Upon arrival the cherry trees will
be taken in charge by the officials of the
Department Agriculture, who will SUPER
intend the planting.
Miss Scidmore is q recognized authority
on Japanese cherry trees. She spent
several years in Japan, when she made a
study Of the trees, their colorings, his
tory and traditions
Varieties of Cherry Trees.
She has list of the trees that are
destined for this city. The varieties In
clude the sekiyama. which produces scar
let blossoms of ten petals. The asallib
tan, meaning morning peony, has bright
red flower which fades into pink. The
Choshiu, named for the province in which
it grows. produces another pretty bloom
The mikurima-gay eshi, meaning looking
backward from the carriage is the
designation Of a curious bloom of rare
beauty, while the MAIDEN bears pink bios
SONS. Crimson blooms are produced by
the benifuEen, and white by the shiro-
fugen. The ukkon bears yellow and pale
blue flowers, and the shiro-taye has a
white bloom with five petals.
The trees are hardy and will thrive in
the climatic and soil conditions of the
District.
Miss Scidinore was born at Madison,
Wis. She was educated privately and
later became corresponding and foreign
secretary Of the National Geographic So
ciety.
She Is the author OF alaska; the South
ern Coast and the Sitka Archipelago"
written In 1885: "Jinriksha Days in ia
pan; westward to the Far East. From
East to West: "Guide to Alaska. Java,
the Garden of the East: China, the
Long-Lived Empire and winter India. y
One of her latest productions Is descrip-
tive of the cherry trees of Japan.