Evening star., 1911-08-31
SAVING THE Trees
Expert Surgeon Employed on
the Capitol Grounds.
RARE SPECIMENS. THERE
Beautiful Foliage From Every Sec
tion of the World.
FAMOUS WASHINGTON ELM"
Tree Under Which First President
Lunched While Home Was
Under Construction.
RARE SPECIMENS. THERE
FAMOUS WASHINGTON ELM"

The tree surgeon is at work among the
sick and the MANNED trees in the Capitol
grounds Although he performs his op-
erations with chisel and mallet and
chains and cement. his work is almost
as delicate and Is worked on lines almost
as scientific as those of the dentist or the
physician. The work. is being done by
r. c. Clark, a specialist from Kent. Ohio.
and his corps of assistants, under the di-
rection OF Supt. Elliott Woods OF the
Capitol building and grounds.
Some OF the most beautiful and rarest
trees in Washington are located in the
Capitol grounds. There are species there
from all over the world The care OF
these trees. which. as a rule. devolves
upon James Duff. the gardener in charge
Of the grounds. is no mean task when it
is remembered that in the Capitol grounds
there are over 1900 trees and large
shrubs.
Elm $50 Years Old.
One of the first to be dectored is the
famous Washington elm. a huge tree
which stands at the northeast corner OF
the Capitol. The tree is estimated to be
over $50 years old, a patriarch In the
Capitol grove. Storms have torn and
twisted the tree until deep wounds in
the trunk have been made, and II was in
danger of being split asunder. II Is the
purpose OF the tree surgeon to fill the
cavities In the trunk with cement and to
bolt and chain the big branches in such
q manner as to prevent further splitting.
Some OF the big cavities have been cleaned
and filled already as neatly as though they
had been cavities in a tooth filled by a
dentist. In time the bark Of the tree will
cover all the filings, 1t Is expected, ma
ture doing her share of the healing work
II was decided to bring the experts here
to care for the trees following a careful
examination OF their work at the Vir-
ginia state capitol grounds In Richmond.
by David Lynn, assistant to Mr.. Woods.
Before filling the cavities in the trees. all
the decayed wood. dirt and fungus growth
is cleaned out, and the interior fs coated
with a waterproof coat of coal tar. Then
the cement Is put in carefully grooved
so as to shed water.
Many Countries Represented.
The trees at the Capitol are jealousy
guarded by Mr.. Woods and by Mr.. Dun.
Among them are represented the trees Of
China, Japan. Persia, Eastern Asia. ST.
beria- the Himalayas and all parts Of
Europe Many OF the trees now in tho
grounds were either planted or trans
planted by Frederick Law Olmsted, who
laid out the Capitol grounds I'm the early
eighties. But there still remain In their
old places a number Of veterans which
were standing when the Capitol was first
planned and Gen. Washington took part
In the selection OF the location Of the
building.
In fact the washington elm was a big
tree when Washington was building the
brick house on North Capitol street
which stiIi stands there. Tradition has
II that Washington used to eat his lunch
in the shade of the big elm while he was
overseeing some Of the work on his
house. and the tree received it's name
for that reason. The suggestion that
Washington planted the tree there Is
secuted by experts. who realize that IL
must have been 125 years old when Gen.
Washington was here.
Noted Cameron Elm.
Another famous old tree Is the Cameron
elm, not quite as large or as old as the
Washington elm, which stands at the
southeast corner OF the Capitol This
splendid tree was saved in the nick OF
time by Simon Cameron. Secretary Of
War under Lincoln and later senator
from Pennsylvania. The big tree was
about to be cut down and uprooted when
Cameron passed and saw the workmen
making ready. He begged them to wait
a few minutes, ahd then hurried into the
House chamber. In short order he pre-
vailed upon the members to pass a reso-
and it was saved Two other elms In
the same part OF the grounds had been
before Mr.. Cameron reached the
scene. Skillful surgery by Mr.. Dun has
preserved the life OF this elm for many
years.
In several parts of the grounds the
trees are punched too close together to
permit full and proper growth. according
Il >.-sA~
had been planted with an idea that later
they should be thinned out. In the old
days of the democrats and wings there
were so-called barbecue groves planted at
bers of the two parties could congregate
for Publications.
Christ Thorn, Rare Specimen.
A number of fine horse chestnut trees
are TO be found in the grounds. As fine
as any in this or any other country, IL
is said. The Christ thorn, named be-
cause of the tradition that the crown Of
thorns worn by Christ was made of
branches OF this tree. is among the rare
specimens. The crepe myrtle, with its
beautiful pinkish-purple flowers. and the
species of magnolia commonly called the
cucumber tree. whose seeds are suppose5-
to work cure for consumption. are (&ll
there.
In warm corner on the south sue or
the Capitol foundations grows a vine
which is closely related TO the rubber
tree. Nowhere else as far north as
II is said, is this vine to be
found growing In the open.
Other interesting species to be found
there are the Kentucky coffee tree. the
sea buckthorn. the fan elm, called the
basswood and the golden yew.
OF course. naples of various kinds. in
cluding the diminutive Japanese species.
are in the grounds. The ash. the oak and
the linden are among the many other spe-
cies Of trees there.