The Washington times., 1914-05-27
Bcugh Helped in Discovery of
America, Forests Were First
Churches, BristoW Adams
Points Out.
Thieves DangIed From New
England Sycamores; Elm
Planted by Sumner at Capt.
toI Famous.

cially in Washington.
Much of our colonial history
linked with trees, long cherishe
for their historic significance.
But did you know that Americ
would not have been discovere
when it was had it not been TO
a tree? Also, that trees turne
the tide of at least one battle o
the Revolution?
Bristow Adams, of the Unite
States Forest Service. tuns asid
from the conservation problem il
this interview to describe TO
Times readers the historic signih
canoe of some famous trees.
By J. R. HILDEBRAND.
AiSCos a. hldlCiiol AOi HuCSnS. anu
tables, and chairs. which must be
preserved lest We run short IN
furniture. have been much in the
hmelight.
But trees, just trees, have an in
terest all their own, even for the
forester. They have been indissolu-
bly, woven into the warp and woof
of this country's history.
why, IL it had not been for that
branch of tree floating on the At
lantic when the sailors under Column
hus had almost persuaded him to
turn back, the discovery of America
might have been delayed for years"
ssia Br.stow Adams, the forest eX-
aminer of the Bureau of Forests.
United States Department of Agri-
sGlture.
Recently Mr.. Adams turned aside
from the study of trees, in general
their cultivation, and preservation.
to delve into the history Of some IA
MUS trees linked with American
history.
There was the famous elm unde'
which William Penn made his
treaty with the Indians. That tree
was so esteemed that the English
soldiers placed a special guard
around II during the Revolution. and
after 1t was blown down by a gale
IN 1910 its trunk was sent to the OLD
Penn family seat, near Windsor.
England. There it still is pre-
served"
Some Trees Chuckle At You.
Trees that chuckle at you. like
that one in the mountain lands OF
Eastern Tennessee. with the inscrip-
ton ID. Boon killed a Bar on this
tree wear i760;'' trees that recall
the monentous periods of our an
nails. such as the Washington EN-
Of Cambridge. where Washington
took command of the Continental
amy; trees that sens a shivcr up
ones spine, like the New England
sycamores from which thieves and
dissenters dangled; arboresl i'm
posters like the mythical cherry tree
felied by young George Washing
tons hatchet, and trces that breath
a benedication such as the famous
Ieace oaks in front of John Eilot's
meeting house AT Natick; these
famous trees anG dozens Of others
are pointed by Mr.. Adams as eX-
amples OF the historic associad ons
of America trees
The National Capital has an IN
usual quota of famous trees. Tne
Botanic Gardens are rich with
trees planted by famous men and
women in MAN. walks of lie. one
cypress from seed brought here
by Mrs. Jefferson Davis is lust
across the walk from tree that
Charles Sumner. the abnliuonist,
PLANTED. Nearly every President.
nearly every statesman OF note. and
many literary men and women have
planted trees here that still stand,
their origin unknown TO the casual
passerby.
out on Georgia avenue. on the
grounds OF the Walter Reed Hospi-
tai" said Mr.. Adams is the scared
trunk of an American poplar which
was occupied by both Confederate
and Federal lookout and sharp
shooters during the civil war when
the Southern forces made their
This tree was the lookout point
from Fort Stevens. It was struck
by lightning and died. but its trunk
still bears a plate telling OF its his
toric significance.
Elms Figure In History.
The eIns. a distinctively American
tree. foresters will tell you. also has
played the principal role in American
events of note, according to the his
torian.
Around New Haven, historic elms
abound in such number that the Con-
necticut metropolis is known as the
City of Elms. The first was brought
there by William Cooper. One elm
on Boston Common could have told
a tragic series of stories. On it were
hanged two witches" of early days
and Mary Dyer. the Quakeress. I'm
der it Mrs. Oliver was fiogSed for
'.reDroaching magistrates" Until
1876, when IL was felled by a wind
storm, it stood intact, beside the
Ionc patch immortalized by DR..
Holmes in his "Autocrat OF the
Breakfast Table
Next 10 the elm. the oak has been
a principal figure in important
events. All students Of Colonial
DAYS recall the famous Charter Oak,
at Hartford, Conn. where the char
ter of Connecticut was hidden when
King James sent Governor Andros
across the water to usurp the powers
in the original land grant. When
the new governor endeavored to get
possession of the charter one even
ing at a meeting with the colonists
the candles were suddenly blown
out. the charter mysteriously disap-
reared. and IL was kept hidden in
the oak until Andros was recalled
and the charter declared valid That
oak was blown down in lS5S, and
then il was estimated, il was more
thar 800 years old.
Il believe the Appomattox Oak is
10 strst