Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1918-04-01
PECAN TREES PLANTED
BY THOMAS JEFFERSON
Specimens He Gave to Wash
ington Now Flourish at
Mount Vernon

II will he Of interest to readers OF the
EVENING PUBLIC LEDGER to know that
two of the earliest planters of pecans
IN the United states were George Wash
ington and Thomas jefferson, writes our
petersburg correspondent. jefferson was
one or Americas greatest naturalists.
II is said that when he came to Wash
ington to be inaugurated President. in
stead Of his inaugural adress he found
he had brought with him manuscript
of an essay he had written on a black
bird. In his notes On Virginia he oc-
casionally takes a shot at European nat
uralists Throughout his writings there
are many references to the pecan, or
Illinois nut" as he called it. and he was
perhaps the first to give full and cor
rect botanical classification of the pecan,
Three Original Trees
In Prince Georges County. Md. IN
the estate once the homestead of Judge
Gabriel Duval, of the United States Su-
preme Court, there are three grand old
pecan trees, and from these scores of
pecan trees have sprung up over the
fields. Judge Duval was jefferson S
close personal friend, and the old re-
ords show that jefferson made many
visits to see him. There seems little
question that these trees were given TO
Judge Duval ty Jefferson, as he was
growing pecan trees about this time, and
the trees in Prince Georges County are
of the same species as those he gave
Washington and are about the same age.
As early as 1774 Washington planted
pecans at Mount Vernon, and few
years later sent "a bundle of pecans
down TO his farm. or as far as AleNan-
dria. by Thomas jefferson. who, in all
probability brought them from his home
as a gift to Washington.
Last September. when | visited Mount
Vernon in company with friend,
writes r. p. Ldttlepage, an attorney OF
Washington, TO whom, with Dr. X. H.
True. of the Department of Agriculture
Indebtedness Is expressed for TINS IN
teresting information, I'VE were both
struck by the fact that of the great Sc
lection of trees about Mount Vernon the
most stately, beautiful and thrifty were
three large pecan trees, which, from
the best information and records, nave
been able to find were no doubt the re-
suits of the planting referred to above
Their dark green thrifty foliage was in
striking contrast to the many other
trees that are beginning to show the
effect of time We sat in the cool and
refreshing shade of one of these old
patriarchs and watched its evening shad-
ows lengthen across the lawn and to-
ward the Potomac. We talked of old
times and the great number of pecan
trees we had visited through the Middle
West, whence undoubtedly came these
Mount Vernon trees, and as the beauti-
full. broad Potomac took on the golden
sunset hues in almost complete harmony
with the acres of golden rod stretching
up and down its banks. | thought that
jefferson must have said to Washing
ton when he presented him with the lit
tie pecan trees: General. here are some
trees from the Middle West that you
should plant at your Mount Vernon
home. They will grow up TO be the
most beautiful, hardy and vigorous trees
you have ever planted. They will pro-
duce delicious nuts, and for many gen
erations after you and l have passed off
the scene of action, they will stand here
as evidence Of your great love of ma
ture.'"