New-York tribune., 1920-11-08
How U. S. and Japan
Entered League Of
Flowers Recalled
DIR. Takamine, of Toxic, Pre-
sented Cherry Trees That
Led to Gift of Ameri.
can Dogwoods to Nippon

can Dogwoods to Nippon
WASHINGTON, Oct. 27.-Newspape,
dispatches calling attention to the seri-
Gus illness of Dr.. Jokichi Takamine. in
New York, recall the part he played in
the presentation to this country by
Japan of the famous cherry trees
planted in Potomac Park at Washing
ton, winch led to the gift Of the Amer
lcan dogwoods now growing in Toxic.
Although scattered here and there in
America there were a few kinds of
Japanese Towering cherry trees. it was
not until 1906, when David Fairchild
imported large collection of them and
planted them among the pines and
cedars of his place "In the Woods in
Mary land, that it was evident how sd
mlrably even the most delicate kinds
would grow and blossom here in Amer
lca. ihcy were so successful and so
charming that in 1907 he brought in
two shipments, one. of which he gave
to the schools Of Washington. and trees
OF the other were planted along Con-
nectlcut Avenue in Chevy Chase, Mary
land
In communication to the National
Geographical Society, Mr. Fairchild re-
counts the history Of this exchange OF
flowers as follows:
Scottish heather and Irish shamrock
are no more closely ntertwined with
the national life of the Scotch and
Irish than is the cherry blossom with
the life Of the japanese. It is more
than q matter of passing interest
therefore, that Japanese gentleman
VINO has spent large part of his life
IN America should have made it DOS.
slble for the Mayor of his native CITY
TO give to the country of his adoption
thouSands of the trees which represent
the spirit Of his people.
Trees Bear Appeal
And now with the first warm winds
of spring the pink and white blossoms
OF thousands Of Towering cherry trees
stand out against the marble whiteness
OF the monuments to Washington and
Lincoln in the Speedway Park OF
Washington. For miles along the
Speedway these trees are scattered
growing each year more beautiful and
attracting more and more visitors.
IVY nat a satisfaction it must be to
Or. Jokichi Takamine to realize that
throughout America there is a growing
love and appreciation Of this national
flower Of Japan and to know that he
mas played so large a part in bringing
5hls about Was it in his mind that
they might help the people of this
country to understand how deeply
there lies in the Japanese character a
love for the beautiful? No one walk
ing beneath these lovely Towering
trees can fail to be impressed when he
knows that they appeal so strongly to
a wnole people, that each spring all
business stops and even the Legisla-
ture adjourns in order that every one
NAV have leisure to enjoy them.
The idea of field Of cherries or
the Speedway originated one after
noon during visit to the cherry trees
at 'ln-the- W oods,' Of Miss f. K. Scid
more, distinguished writer and in
terpretcr of the Japanese, and it i:
through arrangements made by hel
WITH Mrs. Taft, who was then in the
White House, the Mayor of Toxic anc
Dr Iakamne that three miles of the
speedway are planted with fowerlns
cherry trees.
Insects Infest Shipment
The first shipment was an ill-fatct
one, for the 1000 large trees which
composed it were found to be SO badl,
infested with Injurious insects which
were new to America that they coulc
not be dlsinfected and had to bt
burned. The incident was an embar
rasslng one. But refusing to misin.
terpret the motive of the destruction OF
the trees the then Mayor of Toxic
ana his council and Dr.. Takamne, ad
Vlslng with the scientific plant men OF
thelr country, decided to repeat the
Shipment, sending plants so free from
admlration of American plant experts
This shipment arrived in the spring of
l9l2, and with simple ceremonies, in
winch Mrs Taft, the Japanese Minister
and few others took part, the first
tree was planted on the Speedway.
Three years later Mr.. Kuwashima
TREND of Count Ohuma who was
spending the winter in WASHINGTON
was shown for the first time by Mr.
Swinglc and me photographs Of the
American dogwood. and it was then
arranged that shipment of the Amer
ican dogwood should be made to Japan
and trees of it be planted in Toxic and
lttle dogwood trees be distributed in
the schools. Hundreds of plants and
several pounds Of seeds were sent
him, and the Mayor Of Toxic, who sent
the cherries to America, had the dog
"NNN NtVcS piailltu with great care
in the city park there Thousands of
Seeding American dogwoods were
later sent out to the schools of Japan
photographs showing how we'll the
cherry trees are growing in Washing
ton and the dogwoods in TOXIC have
already been exchanged. Each spring
as the school children of America ad
mlre the cherry blossom trees from
Japan. the school children of Japan
will look in wonder at the strange but
beautiful dogwoods of America. No
doubt they will suppose that 10 Amer
lean children the dogwood means quite
as much as their own cherry trees
mean to them. Let US hope that this
Will encourage the children of japan
to even greater interest in their lovely
cherry trees and stimulate the chill
dren of America to plant our beauti-
full dogwoods in their dooryards. This
would help our children to understand
and respect the children Of Japan"
Sunday School Board