The Caldwell tribune., 1920-12-17
Potomas park, Washington, D. c.,
which led to the gift of the American
dou..oodc nan. 1x=o...;s.rE -. Tol..x1

WHICH le0 10 the g1It OF the American
dogwoods now growing in Tokyo.
Although scattered here and there
in America there were a few kinds
of Japanese Towering cherry trees.
it is 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 Maryland, that it was evil
dent how admirably even the most
delicate kinds would grow and bios
som here in America. They were
SO successful and so charming that
in 1907 he brought in two shipments,
one of which he gave to the schools
of Washington, D. c., and trees of
the other were planted along Con-
necticut avenue in Chevy Chase, Mary
land.
In communication to the national
geographic society, Mr.. Fairchild re-
counts the history of this exchange
of flowers as follows:
Scottish heather and Irish Sham
rock are no more closely intertwined
with the national life of the Scotch
and Irish than is the cherry blossom
with the life of the Japanese. 1t is
more than matter of passing interest
therefore that Japanese gentleman
who has spent large part of his life
in America should have made it pos
sible for the mayor of his native city
to give to the country of his adop-
ton thousands of trees which repre-
sent the spirit of his people.
"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. What a satisfaction
it must be to DR.. Jokichi Takamine
to realize that throughout America
there is growing love and apprecia-
ton of this national flower OF Japan
and know that he has played so large
part in bringing this about. Was
it in his mind that they might helr
the people of this country to under.
stand how deeply there lies in the
| Japanese character a love for thu
beautiful? No one walking beneath
these lovely Towering trees can fai
to be impressed when he knows tina
they appeal SO strongly to who'll
people, that each spring all busines
stops and even the legislature ad
journs in order that every one ma.
have leisure to enjoy them.
"The idea of field of cherries Of
the Speedway originated one after
noon during visit to the cherr
trees at an the Woods" of Miss I
, R. Scidmore, a distinguished write
! and interpreter of the Japanese, an
it is through arrangements made b
her with Mrs. Taft, who was then /
: the White House, the mayor of Toky
c and DR.. Takamine. that three mile
5 of the Speedway are planted wit
E Towering cherry trees.
S The first shipment was an ill-fate
$ one, for the 1000 large streets whic
Z composed it were found to be S
badly infested with injurious insec
$ which were new to America that the
t could not be disinfected and had
e be burned. The incident was an en-
a barassing one. But refusing to mi
j. interpret the motive of the destru
c ton of the trees, the then mayor
h Tokyo and his council and DR.. TAX
mine, advising with the scientii
plant men Of their country. decid
to repeat the shipment, sending plan
so free from insects and diseases
S to elicit the admiration of Americ
plant experts. This shipment arriv
+ in the spring of 1912 and with simr
r. ceremonies. in which Mrs. Taft, I
E. japanese minister, and few oths
n took part, the first tree was plant
Of on the Speedway.
in Three years later Mr. Kuwashir