Evening star., 1921-03-27

Evening Star of March %. 1912. re-
corded: Mrs. Taft yesterday super
intended the planting of a collection
of rare Japanese cherry trees on the
speedway which had been sent to her
by the mayor of Toxic. One. she
unofficial. and was attended only by
the Japanese ambassador and Wis.,
countess Chinda, Col. Spencer Cosby
and Miss Scidmore. The idea is to
have a grove on the speedway" These
memorial trees were planted by Mrs.
Taft and Niscountess Chinda in the
open space directly west of the John
Paul Jones monument.
\ x X
THE park planters set the little
trees around the basin as closely
as currant bushes, although some of
the varieties will attain the size of
elms if given room for their roots
and a chance to spread their branches.
A Japanese gardener would have
spared that error. In March. 1913.
Col. Harts. the new superintendent Of
public buildings and grounds, was ap-
pealed to. and during that and the
following spring the cherry trees
around the basin were thinned out
almost halt. and these. with the re-
serve 1900 trees in the nursery
garden, were set out in the new land
beyond the railroad bridge. They
reach now entirely around both water
fronts of the point, and include some
of the latest blooming varieties, so
that even in May one may find cherry
blossoms on the trees across from the
city wharves. All those trees below
the railroad bridge are-planted In
close groups of fours. and cry aloud
to be spaced and each tree given a
chance to develop unhindered.
Out of the one hundred and thirty
well recognized varieties of the
"utsuku-shiki sakura" beautiful
cherry fiower) of Japan. twelve va
rieties best suited to this climate and
the moist soil of Potomac Park were
chosen, the second shipment or gift
differing slightly from the first one.
including more of the single and
more hardy varieties. For this rea-
son there are 1900 of the Somei-
Y Ioshino. the common yama sakura
(mountain, or wild cherry. the first
to bloom in the spring, the tallest
and most long-lived tree. In the last
week of March or the first week of
blossoms suddenly clothe the bare
branches and exhale their faint per-
fume in the warm sunshine as they
ring the basin round with clouds Of
rose color. A few days, and then, IL
the winds blow. come the marvellous
"snoWStorms that are not from the
Skies and the ground is white with
the millions of cherry petals. One
is not to sit and admire these charm
ing trees by sunlight alone. The true
flower-lover will never miss the
chance to see them by moonlight and
more enchanting still, by dawn. In
Japanese cities the cherry trees in the
public parks have an especial illumi-
nation by electric lights strung for
such effects. that those who must toll
by day may have the greater pleas
ure under the night trees" and the
grand old 'Maruyama cherry tree"
the Gion tree in Kioto. veteran.
old. has an illumination by flaming
pine knots in iron cressets that is
most unique. This wonderful old
tree once the loveliest in all the kioto
neighborhood. has begun to fail. 1t
has lost many branches and much of
its great spread of canopying flower
clouds and soon will have to be re-
placed by a successor. Meanwhile.
the guardians of such things are con-
centrating on worthy successors, and
the next ideal and popular tree un-
doubtedly will be dropping Yoshino
cherry. already enthroned on a raised
circular terrace in the geological gar
dens. Such trees when they once
show the disposition or the constitu-
ton to be something remarkable are
watched and trained. trimmed and
fed, pampered in a dozen ways to Sc
cure their perfection and make them
worthy of popularity. Have any of
the trees in Potomac Park been sim
gled out in this way for future>b BELLE
ship among the 300 beauties. in
good Japanese style?
After the first burst of Yoshino bios
SONS in the first days of April there
follow the $50 trees of Shira-Yuki