The Pioche record. [volume] (Pioche, Nev.) 1908-1925, 1921-02-11

The home of George Washington is a |
| tranquil place; it belongs to a frame Of
| mind almost vanished. But when the
| pilgrimage through the house is COM
pleted and the eyes have begun to
peer In vain for figures which are no
more. but whose presence seems so
wildly suggested, one steps out to
meet spring sunshine, and the foliage
that is. indeed. in keeping with the
spirit Of the past, observes a writer in
the Detroit News.
The venerable barn. wrapped In ivy;
hung buildings-all OF these echo with
steps that vanish just ahead, around
each twist Of wall.
But the intimate work Of Washing
tons heart is in the surrounding
grounds. The noble view from the
pOrtico, with its matchless sweep Of
river and shore, is the dazzling frame
for it. 1t begins this work with the
stately circle of the bowling green and
ends down below the rolling deer run,
where the willows weep over into the
; Potomac.
: 1t is WordswOrth's brotherhood Of
venerable trees" AS Washington
planted and planned so, due to rev.
erent posterity, are the gardens and
lawns today. In simplicity and fra
I GRANGE the first of shrines; in repose-
full influence the tonic of nation.
! There are today 200 important trees
standing near the mansion, many of
: them planted during Washington's life.
time; others were added. but also In
variably in sympathy with his original
plans for the estate, SO far as these
were known. Washington himself
], searched far and wide for the trees
le he wanted; he wrote his friends in va
lie rious parts of America and abroad
ii Thus it was that the estate is a spo
ut beloved of forester and hOrticulturist
n and the.less sophisticated visitor gaze.
n up into the spreading trees, let's thu
eye linger on green sward and shelly
ne ing shores. and gives over his spiritua
! burdens to the bosom of the Potomac
Washington's diary informs us h
ne was active in January Of 1855, locat
in ing elm trees for the grounds. TIL
b. majestic American elm on the ives
he lawn probably was one Of the trees OF
IL tanned at that time. He was fond @
M the Americas elm, and there are a
least ten Of these trees near the mar
gh sion, some Of them. however, Of tn
is later planting. OF the original elm
nd r'.o flank the walls. fringing the bow
ay lg green, on the east side. They al
Dicturesquely placed between the o
fee and the gardeners house, althOue
this pair may be more recent. A fir
,ro elm stands on the east lawn.
18th The bowling green. between the tv
lie gardens, is an attractive study.
yrs once attention Is attracted to the tw
in. beech trees planted by Washington
me the corners of the narrow end ne
ca the mansion. Their height Is accent
tbe ated by their tall. straight trunks. al
the they form impressive focusing c.
civ umns for the opening sweep of Law
the stretching between the two gardei
his On the west side the next tree Is
ash. planted by WashingtoM and aero
~ from them two coffee bean trees,
in three forming an impressive group.
Of or four notable honey locusts. O
i'm. standing between the kitchen gard
Tho and the serpentine walk Is credited
lion Washington. This Is fast-growi
In and short-lved tree and others pr
ably disappeared. He makes note
his diary that on March %. 1886.
planted "between 1900 and 1884,
800, yeeds Of the honey locust
49,, The seven buckeyes have spec
49,, interest. for. instead Of the norr
49,, yellow flowers. these have red. p
na End Hesh-ylored flowers colors
:. !. found anywhere else. Moreover.
orb records show Washington gathered
80 seeds from which the trees were gro
ated ae"r '''e 'nou'' " .neet r''er' 10 J"
or. Is now West Virginia.
,or,. Washipgton's diary also menti
,ar planting -four horse chestnuts. bu
Is considered doubtful II either Of
'hree big trees there now were am
them.
The three pecan trees. all on
mont lawns, are trees OF history. T
'as were given to Washington by Jel
; Nc son, who In 1854 first published t
49,. nical description Of this tree. and
- parently was the frst distributor
living plants brought from the
-. sissippi valley. They are the oldes
eps' che trees planted by Washington.
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