The herald and news. [volume] (Newberry S.C.) 1903-1937, 1922-08-01
The Tree That Owns Itself

DOSSSSSOI VI 1CSSl4, - SiAONSoAAS w
diving. If this fear proves true, who
will become the owner Of the lot on
which the tree stands and to which
it holds a legal title? There are no
little sprigs around the foot of the
tree to grow into full-sized oaks, so
it is certain that the heir cannot be
a tree.
VIII it be a man? If so, who?
The marble slab at the base of the
tree bears this inscription: "For the
great love I bear this tree, l convey
to it the entire possession Of itself
with eight feet of land on each side
thereof The deed is signed by
William H. Jackson. What better
proof of ownership would you want
than such statement carved in mar
BILE?
But the inscription leaves no in
structions for the future. Perhens
Mr.. Jackson never thought that the
tree must some day die.
At any rate we have these two
facts: The tree is thought to be dy-
ing, and there is no provision for
what is to happen to its property af-
ter that. Some say the lot on which
the tree stands will revert to the city
when the old oak dies. Others say
that it will go to the Jackson family.
The Largest Sassafras Tree
On the lawn of the First Metho-
dist church, at Peachtree and Ivy
streets, stands y remarkable tree.
In the first place, it is a tree that
never grows on lawns or in cultivated
places. It's natural home is in a
meadow, surrounded by wild flowers,
singing birds, and the free winds of
heaven, and to see one pent in town
yard, is extraordinary. And second
ly, this is believed to be the largest
sassafras tree in the world. and is so
classified IN the archives of the Ma
tional Geographic society at Wash
ington, D. c., where its photograph
is on file. For sassafras grows in
small bushes, in thickets-never be-
froe in a large tree-and this tree
is eight and a half feet in circum-
ference.
Everyone has seen the old women
sitting at street corners in Atlanta,
selling sassafras roots, odd little
bundles of short thick brown sticks,
used for making sassafras tea. Gre
member the old peddler in the 'Win-
dow in Thrums," who always called
"Ony rozetty roots today?' and
how Jimmy initiated him to fool his
mother when he came home from
London to Thrumss)
The tree has recently shown
signs of decay, and an Atlanta tree
doctor, W. J. Robinson, of 202 S.
Forsyth street, was called in to treat
it. It was necessary to remove
great deal Of the inside Of the
trunk, as it had been eaten by m
sects. This was replaced with ce
ment, mixed with some preparation
to arrest decay, and the tree now
presents the neat appearance of a
PRISON who has just had a dental op-
Grafton.
"All trees ought to be looked over
once year anyway" said Mr.. Rob-
inson. almost all trees need some
cavity work done, and tree that
takes many years to grow, can often
be saved from decay and death by
little timely work on it.
The sassafras tree is very old-so
old that R. A. Hemphill of 1141
Peachtree, who remembers old At
lanta very clearly, cannot recall
when it was planted. It is a strange
transition, from the quiet of green
fields to Peachtree's hurry and noise;
and perhaps the tree misses its
peaceful madows as much as trans
planted farmer would miss his fields.
Tree That Inspired Poem
Amon.r the many beautiful tre -
in Atlanta, the silver beech owned
by Mrs. A. E. Thornton, Of b11
Peachtree, is perhaps the most
graceful. This wonderful tree is like
a little green room inside, for the
boughs come down to the earth on
every side, almost shutting out the
outer world. Mrs. Lollie Belle Wylle
wrote a poem to this tree, which has
been quoted all over the United
States. The trunk of the tree is a
curious dark silver color, the little
! leaves are very bright live green,
and the roots are quite wonderful