Evening star., 1923-05-06

Ask any Washinstonian where the
Japanese cherry trees are and. you
are very apt to get a quick and correct
answer. Ask. about the webster oak
and your answer is also pretty sure
TO be right. But do the majority OF
Washngtonans know where the Crit
tenden oak is located? Or where the
Washington elm stands? Or the
Alexander Shepherd memorial elm?
Do very many Washingtonians
know about the magnolia trees whose
flowers appear before the leaves? Or
about the magnificent American elm
that is said to have been planted by
John Quincy Adams? And is 1t gem
orally known that in the Botanic
Garden there is Chinese oak grown
from an acorn from the grave OF
Confucius?
These are only Il few of the inter
esting things about Washington
trees set forth i'll Forest Trees of the
District of Columbia" pocket man
ual just published by the American
Forestry Association in corporation
with the forest service, United States
Department of Agriculture.
The authors of the booklet are
susan S. Albertis of the nature study
department of the Wilson Normal
School and Wilbur r. Mattoon of the
The American Forestry Associa
tons booklet is similar to the ones
already published by Virginia. Mary
land. North Carolina. Tennessee. Ken
lucky. Wisconsin and Delaware. Mr.
Mattoon was instrumental in prepar-
ing each of these booklets.
The manual of District of Columbia
trees has been complied from the
standpoint of giving simple descrip-
tons of the moro common trees. Sc
that any one can identify the species
round In Washington. Leaves. bark
wood and blossoms are briefly de-
scribed. Moreover, the manual will
serve as Il guide in locating different
trees. the streets and parks where the
better known species grow having
been listed.
Wide Distribution.
The American Forestry Association
Is planning on giving wide distribu-
tion to the booklet through the pub
lie schools
Washingtonians especially ia
vored in the number and varieties OF
trees to be found within the 1,6OC
acres of woodland preserved in its
original beauty in Rock Creek Park
along the wooded banks of the Po-
tomac, in the grounds of the Soldiers
Home and along the 500 miles of city
streets. In the grounds of St Eliza.
heth,s Hospital alone there are ap-
native and foreign trees.
Ninety Trees Named.
The American Forestry AsSocia
tons booklet contains ninety names
OF trees common in the District
though only SiXty-five species are de-
scrihed. since some trees are com.
monty known by more than one name
and an attempt was made to give al
names in common use.
eighteen names belong SDecjps
imported. The Japanese fowerine
cherry trees, OF course, are the moSt
famous of the foreign trees. They
appear in their great beauty around
the Tidal basin, where the dropping
species grow, and the Speedway ir
East Potomac Park. where the up
right form is planted
The weeping willow found so ex-
tensively in Potomac Park is also 4
foreign tree. SO. too. is the Norwa.
maple that lines 10th street from Fl
street north to the District line
Many of this species also are founL
on 18th street northwest.
The white pine tree. which is sc
exceptionally beautiful in Arlington
cemetery and in the grounds Of
Catholic University, is also an i'm.
portation, being a native of Asia. And
the majestic elms which line the NORTH
side of Pennsylvania avenue opposite
the White House are of English orr.
gin.
washington is indebted to China
Tor one species of foreign tree which
has proved very popular. the ginkgo
commonly called the madenhair tree
because its leaves resemble the leaves
OF the maidenhair fern. This species
is particularly beautiful along 18th
street within the grounds of the De-
partment of Agriculture, along the