Evening star., 1923-09-02
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planted by President Hayes years ago.
w. H. Harrison planted a tree during
his administration, but thereafter this
tree died. Several of the lockwood
trees have already celebrated their
first century birthdays. Rumor has
it that away back in the days of An
drew Jackson two of the most beauti-
full magnolia trees were originally set
out. A beech tree planted by Theo-
dore Roosevelt during his occupancy
of the White House is a favorite with
the visitors. Mrs. Harding formally
planted an evergreen variety of mag
nolia tree, this being the youngest
notable specimen now in the White
House forest.
In his customary brusque style,
Grover Cleveland gave a negative an
swer when somebody suggested that
he plant a/tree in the White House
grounds during his period inc office.
1T seems to me that there are
enough workmcn around here who
can attend to tree planting without
encroaching on my time to do it," Mr..
Cleveland replied.
One of the most extraordinary tree
celebration at the White House oc-
Cured on March IS, 1898. at 10 o'clock
in the morning. Accompanied only
by Edward A. Norris. one of the
White House mechanics, President
William Mckinley slipped out quietly
into the White House grounds and
planted an oak tree-perhaps a SYM
boil of the solid, substantial and ex-
pansive prosperity which was to
follow the termination of the Span
ish- AIMS erican war.
Even the deciduous fruit world is
represented by a venerable old apple
tree, planted scores of years ago.
which now plays an important role
in the springtime decoration of the
White House lawns. 1t is the only
edible fruit tree on the national es-
tate There are, however. three wild
crabapple trees which also aid in the
May day gala garb of the grounds
during blossom time. If you don't
believe that these White House crab
apples are sour, ask one of the yard
men who gathered some of the fallen
fruit and took 1t homes to make into
jelly. 1t took a goodly portion of
his next months salary to pay for
the sugar his wife had to use to
sweeten the preserve.
Shower baths for the White House
trees are regular events every spring.
All the trees are sprayed thoroughly
with lime sulphur and arsenate Of
lead to prevent injury and destruc-
tion from scale. caterpillars and bee
rio ai
on trees. The trees are also pruned
and trimmed when need for so doing
arises. An expert tree surgeon re-
pairs all their trunk and branch
wounds. using cement and plaster to
fill up some of the enormous cavities
which occasionally develop.
y y
DOMESTIC live stock of any breed
- or species never has been well
come on the White HOUSE grounds
/ except during the occupancy of Presi-
dent Wilson, when. small flock of
sheep was maintained on the presi-
Dental estate to arouse the American
! people to habits of thrift and econ
omy The sheep well served their
purpose and yielded an abundance of
\ wool, Wnlcn was SOlu at fabulous
prices by the American Red Cross.
After the war the sheep were dis
posed of.
/ These same sheep, peculiarly
enough, indirectly were almost the
cause of President Wilson's picture
being taken by news-service photog-
raphers at a time when all America
was anxious to see how the invalid
executive looked. Turned back at
every corner in their efforts to get
close enough to Mr.. Wilson to snap
his picture, the energetic experts of
| the White House Photographers As
ISOLATION were desperate. Two of the
members surreptitiously arranged for
concealment in a load Of hay which
was to be hauled into the White
House grounds one morning when
President Wilson was enjoying sun
bath on the south portico. The pho
ltographers, hidden in the hay, gained
entrance to the grounds, but once in
side, when they attempted to descend
from their novel equipage with their
! cameras, secret service operatives de-