Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-03-22
PRINCE WILL SEE
CHERRY BLOSSOMS
ON VISIT IN APRIL
Brother of Japanese. En-
peror on Honeymoon to
Stay Here Six Days.
TREES HEAVY WITH BUDS
DUE TO OPEN SHORTLY
Pink Tinge Expected by End Of
Week-Should Be Perfect
at Easter.

A veritable bower of Oriental BIOS
SONS, 1000 miles from his beloved
Japan, will welcome Prince Takamatsu,
second brother of Emperor HirOhito Of
Japan, when he brings his bride to
Washington for q visit from April IS
to. 81 on the year-long honeymoon
which has taken the member of the
Japanese royal family to the principal
centers of the world.
Prince Takamatsu undoubtedly will
find the single blossoms Of the Japa-
nese cherry trees his country gave
Washington in 1912 in full bloom. and
may also see the double blossoms OF
the trees around Hams Point in their
Springtime profusion Of color.
BY the end of the present week, the
cherry trees circling the Tidal Basin
are expected to be showing a goodly
tinge Of pink buds, for Charles Hen
lock. chief OF the horticultural division
Of the once of Public Buildings and
Public Parks, says but few good warm
dainty blooms.
Ready for Easter.
Two weeks from today-Easter Sun
day-there will be the usual parade OF
vehicles around the Tidal Basin, as
countless Neutrality-suspicious. and visitors
view the pretty spectacle Of the trees
OF old Japan in full glory. AS the dou-
BILE blossom trees usually bloom about
two weeks later than the single blooms,
with favorable weather they will be out
when Prince TakanatSu reaches the
city.
Prince TakamatSu has recently been
to England, to repay the visit of Prince
George to Japan last year. The member
Of the Japanese royal house will visit
a number Of American cities and his
tour in this country is described as the
first time that a member of the royal
family has paid such an extensive visit
to the United States.
Records IN the Office of Public Build
ings and Public Parks show that IN
1909 the municipality of Toxic present.
ed to the City OF Washington 1000
japanese cherry trees "as token of
the high esteem which was held by the
people of Toxic for the people Of the
United States" Department of Agri-
culture experts found, upon arrival Of
the trees in Washington in January,
1910. that they were infected with root
gall worms and other insect pests and
certain fungous diseases and as con-
sequence the trees were burned.
Second Gift Accepted.
The city Of Toxic made another ship
ment of trees In February, 1912, and
this arrived here the month following.
There were some 1920 trees in this
shipment and these embraced the sin
gle pink, single white, large double
deep pink, double greenish-yellow and
other varieties.
AS this lot was in splendid shape. It
was Immediately planted, most OF the
single Towering variety being placed in
West Potomac Park, while the double
blooms were planted in East Potomac
Park, in the vicinity Of Hams Point.
Mrs William Howard Taft personally
planted the first tree in the presence Of
the japanese Ambassador and the then
First Lady Of the Land invited the WIS.,
countess Chinda to plant the second
tree. These trees have now been suit
ably marked by Col. Grants ONCE.
Records of the office of Public Build
ings and Public Parks show that the
Japanese cherry trees first began to
bloom in abundance i'll 1924 and they
are likely, with good conditions, to con-
t!nue to bloom for great humber Of
years to come, as the life of a Jap
anese cherry tree Is placed at 40 years.
Some live longer
Mr.. Henlock says that the cherry
trees this year are laden down with a
bumper crop of buds, so that there
should be a profusion of flowers. This
will be his last year endeavortng to tell
an anxious public when TO expect the
blooms, for he retires from the Govern
ment service on March 81 and from the
post of White House gardener, due to
the statutory age limit.