Evening star., 1932-12-18

thorn horse-chestnut Spanish chestnut, wall
nut hickory, rmountan ash, lime tree ever.
greens (including several varieties of pir y.
aspen and sycamore"
In 1s4s further trees were planted by John
Douglass. through an appropriation made by
the Smithsonian Of 1,050 for this and other
purposes In 1851 Mr.. Downing was invited
to Washington by President Fillmore for the
purpose Of laying out the Mall and some of the
parks, and in this he was ably assisted by w. D.
Breckenridge, as well as by the celebrated
horticulturist John Saul. After the death of
Mr.. Downing the two men completed the work
so far as the congressional appropriation would
allow.
Downing,s tragic death occurred July %,
1882, while he was on his way from his home
at Newburgh, NJ Y. to Albany aboard the
Hudson River steamboat Henry Clay. In
race down the Hudson with the America the
former boat took fire. In the ensuing chaos
and confusion, We are told that Downing never
lost his self-possession, and though he was
good swimmer and easily could have saved his
own life, yet he went to the aid of others
less fortunate and sacrificed life Ce brilliant
promise.
The memorial to his memory in the Smith
sonian grounds, designed by Calvert vaux, says
in part:
This Vase
Was erected by His Friends
In Memory of
Andrew Jackson Downing
Who died July %, 1852 Aged 81 Years"
As this memorial was erected in September,
1856, and has remained all these years, 1t IS
to be hoped it will not be found necessary to
disturb it in making the new improvements.
IN the District of Columbia the general plant
! ing Of trees, in the parking along our streets
inal ffc tact sv,an
through the actions of that great city builder,
Alexander r. Shepherd. who, during the days
he was engaged in making the new Washing
ton, had the Board of Public Works appoint
a Parking Commission consisting of William
r. Smith, then, and for many years later, Su-
perntendent of the Botanic Garden; John
Saul. weil-known local horticultnist and
William Saunders in charge Of the gardens Of
the Agricultural Department, and who devel-
Oped the seedless orange In few years they
painted around 10000 trees mainly of the quick
growing variety. many of which later died and
were replaced.
1t was this real beginning on a large scale
that has been responsible for the beautiful
trees of the National Capital. which line our
streets and avenues, giving to us shade in the
Summer and unsurpassed beauty in the Au-
tumn when Jack Frost touches their leaves
with his magic wand
For many years Clifford Lanham has been
superintendent of trees and parking, ably
sisted by c. B. Wallace. Mr.. Lanham sue
ceeded his father, Truman Lanham, and like
his late father, is thoroughly wrapped up in
his life's work. Indeed, the people of WASH
ington and the whole Nation have every rea-
son to feel proud of Mr.. Lanham and his
113,206 trees, which about the most at
tractive things We have to cffer to visitors
when they come to our city.
Through Mr. Lanham's Office the writer OBJ
tanned a picture showing the Georgia avenue
nursery, taken in August, 1909. Since thea
the neighborhood has greatly changed, and
where once was Ruppert's farm, is now the
tuberculosis Hospital. between Thirteenth and
Fourteenth streets, and between Georgia ave-
nue. and Thirteenth street, junc- high
school and the Roosevelt High School.
The main nursery, where many of our trees
are now grown-some right from the seeds
at Poplar Point near Boiling Field. consisting
of IS acres. The Fort du Pont Nursery also
supplies many trees for our thoroughfares
1t is nice to recall the old trees and picnic
places in Washington. 1t carries one back to
the days of Hub. Smith, and can almost
hear him singing that beautiful refrain:
Swinging in the grapevine swing. .
Laughing where the wild birds sing,
dream and sigh for the days gone by
Swinging in the grapevine swing
Est t.: ,.. D.oA.