Evening star., 1934-04-19

diseases. This required their de-
struction by burning.
American citizens instrumental
in securing these trees were deeply
grieved over this misfortune and in
the latter part of January, 1910,
Philander C. Knox, Secretary OF
State, expressed to Count Yasuya
Uchida, Japanese Ambassador, the
sincere regret felt here that so
handsome gift and one so greatly
appreciated by the authorities and
people of the city of Washington,
should have had to be destroyed.
Count Uchida, upon receipt of this
communication. suggested to his
government that the city of Toxic
be requested to send another con-
signment, this time taking the
necessary precautions to keep the
trees free from disease. Not only
did the city Of Toxic accept this
suggestion, but it proffered to in
crease the number of trees from
1000 to 5000.
The Okitsu Imperial Horticul-
tural Experiment Station, at Shi-
Zuoka-ken, Japan, was asked by
the city of Toxic to undertake the
propagation of these 5000 trees for
shipment to the United States and
in December, 1910, scions from diff
ferent varieties of the Towering
cherry trees were taken from the
river bank of Arakawa, near Toxic,
and grated on wild cherry root
stock in a special nursery set aside
for this purpose at the Imperial
Horticultural Station. In Decem-
Der. 1911, these trees were lifted
and prepared for shipment. They
reached Washington in March.
1912, and after a severe inspection
by the United States Department
of Agriculture were accepted as be-
ing in excellent condition.
Mrs. Taft Plants Tree.
On March 81. 1912, the cere-
mony Of official planting was per-
formed by Mrs. William Howard
Taft, wife of the President of the
United States. who planted the
first tree, and upon her invitation
Viscountess Chinda, wife of the
Japanese Ambassador to the
United States, planted the second
tree The site selected for this
function was a spot on the bank Of
the Tidal Basin in West Potomac
Park, several hundred yards to the
west of the John Paul Jones
statue. The ceremony was simple
and was witnessed by only small
group of persons. These two trees
(Somei-Yoshino) are marked with
bronze tablets set in concrete at
the base of the trees, inscribed as
follows: Japanese cherry, Prunus
Yedoensis. A gift from the City Of
Toxic. Planted March 27, 1912, by
Mrs. William H. Taft in the pres
ence of the Ambassador of Japan
and Viscountess Chinda." The in
scription on the other marker is
worded similarly. except that it
states that the gift was planted by
Viscountess Chinda in the presence
of Mrs William H. Taft.
Upon completion Of the cere-
mony in connection with the
planting of the first trees, the re-
mainder of the trees were planted
around the Tidal Basin and along
Riverside Drive in East and West
Potomac Park. OF the varieties
received, only the lovely single,
pale pink Somei-YoShino (com-
monty called Yoshino) variety was
planted around the Tidal Basin.
The other varieties were set out in
East and West Potomac Parks.
The single-flowering trees start
to bloom about the first week in
April and remain in flower from
10 to II days. The double flower
ing trees start to bloom about two
weeks later and remain in flower
about two weeks.
The trees have started to bloom
during the past 10 years as follows:
Dates of Blooming.
1e24+Single, April 13; double,
April 26.
ls25-Single, March 27; double,
April Is.
1s26-Single, April II; double,
April "a.
1927-Single, March 20; double,
April 20.
1928-Single, April 8; double,
April 26.
1929-Single, March 81; double,
April IA.
1930-Single, April i; double,
April %.
1931-Single, April II; double,
April 20.
1932-Single, April Is; double,
April %.
ls33-Single, April 9; double,
April %.
The petals of the single varieties