Evening star., 1936-04-11

spreading branches are noble sight.
Streaming banners proclaim It by day
and picturesque pine torch lanterns in
iron baskets and colored lights glorify
it at night.
Another festival place in Japan Is
the area of 10000 cherry trees brought
from Yoshino by an ancient abdicated
Emperor and planted among ths
naples and pines. Still another beau
tiful sight is the cherry tree -bordered
Mukojirna roadway where thousands
of pilgrims wend their worshipful way.
Vehicles are not permitted on this drive
lest their noise and commotion disturb
the peace and enjoyment of this
magnificent scene.
While for centuries the Japanese
have been noted for wiZardry in plant
production, nothing they have done
can compare with their amazing de-
velopment of the cherry blossom from
single-petal mountain shrub to the
magnificent tree of today. BY grating
shoots gardeners have developed 120
distinct varieties from the original
single wild tree. There are approx
imately Is varieties of these now grow
ing in the United States.
The occurrence of a deep pink blos-
som among the more common white-
flowered cherries Is accounted for in
Japanese folklore by many legends.
The favorite is the poignant story OF
young girl named Masa who lived
in secluded village with her father.
Baisen. Long ago in the Springtime.
when the countryside was covered with
white cherry blossoms. two rival
knights fell in love with Masa. She
spurned the villain, Kurondo, who, dis
covering Baisen's alliance with rebel
leaders, forced the old man to betray
the rival Makito. Masa was to give
drugged wine to Makito at their
favorite trysting place under cherry
tree. making him an easy prey for the
villain. To save both her father and
her lover Masa disguised herself as
Makito and drank heavily of the wine.
When Kurondo appeared he saw the
supposed form Of his rival lying under
the cherry tree. He drew his sword
and stabbed through the heart, not his
hated rival. but Masa.
The following Spring the cherry tree
that shadowed the tragedy and which
had hitherto borne only white flowers.
covered itself with blossoms Of bright
pink, stained according to the legend.
with the precious blood of the heroic
maiden. In Washington the bright
pink blossoms recall this legend OF
sacrificial love.
THE earliest introduction Of the
Yoshino. or white-fowered cherry.
into the United States was in 1902.
when seeds were sent from Toxic to
the Arnold Arboretum at Jamaica
Plains, Mass. One tree raised from
these seeds still survives.
In 1908 the division of foreign plant
introduction of the Bureau of Plant
Industry received 80 named varieties
from Japan as a gift through David
Fairchild and the late Barbour
Lathrop.
Thirty years ago David Fairchild
brought Is of a single and double
f1owered cherries from Japan and
planted them at his residence in
Chevy Chase, where many of them are
still growing.
Witt the hardness and easy culture
of the Towering cherries an estas-
lished fact in America, Washington
is making abundant use of this beauti-
full and artistic tree. The National
Park Service officials constantly watch
the original gn. Serry trees lest in
a storm the waters g Ahe Potomac
dash over the sea wall sE4a drown
them. Necessary replacemenS are
now made by local nurseries.
Recently 300 additional cherry trees
were planted in East and West Poto-
mac Park. At the same time 100
weeping willows, various evergreens,
Oriental plane trees, dogwood and
Japanese ounce were planted. And.
just to keep May and December on
good terms, holly trees were scattered
continuance of color and beauty Is
assured throughout the year.
Although it will be many years be-
fore the historic trees of Washington
reach the majestic proportions of the
knotted and twisted trees of old Japan.
they are today none the less revered.
Nor is our festival as yet so elaborate
or far-reaching as the Japanese. but
1t does assume the festal spirit Of
welcome to Spring.