Evening star., 1937-02-21
MEMORIAL BLOCKS
CHERRY TREE PLAN
FOR TIDAL BASIN
Some Blossoms Must Give
Way to Monument to
Jefferson.
TOPOGRAPHY OF PARK
LIKELY TO BE CHANGED
Replanting Work May Be Cen.
tered on East Potomac Park
Under New Program.

The decision to place the Thomas
Jefferson Memorial at the Tidal
Basin site caused revision by Ma
tional Capital Parks authorities yes
terday of plans to plant cherry trees
there under a replacement program.
As part of an extensive Spring plant
ing program, some 1000 voung cherry
trees are to be placed in Potomac
Park, some around the Tidal Basin.
Now that the Memorial Commits
sion has decided that the sk De Of
the Tidal Basin is to be altered to
accommodate the new topography,
occaSioned by the placing of the me-
mortal in that area, the park au-
thorities will have to revamp their
original plans. The bulk of the 1000
cherry trees will be planted in East
Potomac Park. on the Georgetown
Channel side, c. Marshall innan,
superintendent of the National Capt.
tai Parks announced yesterday.
Some observers say the erection of
the Jefferson Memorial at the Tidal
Basin site will change the grades
there. This means they contend,
that the japanese he. trees must
be transplanted Nothing will be
done prior to the blossoming of the
trees, late in March or early in April,
depending on the weather. Easter
Sunday comes early this year, March
%, and custom has dictated that
throngs flock to the National Capital
to see the Oriental blooms at the
Tidal Basin around Eastertide.
Some Oppose Memorial Site.
There are those who are really con-
cerned about the placing of the
Thomas Jefferson Memorial at the
Tidal Basin site, for, they contend,
the altering of the shape of the basin
and the changing of the grades and
consequent transplanting of the trees
will seriously jeopardize the far-famed
floral display of the japanese cherry
trees. They point out that the trees
from Japan are now about Is years
old, having been planted in 1912.
They likewise assert that the life of
a japanese cherry trees is about 40
years. This means that the trees
have normal life expectancy of Is
more years.
From time to time the park au-
thorities have made requirements Of
the cherry trees as they died. Floods,
particularly in East Potomac Park,
have caused a high mortality rate
among the trees. Some park experts
say the cherry trees as seen in Po-
tomac Park are not as effective as
when viewed in West Potomac Park.
where the Tidal Basin is.
Transplanting of the cherry trees is
viewed as risk by some authorities.
No Danger Seen.
Those close to the Thomas jefferson
Memorial Commission, on the other
hand, contend that no harm will come
to the trees.
The commercial asset of the Japa-
nese cherry trees is pointed out by
interested parties. In the Springtime
they bring thousands of visitors to the
National Capital, and hotels, rail-
roads, airplane lines, bus companies
and other interests benefit.
Along the Mount Vernon Memorial
the park authorities propose
to plant about $4,000 worth of ma
terial starting next month. Ever |
green's, willows and various other spe- |
cies will be planted, including dog
wood. One of the principal items will |
be the screening for the railroad |
tracks.
White Oaks to Be Planted.
Finnan said yesterday he has To- |
Gated sufficient white oaks to be
planted on Memorial avenue, lead
ing to Arlington National Cemetery
from the Arlington Memorial Bridge,
to replace trees that died. The con-
tractor will have to bear this expense,
the officials say, as the Government |
has a two-year guarantee from tree
planters.
In the Rock Greek and Potomac
Parkway, shrubs will be planted from
K street to @ street, Finnan ex-
planned. The pansy garden, in Po-
tomac Park, near the Highway Bridge, |
which was washed out by the flood of |
last March, now promises a good dis
play. 1t has been rehabilitated.
Some forsythia has already blos-
somed in the park system and a few |
blooms of Japanese ounce have been
observed.
The park triangle at Twentieth
street and Pennsylvania avenue
part OF the park renovation program |
Wnlcn raised many objections last |
summer-will feature Towering crab
apple trees this Spring, Finnan said. |
AT the triangles at Eighteenth and
Nineteenth streets, magnolias have
been planted. A comprehensive va
rlety of narcissus have been set out
IN That area, said the park chief so
that Washingtonians should shortly
nave a six weeks display there. In
Lafayette Park magnolias have been
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