The Western news. [volume] (Libby, Mont.) 1933-current, 1940-04-04

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ton, capital city of the United States,
rivals in grandeur and great capitals
of Europe and by many is consid-
cred the most beautiful city in the
world The springtime attraction
of the pink and white fairyland Gre
ated by the 5000 blooming cherry
trees in the parks of our National
Capital is only one of the outstand-
ing features of interest to every
prospective visitor.
Inspiring Beauty
The effect of these oriental trees
when in blossom around the Tidal
Basin, with the Lincoln Memorial
to the west, the Washington Monu-
ment to the east and beautiful Wis
ia with the dome of the capital in
the distance, is beyond description.
The many photographs and painted
pictures of these scenes do not ex-
aggerated their beauty nor express
the admiration and joy of the hum
dreds of thousands of persons who
come annually to view their short
lived loneliness. These Japanese
Cherry Trees are famed throughout
the United States and are as well
known as those of Japan itself.
The beauty of the trees and the
great love manifested for them by
the japanese SO impressed Mrs. Will
liam Howard Taft when she visited
their country in 1907 that she i'm
mediately set about making Amer
lea cherry tree conscious. It was
during the Taft administration that
the first shipment of these trees was
presented by the city of Tokyo to
the United States government.
First Shipment
The first shipment which consist
ed of 1000 trees reached Seattle,
Wash, December 10, 1909, on the
Japanese steamer Kaga Maru, and
was transhipped to Washington, D.
c. The horticultural experts of the
United States department of agri-
culture unpacked the trees upon ar
rival in Washington only to find
them infested with insect pests and
certain fungus disease. The trees
were ordered burned at once
Two years later another consign-
ment of trees arrived. When in
spected they were found in perfect
condition and the United States gov
eminent again expressed its appre-
citation for so handsome a gift. Great
care was taken to keep the second
shipment of trees free from disease
and the Okitsu Imperial Horticul-
tural Station at Shizoukaken, Japan,
undertook the propagation of these
trees for shipment to the United
| States.
In December, 1910, scions from
different varieties Of the Towering
cherry tree were taken from the
river bank of Arakawa near Tokyo
and grated on wild cherry root
stock in 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.
Planted First Tree
On March 81, 1912, Mrs. William
Howard Taft planted the first tree
during the official ceremony held
in West Potomac Park along the
banks Of the Tidal Basin. Viscount-
ess Chinda, wife of the Japanese
Ambassador to the United States,
planted the second tree. The cere-
mony was simple and was witnessed
by only small group of persons
A bronze tablet set in concrete at
the base of the tree planted by Mrs.
| Taft hnnwc {ba -, c~y~,y,+,r,. HTar,rorn
Cherry, Prunus Yedoensis A gift
from the city of Tokyo, Planted
March 81, 1912, by Mrs William H.
Taft in the presence of the Am
bassador from Japan and Viscount-
ess Chinda." A similar tablet at the
base of the other tree states that
it was planted by Viscountess Chin
da in the presence Of Mrs. William
H. Taft.
After completion of the ceremony
held in connection with the plant
ing of The first two trees, the re-
mainder were planted around the
Tidal Basin and along Riverside
Drive in East and West Potomac
Parks. Only the lovely, single pale
pink Somei- Yoshino commonly
called Yoshino) variety was plant
ed around the Tidal Basin. The 9TH
er varieties were set out in East
and West Potomac Parks
Blooming Dates
The single Towering trees start
to bloom about the first week in
April and remain in flower from 10
to IL days. The double Towering
trees usually start to bloom about
| two weeks later, but the lapse of
time has been as long as one month.
The exact date of blooming each
year depends entirely upon seasonal
conditions and cannot be definitely
determined until approximately two
weeks in advance During the past
II years the single Towering trees
have come into full bloom as early
as March 20, and as late as April Is.
The double Towering trees have
bloomed as early as April IA, and as
late as May l.
The petals of the single varieties
start to fall about the fifth day and
continue to fall until all petals have
left the parent branches, while the
petals of the double varieties re-
main on the mother tree. An inn
pressive and unforgettable sight and
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