38 



THE GARDENER'S MONTHLY 



[February, 



EDITORIAL NOTES. 



Desmodium pe^'duliflorum. — This very 

 beautiful autumn-flowering perennial plant, is 

 now becoming well known in gardens. The 

 American Agriculturist notes that one very often 

 seen under this name is really Lespedeza bicolor. | 



Memorial Trees. — Our papers often note 

 the planting of memorial trees by distinguished 

 people in Europe, but it is right to record that 

 this pleasant practice also prevails among our- 

 selves. General Grant recently set out one in 

 Chicago, an d by the following irom a Washing- 

 ton paper, it will be seen some have been set 

 out in "Washington : 



"One of the most attractive and interesting 

 places in the city is the Botanical Garden. It is 

 situated between First street west and Third 

 and Pennsylvania and Maryland avenues. Its 

 history dates back before 1800. "When the Car- 

 rolls, General "Washington and others laid out 

 the grounds around the capitol, this site was se- 

 lected for the botanical garden. It was not 

 much improved until a Scotchman b}' the name 

 of "Wm. R. Smith was appointed superintendent. 

 Xow it is noted for its choice and rare collection 

 of flowers, ornamental and historical shrubbery 

 in the greenhouses, while the grounds are dot. 

 ted all over with historical and foreign trees, 

 which add a great value to the grounds. Mr_ 

 Smith is still the superintendent, having occu- 

 pied the position for twenty-six years, and done 

 enough valuable work for a monument to any 

 man's memory. As you enter the gate on First 

 street, to the left of the walk stands an oak 

 planted by Hon. J. J. Crittenden, of Kentucky. 

 The acorn he brought from Kentucky. It is now 

 quite a tree, and its acorns are eagerly sought 

 after by his admirers and people who take an in- 

 terest in such matters. About fifty feet south 

 of it stands a modest hemlock, planted by Sena- 

 tor John P. Hale, of Xew Hampshire. Near 

 the east end of the main conservatory, which is 

 three hundred feet long, stands a pine from .Ja- 

 pan. It has a very peculiar appearance and is 

 quite a curiosity. Just south of the fountain, on 

 the walk leading south to Maryland Avenue, 

 stand the cypresses. The one on the right was 

 planted by Forrest, and the . one on the left by 

 Col. Forney. Just before you reach the fence 

 stands the famous Sumner-Bingham tree. "U^hen 

 congress was attempting to pass an appropriaton 

 to improve and grade the park east of the capitol, 



Sumner made one of his finest speeches to save 

 a particular tree that he thought was an Italian 

 Beech. John A. Bingham, of Ohio, also had an 

 admiration for the same tree, which almost 

 amounted to reverence. He spoke to Mr. Smith 

 about it, and he (Smith) proposed to plant one 

 of the same kind in the Botanical grounds for 

 them, and it stands there to-day in honor of the 

 two distinguished statesmen. Just north of the 

 fountain stands two evergreens from California. 

 The west one was planted by Senator Latham, 

 of California. This tree is very thrifty and has 

 a beautiful foliage. The east one was planted 

 by Senator Pierce, of Maryland. This tree pre- 

 sents quite a drooping appearance. Senator Lath- 

 am pressed the Pacific Railroad bill, and Senator 

 Pierce was its bitter opponent and leader of the 

 opposition. Personally they were friends. So, 

 when the bill was passed, Senator Latham had 

 two trees, of a peculiar kind of evergreen that 

 grows in California, sent to him. One he plant- 

 ed himself, in honor of his triumph ; the other 

 he gave to his friend. Senator Pierce, who so 

 sternly opposed the measure. On the west side 

 of the grounds stands an oak, planted by Mal- 

 lory, of Kentucky, who so ably represented the 

 Louisville district. Just west of the main con- 

 servatory stands the evergreen planted by 

 Speaker Kerr, of Indiana. Near enough to it to 

 almost mingle with its branches stands the tir 

 tree, planted by James F. McDo'.vell. Some 

 forty feet north-east of these stands a buck- 

 eye, which came from Thomas A. Hen- 

 drick's home. Thad. Stevens was a great friend 

 of the Botanical Garden, and managed and con- 

 trolled the appropriations for it in the house. A 

 tree was planted in honor of him, but it happen- 

 ed to stand over the raging Tiber, which burst 

 from its bounds and destroyed the Stevens tree. 

 I have given a fair synopsis and a general idea 

 of this garden ; of course it would be too tedious 

 ; to give an account of every valuable and foreign 

 tree." 



Barbed "Wire Fences. — "We have no idea 

 that the barbed iron or wire will ever take the 

 place of good post-and-rail, or a well-made Os- 

 age or Honey Locust Fence, wherever these can 

 be easih' made. But there are many places in 

 which these cannot be had, and people will want 

 to know all about wire, as well as other substi- 

 tutes. For these the December American Agri- 

 culturist will be welcome, for the whole subject 

 is therein ihoroushlv discussed. 



