352 



AMERICAN FORESTRY 



accurate figures about the "knot." The bees and birds 

 have been the only investigators. 



Almost daily offers for the "knot" are made by curio 

 hunters and other nature-loving visitors; one man was 

 even then, at the time of my visit, trying to purchase it for 

 $500 and this offer was called "mean and low compared to 

 some" by the guide. 



On the beautiful Washington estate are many other 

 grand old trees, each with a story. Three neighbors to the 

 black walnut arc interesting: they commemorate the first 

 of a chain of events that all but wrecked the Union. Gen- 

 eral Washington did not believe in slavery and accordingly 

 set his own free. These first free slaves, free in name only, 

 for they could not have been driven from General Wash- 

 ington, planted the trees about the spot he had set apart 

 for his tomb. After 1 18 years the trees still live. The two 

 red cedars are rotting, hollow and bent, but time has not 

 been so hard on the sycamore. 



The first thing one with an eye for the beautiful in nature 

 will notice at Mount Vernon, particularly if he arrives by 

 the boat, is the number and grandeur of the trees; there 

 are dozens of fine veterans of many species, all perfectly 

 cared for and in fine condition. Comparisons with at- 

 home conditions are involuntary ; we regret that our streets 

 and yards are not so beautifully ornamented. Only in 

 one other place have we seen such trees Washington. 



Possibly we all know of specimens, or even localities, 

 that compare well, though it is doubtful if any city can as 

 a whole equal Washington in point of trees. It is they 

 that give it more than half its charm ; their powerful influ- 

 ence is quickly appreciated. If possible, they are even 

 more beautiful than the trees of Mount Vernon. 



Without them the city would be as all others: great 

 stone piles of modern efficiency. The trees can be thanked 

 for the "human-ncss" of Washington, and they show in 

 luxuriance the care given them. 



SOME HISTORICALLY INTERESTING TREES 



THE following interesting notes, about historic or un- 

 usual trees, were sent by Mr. Henry B. Abbott, of 

 Philadelphia, who writes: "I am sending a picture 

 of the Old Oak in the Friends' graveyard at Salem, New 

 Jersey. It is considered the finest specimen of white oak 

 in the State, and its picture has been adopted for use on the 

 New Jersey State forestry crest, or emblem. It is about 

 85 feet high and symmetrical. Tradition says the British 

 cut out the top during the war of the Revolution. It is 

 supposed to be 

 about 300 years 

 old. Some years 

 ago a currant bush 

 was found growing 

 and thriving in one 

 of the crotches of 

 the old oak, the seed 

 having presumably 

 been carried by a 

 bird, but of course 

 it did not live and 

 has long since dis- 

 appeared. 



" On a trip to 

 Orlando, Florida, 

 some few years ago, 

 I saw an old live 

 oak, to which the 

 Indians came and 

 held their councils. 

 I understand it was 

 the meeting place 

 of the Florida In- 

 dians generally, and 

 its situation seems 

 to bear this out. 

 Except for a few 



WHERE COLUMBUS TIED HIS SHIPS 



A veteran tree at Santo Domingo, marking the spot so local tradition has it -where his ships were 

 made fast when, on his second voyage of discovery, Columbus founded Hispaniola. 



trees in a small segment, there was a large open circle, 

 maybe a hundred feet in radius, without trees. So far 

 as I know, the place or tree has not been photographed. 

 It was only a trunk with a few limbs when I saw it, and 

 I fear it has now disappeared." 



Another very interesting tree Mr. Abbott describes as 

 traditionally known to be "the tree where Columbus tied 

 his ships." This is located on the river Osamece at Santo 

 Domingo, and is an old landmark, regarded with venera- 

 tion and love by the 

 people of the local- 

 ity. While we do 

 not vouch for the 

 correctness of its 

 claim to historic 

 value, the appear- 

 ance of the old mon- 

 arch inclines us to 

 place some faith in 

 the traditions which 

 surround it. It does 

 not seem impossible 

 of belief that Col- 

 umbus landed and 

 made fast his ships 

 at this point, when 

 he settled the small 

 colony at Santo 

 Domingo lovingly 

 named by him ' ' His- 

 paniola, ' ' and where 

 later his remains 

 were temporarily 

 interred. Mr. 

 Abbott continues : 



" There are, a mile 

 or two west of Had- 



