"So far as the inspection has gone, the trees seem singularly free from 

 injurious insects or plant diseases" (49). 



The next day, Mrs. Taft participated in a simple yet official planting 

 ceremony in West Potomac Park. The Japanese Ambassador, Count 

 Sutemi Chinda, and his wife, Viscountess Chinda, Eliza Scidmore, and 

 Col. Cosby were present at this ceremony. Mrs. Taft planted the first 

 cherry tree in an area located several hundred yards to the west of the 

 statue of John Paul Jones. Mrs. Taft then invited Viscountess Chinda to 

 plant the second tree (50) (figs. 15-18). 



A few days later, on April 4, Col. Cosby wrote Yukio Ozaki, Mayor of 

 Tokyo, that the second shipment had received a "minute and careful 

 examination" (51) by Department scientists and that "[e]very tree was 

 passed by the experts" (52). Most of the trees were planted as planned 

 around the Tidal Basin and along the Riverside Drive in East and West 

 Potomac Park (53). The rest reportedly were planted on the White House 

 grounds, in Rock Creek Park, and in a small nursery area located near 

 the corner of 17th and B Streets (54). In particular, 18 of the greenish- 

 yellow flowered Prunus serrulata Lindl. cv. Gyoiko were planted on the 

 White House grounds (55). 



Figure 15. — First Lady, Mrs. William H. Taft, in 1908. 



20 



