PREFACE 



This publication provides a historical narrative documenting in detail 

 the origin and history of the Japanese flowering cherry trees in Wash- 

 ington, D.C. In particular, it discusses their introduction and planting 

 along the Tidal Basin in West Potomac Park. The publication in no way 

 purports to be either a full-scale account of the evolution of the Japanese 

 cherry trees or an indepth history of their proliferation throughout the 

 United States. 



From their original planting at the Nation's Capital emerges a multi- 

 faceted story. This story involves international diplomacy and protocol 

 and the friendship of two great countries. In addition, it involves the per- 

 sonal involvement of high-ranking individuals within each of the 

 respective countries, the expertise of dedicated scientists in Japan, as well 

 as in the United States, and the Japanese cherry trees, themselves, whose 

 flowering is an annual event of simple and delicate beauty. Bibliographic 

 profiles of the major participants in the introduction of the Japanese flow- 

 ering cherry trees to the United States are in the appendix. 



The research involved in this publication is based primarily upon 

 unpublished letters, memoranda, and other documentary material located 

 at the National Archives and the Washington National Record Center, in 

 Washington, D.C. Additional primary source materials, including per- 

 sonal papers, letters, and reports, were found in the William Howard Taft 

 Papers at the Library of Congress, Washington, D.C, and in the David 

 Fairchild Papers at the Montgomery Library of the Fairchild Tropical 

 Gardens. Miami, Fla. Other valuable sources concerning the Japanese 

 cherry trees were included in the collections of the Martin Luther King 

 Library, the Columbia Historical Society, and the U.S. National Arbo- 

 retum, all in Washington. D.C, and the National Agricultural Library in 

 Beltsville, Md. (A detailed listing of these materials is found in the sec- 

 tion. Notes and Selected References, on pp. 30 to 35 of this publication.) 



Many people contributed to this publication. The authors are especially 

 indebted to the following individuals: Andrew Kuroda and Thaddeus 

 Ohta of the Library of Congress; Dorothy Provine of the National 

 Archives; Betty Culpepper of the Martin Luther King Library; Robert A. 

 Truax of the Columbia Historical Society; John Popenoe of the Fairchild 

 Tropical Gardens; Donna Jean Fusonie of the University of Maryland; 

 Wayne D. Rusmussen of the Economic Research Service; Sharon Crutch- 

 field of the National Agricultural Library; Lester Nichols of Pennsylvania 

 State University; and John L. Creech, Theodore R. Dudley, Donald R. 

 Egolf. Frederick G. Meyer, and Frank S. Santamour. all of the National 

 Arboretum. 



