122 
TREES AS GOOD CITIZENS 
6, 1904, exactly thirteen years before the day on which 
the United States joined hands with Russia and other 
European countries in the greatest conflict the world has 
ever known—a conflict which led to the destruction of 
the old Russia and the assassination of the royal family. 
The young tree was planted by President Roosevelt him¬ 
self, with the cooperation of Secretary Wilson of the 
Department of Agriculture, and Mr. Hitchcock, at that 
time Secretary of the Interior. With its registration in 
the Hall of Fame, this tree takes conspicuous place in the 
list of trees with a history. 
In various spots in the District of Columbia may be 
found trees of individual celebrity. In the shadow of the 
Capitol, within the splendid park surrounding the seat 
of government, is a tree planted by George Washington 
and now treasured as a priceless memento of the first 
President’s interest in the beautifying of the city named 
in his honor. On Connecticut Avenue hill stands a 
stately tree of majestic spread, known as the Treaty Oak, 
for the reason that under its branches an important 
treaty with the Indians was signed 150 years ago. 
George Washington’s interest in trees was of far- 
reaching influence. In many places trees are now growing 
which owe their existence to the Father of the Country. 
One of these is reported from the vicinity of Bath, 
Pennsylvania. It came from Mt. Vernon as a gift from 
President Washington to General Brown, a notable 
figure of the Revolution. General Brown planted this 
tree in front of his old home, and it is known today as the 
Washington Horse Chestnut. In the nomination of this 
tree for the Hall of Fame its present base circumfer¬ 
ence is given as 27 feet, 7 inches, with a girth of 17 
feet at a point 6 feet from the ground. In the Friends’ 
Graveyard at Salem, New Jersey, is an Oak under 
