Daily evening star. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1852-1854, 1853-08-18
An Interesting Lettsr-To Washingtonians.
August 16, 1853.

August 16, 1853
1t is stated in the EUemimg Star of yesters
day, that Eve learn that they 1.-THE elms are
to be cut down, and their places supplied with
better trees, as the best remedy for the UNI
brageous evil
l hope this Information is not correct. The
cause assigned for this exterminating cut is,
g the worms appear to have taken full posses
sion of them, eating away the leaves which
fall around as though this were the au.uEnal
season." Ifcutting down the elms is the proper
remedy to arrest the evil, then mother who
has neglected to comb the head of her child
may excuse herself for cutting it off if she
finds it denscly populated.
The elm has a beautiful dense green foliage
when taken care of, and by attention and
trifing expenditure of money, from the open
ing Of the buds until the leaves are at matur-
ity, they will rank among the best shades in
the city. If cutting down. is the remedy for
diseased trees, the evil will not be arrested
until nearly all the trees are "laid low The
lovely fragrant linden has been consumed bv
a canker worm or other insect for more than
two months, without the least effort to arrest
the destroyer. The same, or similar insect,
has commenced the destruction of the hardy
horse-chestnut The worms are beginning to
spread their webs over the silver maple, as it
is designated, and they will work. / fear. as
they have done heretofore, unmOlestel. Two
of the splendid naples in the row on the
avenue, near the Union Office and theatre.
were cut down in the spring If they had re-
manned healthy, they would have been worth
in their position, at least five hundred dollars
Some remaining in that row are diseased, and
will soon be 'tcut down.
Be pleased to read the address Of friend
Ben amin llallowell before the Loudon County
Virginia Agricultural Society, and you will
readily discover the cause of the decay of these
trees. You will render an important service
to go many of your readers as cultivate trees
by publishing MIR. Hallowell's remarks on the
growth and transpanting of trees
fungus, or q small insect, is proving on
some Of the young naples on the triangle xear
tho Centre market. The destroyer may be
seen in white spots on the under side of the
limbs. Last season, in passing the row of
NAPLES just mentioned. l saw gentleman
looking into their tops; and he enquired how
it was, that such row of trees in the National
Metropolis: where money was literally appro-
priated to adorn it. should be neglected, and
permitted to decay. He was from New Eng
land, and being an American citizen and in
| terested in Identifying this city, he was
| grieved by what he saw, and expressed his
feelings in strong language
Some weeks past, horse in running away
with Il vehicle, broke down the box around a
small maple at the corner of the triangle on
! 9TH street and the avenue in front of the Cen
tire market; bent the tree to the ground, and
stripped the bark off from one side of it, five
or six feet long, and some inches wide A
new box was constructed around the tree, but
no bandage or dressing was applied to give
healthy action to the wound Ihi. tree may
liEger few years. and the na:e will close- the
scere
Uniformity in size of the same kind of trees
! i'll Il row, adds greatly to their beauty For
this the trees in New Haven, Connecticut are
greatly admired. The stately native elms at
this seat of learning were annoyed for several
years by worms. The are was not resorted to
as the most suitable remedy; but measures
were taken to destroy the insects, and to arrest
their ravages, which proved successful and
the trees are admire by every person whose
eye rests upon them.
do not know who has the power to stay the
uplifted are short Of Congress but if it shall
be used rs literally as is intended, it will be
worthy the consideration Of the legislature,
whether further appropriations to set out other
trees on the avenue should be made If no
measures are taken to kill worms and insects
they will destroy the trees as fast as they are
set out and why incur any expense to keep
them in existence? The people of this coun-
try wish to see Washington beautifed, and the
walks adorned and made comfortable; but
you may rest assured they believe in the old
maxim, " than an ounce of preventive is worth
pound of cure'
Be pleased to use your influence to have the
trees now planted Invested of the destroyers
that inhabit them; to have proper care and
attention bestowed to restore the trees that
are diseased or wounded, and to have that
axe put up.