Evening star., 1876-12-08
SHADE TREES IN WASHINGTON.
Repart of the Park Commission.

sizes have been carefully llfted aud repiant-
ed. so as 10 accommodate new grades. and
80 old and decaying trees have been removed.
\ portion of the season proved exceeding
ly dry and unfavorable 10 the growth of
newly planted trees. especially in regard TO
those planted in spring. Those set out the
previous fall. during the months of October
November and December, made better pro-
gresS owing to the possession of q more ex-
tended system of young roots. None. how
ever. were allowed To suffer. as they were
supplied with water, and although the means
available for this purpose were somewhat
limited. yet n served to- keep the trees alive,
If nothing more, until saturating rains gave
increased visor to active growth.
ON some of the streets first planted some
and years ago, the effects of prolonged
dry weather could be observed In the re-
Stricted growth OF the trees. This result is To
be expected as the roots occupy the space
prepared at the time Of planting, and can be
only effectualIy remedied by the addition of
fresh soil to the eXtremities Of the roots. On
recently graded streets. where the holes have
Eeen eXcavated in a hard ungenal subsoil,
the trees viii early indicate want of
nOurishment. as they viii be restricted To the
space originally prepared for them which
speedily becomes fully occupied by the roots
when their further extension is checked and
diminished growth ensues. The apparent
remedy il To increase the size of the holes
which can be readily done. by removing the
inferior strata on each side of the tree for a
width OF two or more feet, parallel with the
cuIbing, and replace il by suitable soil.
This could be accomplished without inter
sidewalk even for the brief time necessary To
complete the improvement.
IN some instances a continuous space of
- Cficient width for tree planting has been
len between the pavement and the curbstone.
This j. an admirable arrangement, and of
great advantage To the trees, as the whole of
the area thus left unpaved can be utilized for
their benefit and for The ramification OF their
roots with consequent advantages TO the per-
manent health and continued prosperity OF
the trees. This mode also facilitates the an
Mi n nm IN 40 MI ft1ea
space being Kept in grass. imp9 rtsa park
like appearance To the planting-a pleasing
contrast to The pavements of sidewalks and
rOadwayS. Where the sidewalks. as we'll as
the streets, are covered with concrete. this
plan is of imperative necessity, as in these
cases the ordinary hole is altogether made
quate TO the prolonged health of the trees.
There are still numbers of 81 decaying
trees in various parts of the cit y that are of
very little value as objects of utility, and
disfigure rather than add TO the Ornamental
tion of the city. Many of these occupy posi-
tiOns on the sidewalks that cause great pub
lie inconvenience. while those of them that
happen 10 be in line with more recent plant
ings. OvershadOw the younger trees and pre-
vent their proper development. a systematic
removal of all such weedy trees would vast
ly enhance the beauty of the city, so far as
trees are concerned. and until il is accom-
plished the street planting must be consid
cred imperfect.
There is IN annual loss of trees more or
less extensive, from leakage in the gas pipes;
the escaping gas permeates the soil and de-
StrOys the roofs. Perfect immunity from
this evil Is probably impracticable, and
when detected IL may be, as in most instances
i'm this city. II has been promptly remedied.
The worst feature. however, is that the evil
is not discovered until after the roots have
been destroyed or fatally injured; the soil Is
well saturated before the presence of escap-
ing gas il detected. and il is then too late for
tie application of any effectual remedy.
The best That can be done is to remove the
injured tree and plant a healthy one in its
stead a
success. as II is difficult To remove all the
poisoned nth. and il usually requires sew
eral renewals before healthy growth is Sc
cured. Gas poisoning is the unsuspected
cause OF many deaths among city trees.
The severe storm that occurred on the eth
OF september Frustrated a number of trees
in various parts of the city. All available
means We're promptly directed towards re-
pairing damages, and no serious injury re-
suited except III few cases where the tops
had been broken off.
II is necessary, in order that no interfer-
ence may he occasiOned TO traffic, that the
lower branches be removed from street trees:
increase their liability TO be damaged by
storms. While the trees are small the pro-
tectinS box serves good purpose and meas
UTably prevents injury from storms; but
when the branches extend and the top of the
tree becomes heavy by weight of wet foliage.
the boxes are of very little value as sup
port; they are rather an injury, as they yield
To the Storm in company with the tree, and
frequently prevent the stem from righting
itself after the storm has passed. Strongly
fixed boxes would be proper security, but
10 be effective these would be both cumbrous
and costly.
A good auxiliary will be found in allow
ing the lower branches 10 remain. and en-
courage them 10 grow from the ground up-
ward, so a. TO impart strength 10 the stem. as
in the natural tendency in all trees when
they can secure perfect freedom of growth
A method which might well be adopted with
many of the trees in the wide parkage OF this
city, and one that would add materially 10
is oTnamentation, although il might seem
a great innovation TO those whose ideal city
tree is an inverted broom.
Mention may be made of the improvement
effected OH the reservation between 9Th and
sth streets, on Pennsylvania avenue, 'front.'
ing the market house.
A neat, substantial wrought iron fence has
been erected on the lines OF the streets and
avenues which might with great advantage
line: The space was cleared up, drained and
graded, planted with trees, and the entire
surface sOwn with grass seed.
A miniature lake was introduced. mainly
for the benefit of small birds. This work was
executed from time TO time, as labor could be
ass sned from the primary work OF planting
and taking care of trees hence il has not
heen so rapidly executed as. under other con-
dittons, il might have been. 4 strict regard
10 economy had 10 be exercised and the soil
being OF - very ordinary character, the
growth of trees and grasses has not been no.
tably successful. Applications of manures
with partial renovation of the soil on spots
Will go far towards securing passable lawn
Even in its present condition 10 contrasts
favorsbly with it's former neglected condi-
tiOn.
In addition 10 the planting aud ordinary
care OF trees, very considerable amount of
labor has been expended in the care of nu-
meTous small reservations and unoccupied
spaces distributed over the city. An average
force of four men has been employed for a
period of six months on this class of work
One Of the first duties undertaken by this
cOlnmlSslon was that Of establishing a re-
serve garden for the preservation and prepar-
alton OF trees for planting. The advantages
derived from this source have been of great
value, and have contributed largely 10 the
success which has been attained in the orna-
mentaiiOn OF the city.
Many thousands OF trees have been raised
from a small size until they were large
enough 10 plant out in permanent locations
This has added very materially to the pro-
gTess of the work, not only from the saving
effected in the purchase of suitable trees, but
also in having them at hand and available at
any time when required, so that they could
be moved and set in place in a few hours
without loss Of vitality by exposure of roofs
or from the casualties resulting from length
ened transportation. The stock OF grown
trees Is at present large enough TO obviate the
necessity of further purchase for some time
tO come. except for n few particular kinds as
they may be required.
ISi2ncdHWm X. smith. chairman. VIM
Saunders. secretary, parking commission.
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KILLED uN THE RAIlROAD-IaSt NIGHT