New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1877-05-12
SCIENCE AND HEALTH IN THE PARKS

PLANS OF THE ACADEMY OF sCIENCEs-PLANTING on
ANII-MALARIAL TREES TO BE POsTERRD-GAR.
DEN SCHOOLS TO BE ESTABLISHED.
The New York Academy of Sciences is max.
ing an effort to have the public parks OF this city devoted
to scientific and educational committee OF prom
Dent members has been appointed TO awaken interest
in the project among the citizens and 10 agree upon
course Of action The plan TO be adopted 1t thought
will be substantially that favored in the paper recently
read before the Academy by DR.. seguin, synopss o,
which has appeared in THE TRIBUNE An effort will
first be made to improve the health OF the city by intro
ducng into the parks shrubbery and plants pos
sossing antimalarial properties. The Academy IA in
possession OF statistics which show the good effect which
has followed the planting OF such trees in European
cities and in parts Of America. The tree in most
favor for this purpose is the eucalyptus glo5ulus
which is indigenous TO Australia, but which has
been successfully introduced into almost every country
OF the globe. This tree it IA claimed, sbsorbs great
quantities Of nOxiOus vapors, thereby purifying the air
Ii also possesses rapid growth and Is ornamental In
the malarial districts OF Northern Africa and British
India the planting Of groves Of the eucalyptus has had
visible effect upon the health Of the inhabitants Even
in America 1t has bee found TO possess great powers Of
neutrazng the OF fever aud other diseases In
California Il grows almost as readily as IN Australia, aud
atains great size In several the Southern states ts
also neiug cultivated The Legislature I'm Michigan has
provided for introduction in that State by scientific
method Of cultivation IL ca mot De successfully reared,
howevar nm I'm. Northern states without being acclma,
tied The plan OF the Academy Is first TO place the tree
in nursery OF acclimatZatOn IN order 10 transplant
aferward to places where 10 vi 40 the most good In
addition to placing IL in the parks, it could be planted
along streets aud bsuleyards OF the city sll an
borders OF Staten Island opposite the marshy districts Of
~ Soeric;n trees OF known febrfugal propcrIie among
them the balm Of Gead, American pOplars Willows,
Another Object OF the Academy to devote portions Of
% garden SCHOOLS which the school
children OF the city could study the Natural Sciences IN
Tho ,nos All .ou, manner These outdoor schools
II is believed would be OF ncstlmdble value and should
receive cordial support from parents ana eachers Dr.
.eguin's plan to adorn the small squares and parks
with SPECIAL kinds or plants ding cdch other ~ the
seasons advance, thus ahOrdlng complete cycle OF Gas
slfed Oral botany. In the Larger parks, he wOud dc
vote large OF land 10 the study OF the comparative
vegetation of the North south, and west; the cOmpan
of strongly marked specimens OF the vegetables OH
different parts OF the world; the collecting OF the rCe
plants and which furnish food drink, and raimtnt
10 man, with those which yield medicines ana polsons
the growing OF flowers, plants and trees IN vie" Of her
picturesque opposition In neid or mouse decoration
By this y stem il is claimed that the children would %
fl constant intercourse with nature Tue members VI
the Academy, in order to accomplish THIS Object desire 10
the parks 80 arranged as 10 appear as 9ooAs 70
which every brings new leaves, fu Oh ideas and
Illustrations. Dr. Seglin anu others IN the Academy
claim tuat the garden schools would be only toe Oega'
ming of the enlargement OF the national system of enuc
ton, and that large part OF the scbOonr M"Ad nave
carried from It's present narrow, infectious orcA
cells 10 the open ar SCHOOLS"
After agrtelng upon plan to be pursued, the Acad,
envy OF sciences VIII bring the matter TO the aehl'n OF
be nave the parks elevated TO educational and
scientific USES. The expense OF the undertakings u Is
Thought Will be comparatively small. In Central Park,
and other parks OF the city which have been highly I'M
proved no changes that would tend 10 iuure their A
uearauce would be required. The introduction Of anti
maaral plants would add TO their attractive
mss and many now uuUCcupled Plots and corners
could be devoted TO the garden schools The new parks
nuw beng improved by the city, the Acaiemy would
lave especially ed. These parks are the RIVER
side the Mu nlngsidc, the East RIVER the two trlahgles
M t the boulevard aud NlntlItyU, IL
Sky third and -iAysiXCI5's, ana other small squares
iu different yars the city The Riverside PARK Dor
drrs ON the Hudson River, extending IRON seventy
second to OuchuudrCd andtIIticst. and has al area
OF cizhtyniHC The contract Tor Improving TINS
ltrn Las brru given FOR SJ3OOOO and Large num-
Der OF labortls now engaged upon the WORK. Ihe
Academy suggests tlat par OF TINS amount Dc expended
I'm blaming MS fui trees and opening garden schools,
which 'l be crssiDo TO the children IN tndt par VI
Tie city Tie East River Park Is proposed to adapt %
sr.uc nses the benefit Of the yuuin OF tnr East
side The park The ciy S2lJllJ 81. ahd IL 10 c"-
mated that Il IN bee improved Tor S2J,Opo IL eNtthds
along inc East River from Eighty -slEth-sL 10 one
luudred-an-sXtl-st, and mas level surface covered
with frees This para 10 II proposed 20 doFOe cSpcCity
la natural his or The natural sciences would De eAeI-
elyey represented N MOrnlugsle Iaik' ieNei pdIas
Wing northeast or Central PAX.