Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1879-11-08
WASHINGTON The FOREST CITY"
OF THE COUNTRY.
THE WORK OF THE PARKING COMMISSION
Sixty Thousand Trees Planted.

Prior to the territorial form Of government for
this District very little had been done by our
local authorities in the way OF tree culture for
our streets. The general government Usually
looked after the avenues and public reServ atonS
in the way of improvem entS, including such Or
namentatton as was thought to be desirable by
the commissioner OF public buildings and
grounds, and occasionally appropriations, small
in amount, were made by Congress when
asked for in the annual reports and esti-
mates Of that official. A marked de )arture
from this rule was In the employment of the
lamented Downing In laying out the Smithson-
ian park The artistic grouping Of forest trees
in these grounds is the result Of his culture and
good taste. But there was no system in the
some of our principal thoroughfares which for
many years were under the manag EN- ,nt and
care OF the late James Maher, the public gar
dener. Every citizen who desired shade trees
in front OF his residence had the privilege of
planting such trees as he desired, provided they
were placed inside and near to the curb line.
The first legislation by the local authority
upon the subject OF tree planting that appears
upon record was an act OF the city councils, APP
proved March 25, 1903, which appropriated "a
SUN not exceeding SlOo for the purpose of keep
ing in order, tarring, or replanttng the trees
planted in the streets and avenues in the first
AMI second wards" One of Its provisions was
that il any person break, wound, destroy, or In
any manner lnjure any OF the trees planted and
set on any of the streets or avenues, or any of
he boxes or stakes, or other protection thereof,
very person 50 offending shall be tined not ex-
any offender be a minor. the parents or guar
dian OF such minor; and If an apprentice, the
master or mistress of such apprentice snail be IL
able to the penalty, and any slave shallso offend
the owner or employer of such slave shall pay the
penalty" This was re-enacted with slight
modification In 1915, and again in 1916 with an
amendment " that II any person shall tie or in
any manner fasten horse to any OF the trees,
boxes or other protection On any OF the streets
or avenues each offender shall pay fine OF s."
Afterwards, in 1920. the city was divided into
six wards and the law made of general applict-
ton. In 1919 the city council appropriated 800
for planting and the preservation OF trees on
Pennsylvania avenue from 1St street to 18th
street west. In 1920 another appropriation Of
$40 was made to pay William Scott for planting
trees on Pennsylvania avenue. In 1921 sl6wasap
propriated for paying Scott for planting trees In
front of the public school-house of the first
school district, and in the same year $50 was
voted to pay him for cutting down.
THE BUSHES AND BRIARS
about Tfber creek north and south of PennSyl-
vania avenue. In 1924 si4 was appropriated ID
pay Joseph johnson for planting trees on Penn
Sylvania avenue, in the second ward An act
approved August II. 1881, authorizing the en-
closure OF the open space between Ii street north
and New York avenue, In the second ward, and
the planting with ornamental trees or shrubs
provided that it be done without eXpanS to
the corporation and under the direction OF the
commissioner OF public buildings In 1871, 800
was voted by the councils to keep the trees in
the streets and avenues in order, and the Old
penalty of not more than $50 nor less than s. for
1n]urlng the trees was re-enacted. Suc1 had been
the character and about the extent Of legisl.-
ton upon this subject UP to the formation OF the
territorial government for this District in ISL,
when
THE PARKING COMMISSION WAS ORGANIZED.
One of the best features in the system of COM
prehensive Improvements by the board of public
works was the ornamentation of our city with
shade trees, which was followed up throughout
wherever that work was done as matter OF ne
ceSSity. The beneticent results are becoming
more apparent to all every year wherever the
eye turns One OF the first acts of the board Of
public works was TO secure the services Of such
experienced horticulturistS as VIM. Saunders, of
the Agricultural Department VIM. r. Smith, of
the Government Botanical Gardens and John
Saul, the Well-knOWn florist, the same who now
compose the parking commission. In the selec-
ton Of the trees for planting in our streets it
was the aim of the commission to make use Of
such kinds as experience had shown to be best
adapted TO our climate, the least Objectionable
as shade trees, and most capable of thriving I'M
der the influences Of the wood and asphalt pave
mentS. The first step taken by this commission
was to secure tract OF land as
A RESERVE NURSERY
for the preparation and preservation of the
young trees and shrubs. The ground selected
for this purpose was portion Of the land at
tached to the almS-houSe, and it was at once
put In proper condition, by draining, manuring,
and deep plouShing. Here trees are nov culti-
waited In large numbers, ready for use whenever
wanted for new streets, and to fill up vaca lei IS
where casualties have displaced them on streets
before planted This nursery, for seven years.
has been the receptacle OF all trees and shrubs
brought from distant sections OF the country,
where they are temporarily planted. In making
the selections for planting the commission has
observed certain qualifications among which
are compact, stateineSs and symn etry OF
growth, as opposed to low, spreading or pen l.
ant form, so that the trunk might re tcn mel en-
tn oil .,Jpn
branches; ample supply OF expansive foliage,
of bright spring verdure and rich in variety OF
cOlors and tintS during autumn; eyem )t from
constitutional diseases as We'll as those from
local causes by peculiarities Of soil and atmos-
pheric impurities; cleanliness of foliage during
the summer; freedom from fading flowers AMI
from noxious insects; of moderately vigorous
growth and not inclined to throw up shoots from
the roots or lower stem; branches elastic rather
than brittle and free from offensive OdorS or
flowers Conspicuous among the kinds selected
have been the silver maple (acer daSycarpum),
American linden (ttlia Americana), European
sycamore maple {acer psuedo plataum) Ameri-
can elm (llmus Americana), tulip tree Qioroden-
dron tultpeferra), sugar maple (acer sacchar-
num), sweet gum Qiquidamba Styraclflua), red
maple (acer rubrurn), Norway maple, (aeer plat
anoides), American ash fraXinus Amercana),
(acer negundO), European linden (tilia EurODea),
the button wood platanus acciuentalis) AMI
horse chestnut (hippocastenum.) The comms-
sion has experienced difficulty in procuring trees
OF the desired age and Size owing to general
demand for them in other cities where parks are
being laid out and planted The ample width of
our streets and spacious breadthS of side park
ingS require trees OF the largest available size
which rule OF selection has, as far as possible
been followed in planting. The number OF trees
planted during the first year of this commission
was 2,030, mostly In side walks and street parks
THE MODE OF PLANTING.
The usual preparation for planting is the eXca-
walton of hole of ample size, a full cubic yard
or more OF SubSOil removed, and in its place an
equal quantity of good surface SOIL cOmposted
with street manure deposited After the trees
are inserted firmly they are protected as far as
possible from horses and other animals by boxes
and afterWard annually pruned with view to
free circulation OF air and admission of plenty
OF sunlight. most valuable incidental benefit
derived from the narrowing of carriagewayS and
consequent widening of the sidewalks Is that of
extending the line OF tree planting at greater
distance from the building line, thus shading
the walks without overShadOwing the dwellings,
preserving the ornamental effect OF trees as
relief and contrast to city architecture. The
uniformity OF growth is secured by proper atten-
ton to pruning during the few years succeeding
planting. In 1878 the number of trees planted
was 6,236. Included in this number were Nor
way naples, American and European emS and
lindens, sugar naples tulip trees American
white ash, scarlet naples, aSh-leaved naples,
and various kinds OF poplarS, In consequence
OF so much grading and the removal OF
top soil, the size OF the holes was increased
so as to admit more OF the compost, thus giving
the young plants good start.
To secure sufficient quantity of this COM