New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1881-10-18
CENTRAL PARK MIINrENANCE.
WHAT A PRACTICAL MAN THINKS or THE VII OLE
SALE HACKING on TREES AND sHEuBs-ilOW
LLLL- N.-nL nI--.uL 10 ~ nnNL.

WHAT A PRACTICAL MAN THINKS OF THE VII Ole
SALE HACKING or TREES AND sHEUDs-ilOW
rHE WORK OUGHT 70 BE DONE.
To me EdttOr Of me TFIGuHc
SIR: Having noticed from time to time in recent
issues of TIE TRIBUNE both IN editorial articles
and in letters an increasing desire for an improved
maintenance of Central Park, l wish to present
few practical Suggestions the subject OF the re-
demption of New-Y orlis great pleasure ground.
Three years ago | cuIcayored, in letter TO THE
TRIBUNE to direct the public mind to the urgent need
there was ior intelligent pruning in Central Park, II
characteristic. broad features of design and per.ec
ton Of detail were 10 De retained Various causes
have tended to prevent the Park Commissioners
from taking up. in the meantime, this important
subject 'of the preservation OF the plantations OF
| Ccn.ra Park. although their attention has been
prrsiscnty called 10 it by different writer's In your
/ columns. Now, however, he subject OF pruning
j aud thinning out seems to De on the verge of COM
ing ,qrarcly and pcrcmptoriiy before the Com
uis,iouers. 10 that at last it must be undertaken,
! one would think. with an hoac>i purpose Of accom-
| plIshmg something. IL becomes therefore of M
| usual importance that cul ghteucd views should
| be- generally entertained the difficult problem OF
| how best to pruuc and thin ont plantations that
! have already in part reached the stage Of abso-
| lufr and irrcmcl.aalc decay. Everyone Who drives
| or walks much about the Park must recognize in
the miI, OF much that is still III it, prime and most
charming i'm every way, a amentabc destruction OF
/ landscape features and beauty of single trees by
| oycrcrowdug and natural decay. Prospect Park
has to considerable degree avoided this condition
oi things by -ystema ic pruning strictly limited TO
ifs rurtti resources. liut ne who may read
Oh. effects. i'm Central Park, o. - want of appTvcI-
ton of the importance of IcrSi-i.ni pruning, tGIu-
nina. o4. and trans planting UricU to retain in per-
I f#t.r u ID
| W.olr. IA" important question Is now, Therefore,
rs it, has vcrn indeed for several yrIrs How can th-
Park uo r.Ju,rL,.ted without lr"'5 %. transition
state OF ugly AND cNtruuri Pee" plantations ~
Il o, evident that ANY attempt OF The KIND at this
late day must Doc strictly cons rY9lNc, almost ttut'-
| tVH. Any thu. iIk" cutting 1ud L'ciHu- llght ana
.i rrc- ir.,,t will only pIr.Ftat~ Tao decay that Is
now merely making -lc" and natural progress /
have noticed more than one Haruilce.t
".,1p an the YAK where. although The
oir,i Is still tar 10 look upon, the
removal rf any single tree would simply disclose
bare spots ON ihc others and render necessary tlt
eutir, removal OF all. In many snch cases ht!le
thinning ont might be done b"twctu the trees and
fresh plantations ma@r near 10y T. take lin"iiy tht
place the prcson. group winch really, ii let
alonc viii retain great deal q: hcauiN ior years;
Where p grand specimen, however, stands crowded
by inferior trees and shrubs, as have seen iu more
than one instance l. the Park, the mos Tioc1. use
If the axe and ,rubbnG noe on uuplugiA- aut ltn'
valuable plants Is necessary. ON ttH oth'l htud,
many plantations of shrGJS and vines might be
Ua.i,, prucd and thlHurd ont III such way rs
would secure, even NOW, the intended eHect OF the
nrIgIugI design IN regard to their growth, ana m
| pla,rS too whore u Wild tangir oDS"dt"' rock
wor. and bridge of the most artiF.!c appearance
IuIiie plantation. of shrlb5 and trees also, too lar
gone to be Trimmed out pruuidbiy, might De greatly
unpr,ytd in appearance By leaving their mass eI-
ti,rIy untouched a "a whole aGd planting other
shrubs about ON the outskirts, which would MASK
inferior defects and yet fairly carry out the luteu-
ton ol the design. In Nori, the ann should oe 20
pas, over the entire plantations with pruning hnIle
and axe il such way rs t. Ic"Ne az Hiic lhlEt0I-
ate trace ~ possible by thinning out SKINNY,
shoriunng-n and planting alre,h on the nutNA4fts
/ use the Term shurteuuE-ln adNINcdIy, because Ia
yarIous paris of the Park soc many trees, both de-
cIduous and evergreen, that cave been shorh OF
their lower branches until they have become aillh-
cial structures and no true specimens OF ;her tIlpe
If Tree is nearly dead or very unhealthy ~ VIII Oe
often advisable 10 cut il down partially II not en-
Too many dead and dying trees are indeed 4eit
standing i'm most plantations, Tor IN that condition
they literally cumDer the ground and crowd and
Injnrc everything around.
10 obtain q comparatively successful result III
this business of pruning the Park is not really SO
the work possesses intelligent and SYinpathcLIc
comprehensiOu of the original design or the ialk
an intimate knowledge OF the habits OF diueIeht
plants and regard for their individual welfare as
siderations as these, | think should be
weighed seriously before any extended plan
of pruning and thinning out III the Park Is
undertaken. After enjoying for twenty years the
unsurpassed beauties o. the plantations OF CentIai
PARK the citizens vi New-IOrk VIII certainly h0ld
To strict accoun; any Board of Commissioners who
shall ruthessly wipe out by Ill-consdeTed action
lovely and only slightly impaired features that
might be retained. or renewed even, by mtelhgent
and conservative treatment. Yours,
Flushing, L. J., Oct. II, 1851.