New-York tribune., 1886-04-25
SPRING IN CENTRAL PARK.
TREES. SHRUBS, FLOWERS, AND BIRDS.
EXPERIMENTS Is AnpomcULTURE AND HoRT1cuL

EXPERIMENTS Is ARpomcULTURE AND HoRr1cUL-
TURE-DEFEAT OF THE ENGLISH SPARROW.
The magnolias in Central Park are in bloom.
Generally it has been tradition among well-informed
New Yorksrs that tho first .Gsgnolia to do It's duty
foraly the ore at the west corner OF Grsmefoy
Park and exineon AS rule the trees, the shrnos
and towering climbers, like the favorite wistera That
dotted about the city, especially in the oldfasbioneo
streets earlier than similar in Contral fark
this year be exceptional. and the Park
ahead The magnolia re9ion Is In tho vicinity OF the
Peacock lawn, magnificent glsde OF green tnr dotted
by and thero. Many of these trres are
naen"ias and the sight they present 70 minds casl!
impressed by Of natural beauty Ia fairly bewder
Ing They are absolute pyramids of snowy blossoms,
arranged by Mother Nature In we'll balanced masses
Soon the petals wifi begiu TO fall from the delicate
flowers and there will be white litter under each tree
Bus at the blossoms In the first hush OF ner
ovelinass and the attention Of the peacocks has not
been disturbed from their have they attempted
any fruitless Investigations Of the white leaves that
futter from the trees upon the gas that look like i0oi
that smell like food, but that cannot be eaten II
much bc desired that these gorgeous creatures wonj
occasionally have tho fancy to perch In magnolia tree,
but apparently they love oftior roost and so art
loving souls miss splendid between their blue
and green plumage and the snowy blossoms,
During the last twelve months all the authorities OF
Central Park have been working together with perfect
efforts OF the others. Every who visits the Pa'x
must that is In splendid condition. but no one VINO
Is not expert in landscape gardening can reae now
much serious work has done within that period.
Nearly trees and shrubs have been remover TOT
cause" large number have been planted. While
much credit must bs given to Calvert Naux, who Is
thorough artist IN these matters and comp enends the
obstruction OF q great park, william Hart compre-
hends the composition OF great Landscape, the working
medium Of much that has been done and OF more that
the Commissioners have agreed 10 do Is superintendent
woOlson who the cestinies OF everything that
planted He thoroughly understands his business, and
is loving ard enthusiastic arborioulturlst After
thorough investigation and sutation II has been
finally agreed that tho beautiful spruce trees which In
the earliest youth OF the Park gave such happy promise
ara slowly dying. The fact IL unmistakabe. There ae
shetees spots on the west side where they still
fourshng those that planted near the Fifth
ave. wall IN O hopeless condition. and the same
sentencs has been pronounced generally against them
in other parts OF the Park. Mr.. Woolson will spare
those the west side that are doing we IL they con-
tnue in wedong but the others the fiat has gene
forth. They are to be cut down, and similar fate
awaits the Austrian and Scotch pines In the place OF
these will he the Douglass sprnces and the white pines,
the hardy, handsome giants OF the American forests.
The towering shrubs OF the Park have beon successful
from the beginning and arc IN remarkably fine con-
dition. Last year they were rather spindng In conse
queDce of ipjudicous clipping, but this year they are
in splendid shape At present tho Forsythlas, OF
goden-bcls of Japan. form masses of yellow flowers
In every part Of the Park, and indeed the most
pronouncea feature giving flush of color and bright
ness 10 the scene and OF fulness to the rubbery
which otherwise would seem somewhat bare. For the
snapw PODS smelling benzons have only promise OF
leaf and flower, and the Japanese ounce bushes arc
oadel with big red buds that have not yet opened The
lilac leaves still small and tho punches that will be
flowers are still green and knOhby and have no hint OF
color in them The sh.d bushes. which have besn i'm
ported Canada seem to nger and TO mistrnst the
assurances o. the other bushes that the spring Is
actually Perhaps they waiting for the orioles
The hazcls covered with little green catkns much
like army worms and the Andromcias, which are ever
green are 'ust bursting into flower and In week will
he covered with peautifrl white racemes. Then tie
berher or OREGON grape has bestrred itself and VIII
soon DO full bloom II Is sao 70 say that In week
the shrubberies OF Central Park Will present spectacle
o interest and OF exceptional beauty. This
year is going 10 he flower and frnt year, and the
favorable circumstances being utilized by OF
intelligence and high special ability, who are working
together unity. and who will make Central Park
tue oasis in the metropolitan desert.
Generally the white POI lar ia Union Square of
those IN tho city Hall displays wealth OF catkins
not only before Central Park pOplnrs but also before any
other tree has shown any sign OF life This year, how
ever The NAPLES first to trust their tender offspring
10 tho Inerces OF the west winds In Central Park tho
yellow naples as conspeuons feature as the
Forsytha shrubs and their grcensh golden flowers arc
in such prpiuson and covcr tho entirely, that
many visitors imagine them TO he in Leaf. The red
naplcs are also In nowcr and are tho elms, but
neither specially pronounced, save some OF
the red naples the Fifty ninth 81 Get Lake,
between Fi:th and sixth There In this highly
sheltered locality naples that seem covered with
tiny fragments OF rel coral and these troos indeed
beautful The cottonwood trees, which bear q strong
resemblance 10 Ac white pol eT, have also cntins that
greatly resemble those of the latter and they arc pretty
nearly in the stage OF Development The lovely
weeping birch, which tho savonic rocts call the lovers
tree because its bark invites the writing OF beloved
names Is highly advanced It Is the intention OF Mr.
Woolson TO use this with moro discrimination ana
judgment than have hitherto been shown. There are
places where three brches have teen planted together
IN straight nc which is contrary to common sense, as
the birch is a natural accent from the high and Diiant
color bark II should therefore, be placed alone
upon the green turf where its white bark harn0nzes
well with color OF the grass or In group OF othet
trees-but 81 gty apart-so that Its trunk shall stand
out as an accent amid the surrounding foliage The
oahs and the copper beeohes hayo made no sign Ihey
are waiting patiently FOR continuation OF the soou
tidings OF approaching summer.
novel feature, and that cannot FAIL to win the
attcr ton praise OF the public is the planting OF
her rbaceous flowers upon rocky sites There is one In
full sight Of the drive opposite TO tho North Meadows
whore rocky hlOck has been covered with mossrinkS
and sedums and somperyivums. The moss pink grows
thick forming solid about two inches high ana
is eoyerc1 with bright pink flowers lavlshsd with the
utmost rrodgaty OF Nature. Just upon the edges OF
the rock. where there Is no SOIL there j. dcllcag lns
ing OF the httie COnUOiruuS Mduitohtens ms ca,
eruept has been so successful that 1t Is To he repeated
in other places Besides the charming moss PINK INC
little thrift is being utilized and also the japanese
epimediuins and the heliaHthemums all OF when loNe
rncky suois In fact tho little thrift Alpine aud
~ I'm rroision rocky edgcs OF beetlng crass
In the French Alps whence II was Imputed to Enganu
and there became a fayore plant for bordering here
and there are places whore crocses which were Iante
years ago ana dlsianed TO succsed have In indvdna
eases changed their mind and have sgly III an
unex peccd fashion. Bnt the new regime Ignores
croctses aud is making great display 0f ulilps,