Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1889-09-07
wAsHINGTON's SHADE TREES.
The Ravages Of the Caterpiiiars and
English Sparrows.

The caterpillars are rather plentiful at
present on the shade trees about the city.
For several weeks past a force of men has
been employed in removing them as far as
practicable without serious injury to the
trees by removing the affected branches. A
spraying machine has been employed in treat
ing the insects with weak solution of London
purple and water. This solution was placed in
cart and hose with a spring nozzle having a
long pole attached thereto employed
for saturating the webs of the pests.
For various reasons it has been
deemed judicious to abandon this
method of destruction, which, although thor
oughly eficacious, is looked upon as not being
free from danger to individuals, as it coats the
leaves with poison which oftentimes falling on
the streets and sidewalks may be handled by
children with serious results.
WHAT MR.. SAUNDERS SAYS.
In a cosy little room in small brick build
ing. surrounded on all sides by green houses,
may be found Mr.. L. NJ. Saunders; one of the
parking commission and the superintendent in
charge of public grounds.
What provision are you making toward
preventing injury to the trees by the great
army of caterpillars which have recently made
their appearance" asked a STAR reporter yes
terday.
Very little is being done at present, and the
unsightiiness Of the insect-eaten leaves is the
worst feature. The trees will not sustain any
serious injury" he replied 1.-THE growth
OF the trees for the season is about
completed, so that the removal or destruction
of portion of the foliage will have no material
erect on the tree. In other words" continued
Mr.. Saunders, those branches which have
their leaves eaten now will push out as freely
into foliage as those whose leaves have
mt hAa
which the worms nave been removed show
webby branches and brown leaves. These are
not removed because the severe pruning neces-
sary for their removal destroys the symmetry
and beauty of the trees, their removal being
cure much worse than the disease"
WHAT CAUSES THE LOSS OF LEAVES,
"What brings SO many leaves off the trees at
this season of the year?" asked the reporter.
Nobody can tell" was the reply. 81 have
noticed when a wet season is followed by a dry
spell the leaves Of the poplar trees drop off in
quantities; also that trees in damp soil are not
80 prone to lose their foliage thus prematurely
as trees on dry SOIL"
But about these caterpillars. How long
will it be before they disappear"
Their days are numbered" he replied.
Already they are in a semi-comatose condi-
ton and may be easily shaken from the trees"
many of them?"
mo; that is not my impression. They may
eat a few Of the smooth variety, but they will
not eat the hairy species"
Then you think, I" suggested The STAR man,
''thst they could just as well be exterminated?'
DESTRUCTION BY sPARRows.
'Yes, that is my impression" was the reply.
''They do more damage than the insects do.
/ have noticed them in the early spring, when
the peach trees were in full bloom, 90 to
blossom and giving it a sharp peck,
move on toward the next one. After watch
ing this performance for some days became
Interested and determined to find out what it
was they were eating. Investigation showed
that they were eating the small embryo peach
and doing untold damage. So complete did
they remove the peach that the blossom
in great majority Of the cases remained in
tact. also noticed that they were very fond
of wisteria buds and the vine which completely
covers my home some seasons is wholly with
out bloom except in places near the ground,
where the birds are afraid to 90. Yes, / think
the English sparrow is an unnecessary evil"
THE PARKING COMMISSION.
show many years since the appointment Of
parking commission and by whom was it ap-
pointed in the first place?'
THE parking commission was formed in
the fall Of 1871 by the president of the
board . OF public works, Mr.. shepherd.
na Wss suggested sss p Mr. WallsSh formerly
took more interest in the welfare of the city
than mayors usually do. Mr. Wallach named
the three gentlemen who were asked 10 serve
on this commission and who continue so to
serve up to the present time.
There is no salary; it is not a salaried Office.
We have never received the value of two-cent
postage stamp out Of it, although we have used
good many in connection with it, Our labors
are for the public good and the
beauty Of the city. / was told not
many weeks ago." continued Mr..
Saunders THAT . capitalist and heavy real
estate owner in the District had said that the
tree planting had added 20 per cent to the
value Of property. How near this is to facts I
do not pretend to know, but there is no
doubt about the increased attractiveness
due to the amply shaded streets and the cooling
effect Of masses Of foliage. Now this cooling
influence is due to the evaporation Of moisture
from the leaves, and when we consider that
the moisture thus evaporated is largely
drawn from the soil contiguous to the
foundation walls Of the houses we see valua-
BILE sanitary economy realized-the extraction
OF moisture from the walls and its use in modi-
flying the temperature Of the air."