Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1890-05-24
THE CITY'S TREES.
Mr.. Smith Explains Why They are
Trimmed-Work Done This Season.

A STAR reporter this morning called on Mr..
VIM. r Smith, superintendent Of the Botanical
Gardens, who is a member Of the District park
ing commission, and called his attention to
some complaints received by The STAR in re-
gard to what was called the shameful"
trimming Of trees along some Of our streets,
especially I street from New Jersey avenue
to North Capitol street. Mr.. Smith said that
Mr.. Saunders being less severe trimmer than
himself was chiefly in charge of that work;
that what the commission was doing was
deliberately and skillfully done, and the public
need only wait till August to compare the trees
that are trimmed with those of the same kind
that are not He said we have fifty different
kinds OF trees on our streets, and that some of
these, such as the oriental and American
plane trees, the poplar, the ash
leaved and soft naples and others,
must be trimmed when used as curb
stone trees. for with the surface OF the ground
covered with pavement they cannot get enough
moisture during the summer months to sustain
the early growth. II not trimmed they will, he
said lose their leaves and become unsightly
Objects But other trees. like the elm aud the
sugar maple, will not stand trimming.
TREES PLANTED THIS SEASON.
The commission has planted this season along
the 7th street road about two thousand
| oriental plane trees, such as Alexander watered
and Socrates taught under. On the east side
Of the Peace monument oriental plane trees
have been planted and on the west the Ameri-
can variety. No city on earth, Mr. Smith con-
| tinued, has such magnificent foliage as the
streets Of Washington possess today.
The poplar, like its first cousin, the willow
is an anti-malaria tree, absorbing miasma and
giving off q balsamic odor. Our American
poplar is now planted about Rome to prevent
malaria being there known as the black Ita,-
ian. The essence of willow 10 given
for ague:, As an anti-malarial agent,
| to any eucalyptus tree Of Australia.
Nature provides it and the willow about swamps
| and along streams to prevent disease, but the
people unwittingly remove them. With a
knowledge OF this misunderstanding property
Maj. Haines, the engineer in charge Of the i'm
provements, is planting these trees on the re-
claimed lands along the Potomac.
TO HELP TIE CIGARETTE TRADE
Referring to the pod-bearing catalpa trees
along Pennsylvania avenue southeast and other
places Mr.. Smith said complaints had been
made that boys climb the trees and steal the
pods for cigarettes. Although he thought the
pods much superior to the ordinary cigarette,
| steps to cut of the pods and help the revenue.
''You are an old timer here, Mr.. Smith?'
eyes, was here before Goose creek became
the Tiber, and, by the way, the lawyers are
| after me now for testimony as result Of that
underground trip made last year with a
star reporter. Business men want damages
for the food"
"You are s.-ofacio member Of the parking
commission?"
II was appointed by Alex Shepherd in 1879
and my commission was perhaps the broadcast
and most general on record After the three
members were appointed we held meet ing
| and the next day informed Gov. Sheph er
We had met and that had been elected chair.