The Savannah morning news., 1900-08-02
TREE MORTALITY Is SMALL.
CHAIRMAN DAFFIN DISCUSSES THE
QUESTION OF TREE PLANTING.

Over 1.OGO Young Trees Planted Dur
ing the Last Season-yVeather Was
UnfavOrabIe. but Percentage of
Loss Was SmnII-Tree Parasites
Are scarce I'm savannah and Have
Given Comparatively Little TrOu-
bIe-Lack of Funds COmpeIs the
Commission TO Go SIow-A Special
Appropriation Needed for the
Southern Section.
Chairman Daffin of the Park and Tree
Commission returned yesterday from New
York where he went last week, accom-
panying his family, as far as the metrop-
oils, on their way o the White noun aims.
where they win spend the summer. Mr..
Dafin reports the weather extremely hot
and Unpleasant in New York city, and
states that he prefers Savannah as a sum-
mer resort.
The chairman was pleased to observe
the increased interest in tree planting
among the citizens as shown by recent
ticles in the Morning News, but was
at a lols to account for this sudden man
Hesitation Of interest in arborlculture. He
was not inclined to agree with some Of
the opinions expressed as to the tree life
of the city, and thought some of the par
ties quoted were in error in their conclu-
slons.
The mortality among the young trees
planned by the commission has not been
large, as some seem to think" he said
Our success en- this line has been very
satisfactory in fact
1T is true that more young trees have
died this season than before, but this is
due to several reasons one being that
more young trees were planted. The
mortality among the young magnolias
has been comparatively large, due to the
unfavorable season. The very wet spring
and early summer, followed by the drouth
of midsummer, had a bad effect upon
these trees and a number have died. Still
the percentage of loss has been small"
Chairman Dafin disagrees with Mr.
OTIS Ashmore in the opinion expressed
by the latter that the death of the young
trees has been due to insect parasites.
Such is not the case he said, refer
ring 20 Mr.. Ashmore's opinion, quoted
in the Morning News Savannah is I'M
usually free from these insect enemies of
the trees, as compared with other cities. We
are not troubled with the San Jose scale
and parasites of every kind have given us
little cause for concern. In some places
where ant nests exist at the foot of
the young trees, the bark has been cut
into and insects have found a Judgment
but these are not numerous"
Our tree planting season is about over
for the present" said Chairman Daffin
though we shall soon begin planting
palmettoes. over 1000 trees have been
planted by the commission since last fail
the varieties being chiefly live oak, mag
nolia and sweetgum. We began in the
northern section of the city. taking the
streets in line and planting trees where
ever there were vacant spaces. We have
only got as far south as Liberty street.
We realize that there is a great deal of
work that should be done, but with the
limited means at our command, we have
been unable to do more. The southern
section requires and deserves attention.
and a special appeal for an increased APP
preparation for this purpose in the next
budget will be made. We have done all
we could with the funds at our disposal"
Does the commission permit private
citizens to plant trees in front of their
premises, IL desired?" Chairman Daffiu
was asked
Certainly" he replied, I'VE are glad to
have them do so and will give them the
benefit of our advice and assistance. With
our limited means we do not feel called
upon to plant trees in front of the resi-
dence of every property owner, however
much We would like to do so. We have
planted trees for number of citizens in
various parts of the city, upon their order,
charging them the prescribed prices. We
are always glad to have citizens cooperate
with us in this work, requiring of course
that thew conform 10 the plans agreed I'D
on for the various streets, in order that
there may be uniformity in the foliage of
each street"
Chairman Daffin expressed the hope that
Council would see the necessity of making
a sufficient appropriation in its next bud
get to enable the commission to provide
for all the treeless streets.