The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1902-03-02
HARDER TREES NEEDED.
A Lesson Taught ny the Damage Done
Here In the Recent storm.

Some Of those who love the public squares
OF New York visited them after the recent
sleet storm to note the damage done TO
the trees. II Is years since the trees In
the small parks have suffered 80 severely
by a storm. though everybody who has
intelligently studied the public square
knew that sooner or later the trees by reason
Of their condition would suffer some such
mishap.
Those who watch the breathing places
OF the city ave long been uneasy because
of the sickly condition OF some Of thetrees,
and the natural tenderness OF others. An
observer Of these things points out that
many Of the trees in the small parks
are OF quick-growing varieties, originally
planted in order that shade might be soon
provided. Tn trees thus planted served
the immediate needs OF a community in a
hurry but nobody took the trouble TO plant
harder and tougher slow-growing trees
to take the place of those originally planted
when the hitter should by reason Of age.
disease or increased size be exposed 20
special damage by storm.
The result is that the smaller parks are
filed with trees already damaged and dis
figured and every year more liable 10 dam
age and Disagreement. The favorite trees
W ~ ~ WV = - WV pun - -
were silver poplars, syoamores and quick
growing naples. Stuyvesant Square has
a great many enormous silver poplars.
Trees OF this. variety. are growing also in
Washington Square, Madison Square, Tn
ion Square and Bryant Park. Some Of
these parks are old enough 10 have grown
fine oaks, beeches and ashes, but scarcely
ono Of the smaller parks has such trees.
A lover OF the parks who visited them
after the recent storm found that the quick
growing trees had especially suffered.
The giant poplars OF Stuyvesant Square
had lost many great limbs, and the poplars
of Washington Square, already marred
by the effects Of earlier storms. had suf-
fered in like fashion. The old and dis
eased sycamores in the smaller parks had
lost many limbs. Some OF them were
already reduced TO little more than bare
trunks. Tn same thing had occurred
in Union Square, Madison Square and
Bryant Park. The naples. especially sub
iect to the weakening attacks of the borer,
had in some stan lost large limbs
and suffered Disagreement, 1t was notice
able that even the larger elms had suffered
less seriously than the poplars and naples.
II has been pointed out hat one reason
why the trees of the public squares are
peculiarly subject TO damage by storm
Is the fact that they have grown from
saplings under unfavorable conditions,
in an i'll irrigated and gas-poisoned soil.
Some Of the oldest elms in the public squares
are smaller than much younger trees grow
ing in more favorable soil, and many other
trees in the squares are stunted and sickly
in appearance.
Those who have taken tho trouble 10
study the subject say that this is a very
favorable time to begin substituting for
the old quick-growing trees that are year
by year damaged by storm, trees of a diff
ferent character, because now that cleo
tricity has been so largely substituted
for gas in public lighting, the conditions
will be more favorable for the healthy
growth of trees.
IL is noticeable that the trees recently
planted In Tompkins Square, the largest
and most delightful Of the Fast Side
breathing places are growing finely. Some
of the Young elms of Toinpkins Square
are rapidly approaching the size of much
older trees In the other squares. This
is attributed in part to the fact that the
soil in which these young elms are planted
IL more favorable than that of the other
squares, because during most OF the life
time OF these young trees the square has
been in large part lighted by electricity.
II has even been declared that the cleo
trio light actually promotes the growth
Of the trees. but there are no enough data
available TO prove this theory.