Evening star., 1902-08-21
CAPITAL C|TY'S TREES
Comparatively More Here
Than There Are in Paris.
THE ANNUAL REPORT
SUPERINTENDENT SHOWS $500
TREES PLANTED LAST YEAR.
Crusade Against Caterpillars - Tree
Trimming Regarded as of Great
mportance-Estimate for 1904.

When Col. John Biddle, the Engineer
Commissioner of the District, recently re-
turned from Europe he commented upon
the fact that even in the beautiful city of
Paris there were comparatively much fewer
trees on the streets than there are here in
Washington. The work of maintaining
this record for the capital city has been
pushed forward with energy during the
past fiscal year, for, according to the an
nual report of Trueman Lanham, the su-
perntendent of parking, 1900 trees were
planted on the streets in the city and SUBJ
urbs within the twelve months ended June
80 last These trees consisted of elms,
ginckoes, linden, Norway, silver and sugar
naples, pin and willow-leaf oaks, and were
planted at an average expenditure Of So per
tree, on the street, boxed, staked and
strapped.
Mr.. Lanham refers Interestingly to the
caterpillar pest. During the first quarter
of the fiscal year caterpillars appeared on
the trees in large numbers, but the new ap-
preparation for the year being available on
their first appearance, they We're vigorously
attacked and subdued without any great
defoliation of the trees. The 'elm bee
ties" which usually attack the elms during
the month of May, did not make their ap
pearance, and, as a result, these trees pre-
sent an unusually fine appe earanCe at this
time. 1t is noticeable that the elms are
more frequently attacked by the beetle
than the other varieties are by the web
caterptllars and other insects, but the for
mer are much more difficult to extermi-
nate, because of the average size OF the
elm trees and the character of the insect.
determination of Caterpillars.
During the last month of the fourth quar-
ter the web-caterpillars again appeared on
the trees, and this being at time when
the appropriation was nearly exhausted,
much damage would have resulted had not
the of $1,000 been allotted from the
emergency fund for their destruction which
enabled the parking commission to success
fully contend with them.
1t is stated that 22,0OO seedlings were
planted out in the new nursery, these con-
sisting of the varieties named IS planted
the streets and red and English oaks.
They are all in good condition, and the
seed beds well stocked with varieties
which experience has shown to be the best
for this locality.
In regard 10 tree trimming Mr.. Lanham
says:
This is of the most important mat
ters under the Jurisdiction of the office. and
with the increase Of area and number of
trees planted annually it becomes more SO.
If the standard of excellence now attained
Is to be maintained in the future the
amount of money to be used for this pur-
pose must be increased very materially
else this or other deserving matters must
be neglected. There yet several thou
narrow for double rows. very many of
which were planted previous to the regu-
| larly spaced trees at the curb line, and
have reached such a size that they should
be severely trimmed in justice to the
younger and more desirable varieties at
the curb
Number Of Casualties.
There were $50 casualties to trees re-
ported by the police department, and about
223 by memorandums left at the parking
commission office and at the District build |
ing. The work of repair consisted in re-
moving broken limbs from the Streets re-
placing leather straps which had become
broken and restaking loosened boxes.
Six hundred and fOrty-four trees were re- .
moved OF these fifty were in the way of
street improvements, notably Gales street |
northeast, Decatur street northwest aud |
because of Objectionable location, injurious |
to others planted at the curb, and othars |
because of their being too old and so badly |
decayed to render their removal a mat |
ter of public safety.
The Commissions Expenses.
The expenses of the parking commission, |
including the planting of trees and the -e- |
moval of caterpillars, amounted to $2S, |
1915. In his estimates for 1904 Superin-
tendent Lanham asks a total of $41 COO He |
asks for 5000 for placing wire netting
around trees. saying that large number |
of trees planted next the curbing are being |
severely injured by horses eating their |
bark and the only remedy at our disposal |
is to place around them tree guards made |
of wire. The evil is on the increase and |
should be promptly remedied, as tree |
once badly eaten is ruined, and it's removal |
is only matter of time.
Trimming and Removing Trees.
In recommending large increase in the !
amount available for trimming and remov- |
ing trees it is stated that every year there |
is an increasing necessity for the trimming !
Of older trees. From want Of sufficient |
moisture at the roots, and from other |
causes there are hundreds that have long |
dead unsghtly limbs that need to be re- |
moved and the trees severely pruned. All |
over the city are numerous diseased ana
stunted trees that treatment can ever |
benefit and their removal is desirable.
Mr.. Lanham says If the appropriation for |
the expense of planting were sufficient |
4 600 trees of the best varieties could be |
furnished from the nurseries, which would |
enable the parking commission to take a |
long step toward overtaking street i'm |
provements, at least where granite curb |
has been set and grades permanently es- |
tablished. There are a number of trees in |
the nursery at the foot of q street south |
east which will soon be overgrown, and
must be thrown away unless means are
provided for planting them on the streets.