The Washington times., 1902-08-22
Superintendent of Parks
Planted 1900 Trees in
Fiscal Year.
COST THREE DOLLARS EACH
That Figure Includes All Labor and
Material in Providing Protection
Expenditures fer the Year Aggregate
Sz6,773I5-Facts About Tree Culture.

operations OF his department for the iiS
cal year ended June 30 last The Park
ing Commission, of which Mr.. Lanham is
chairman. has the general care OF the
street trees throughout the District,
those OF the parks and reservations be-
ing under the care OF the War Depart
ment. The work of tree planting in the
streets irvclves the keeping OF nur-
sery and the growth and care OF the
trees from the sowing of the seed to
their planting. boxing and trimming on
the streets
There were 1900 trees planted on the
streets of the city and suburbs. consist
ing OF elms ginckoes. lindens. Norway,
silver and sugar naples. pin and willow
leaf oaks, at al average expenditure of
So per tree, boxed. staked and strapped.
This includes the labor of making The
boxes, digging the holes, filling them
with good soil and cartiug away the re
jected earth, removing the trees from
the nursery and the planting, boxing
stalking and strapping of the same, as
well as the cost OF the materials, name
ly. lumber. straps, strap iron and nails.
Seedlings Il. the number of % 600 were
planted in the new nursery, these con-
sisting of the varieties named as planted
on the streets and red and English oaks
They are all in good condition, and the
seed beds are well stocked with varieties
which experience has shown TO be The
best for this locality.
Care Of the Nurseries
This includes fencing a portion of the
new nursery at the intersection of Rich
mond Street and Brightwood Avenue, the
sowing OF seed in beds, the planting of
seedlings in nursery rows and the prun-
ing and general cultivation OF trees.
Tree trimming is one of the most
important matters under the jurisdic-
tiCn OF the office, and with the in
crease of area and number of trees
planted annually it becomes more so.
If the standard of excellence now at
tained is to be maintained in the fu-
ture, the amount OF money to be used
for this purpose must be increased very
materially, else this or other deserving
matters must be neglected There are
yet several thousand trees remaining in |
the parkings on streets too narrow for |
double rows. many OF which were plant
ed previous TO the regula-ly-sp spaced |
trees at the curb line, and have reached
such a size thG; they should be Sc
verely trimmed in justice to the young
or and mere desirable varieties at the
curb.
About $50 casualties were reported |
by the Police Department, and about |
223 by memoranda left at this office |
and at the District Building. THIS work /
consisted in removing broken limbs |
from the streets, replacing leather |
straps which had become broken. and
restaking loesened boxes.
Trees were removed to the number I
OF 644. OF these fifty were in the way
of street improvements, notably Gales 4
Street northeast. Decatur Street north 1
west, and Twenty-second Street north |
west. Many were removed because OF |
Objectionable location, injurious to !
others planted at the curb, and others /
because of their being too old and so |
badly decayed as to render their re |
moyal a matter Of public safety.
Removal of Caterpillars.
During the first quarter of the fiscal /
year, caterpillars appeared on the trees
in large numbers, but the new appro-
priation for the year being available OF |
their first appearance, they were vigo.-
ously attacked and subdued without any
great defollation of the trees. The elm
beetles which usually attack the elms
during the month of May, did not make
their appearance, and as a result these
trees present an unusually fine appear
ance at this time.
1t is noticeable that the elms are no
more frequently attacked by the beetle
than the other varieties are by the web
caterpillars and other insects. but the
former are much more difficult 10 .ex-
terminate, because Of the size of the
elm trees and the character of the in
sect. During the last month of the
fourth quarter, the web caterpillars
again appeared on the trees. and this
being at a time when the appropriation
was nearly exhausted, much damage
would have resulted, had not the sum OF
81 600 been allotted from the emergency
fund for their destruction. which en-
abled the Parking Commission TO sue
cessfully contend with them.
Cultivation of Street Trees.
For several years after planting it is
necessary to keep the tree spaces free
from weeds, and in fact of all growth
unless sodded and properly cared for by I
private parties The soil must be kept
in such condition as to permit the trees
to receive the full benefits of rainfall.
Considerable work is done at the
Office yard, consisting OF the preparation .
of tree straps, making repairs to tree
boxes. the grinding Of axes and other
edge tools. and miscellaneous items.
Tables are appended showing that
with the appropriation and other
amounts available for the department.
S26. .773.I5 was expended in the opera
tions for the year. The number Of trees
are exhibited in the following state
ment:
Number of trees on the streets as
per last report, S2,531; number Of trees
removed during the year. GA; num-
ber Of trees planted during the year,
!. 600; number OF trees how ON the
streets. s4,4s7
The amount appropriated for the pur ,
pose in the iast appropriation law was
81. .O0o. Mr.. Lanham asks that this