The Washington times., 1903-09-13
CEMENT SIDEWALKS
NOT INJURING TREES
Popular Belief COntradicted
by Supt. Lanham.
LUXURIANT FOLIAGE NOTED
Ravages of CaterpillaIs Less Serious
This Year Than Before-Trees in
the Nurseries
LUXURIANT FOLIAGE NOTED

The Commissioners have received the
report of the Superintendent of Parking,
T. Lanham, covering the operations of
his Office for the fiscal year ended June
80, 1903. IN the course of the year 2.3l0
trees were planted in the streets OF fhe
District. which is q decrease Of go when
compared with the number planted dur
ing the previous year. or the number
planted this year. the northwest sec
tion received l .372: southwest, p; north
east. 667, and southeast, 244.
The report states that 3, 400 seedlings
were set out in the nursery rows. con-
sisting Of 500 Norway naples. 700 red
oaks, zoo American eIms, and 1900
sycamores. There is a total number Of
trees in the nursery now of 23.0sO.
Five hundred and thirty-four trees
were removed from the streets. park
ings, etc." says Mr.. Lanham, ''of which
252 were dead or so nearly so that their
removal WAS advantageous. or the num-
her dead, 66 had undoubtedly been kill
ed by gas, and IL is supposed that
about 70 had been killed by street i'm
provements (resetting of curb, laying OF
159 stood IN brick sidewalks, 65 in
cement sidewalks. and the remaining IS
were removed from parldngs, etc From
the fact that the great majority of trees
removed had stood IN brick sidewalks,
the general belief that cement side
walks are very injurious to street trees
would not seem to have been sub
stantiated.
'sT'o about $50 elms OF a few years
growth. which had been attacked by a
purple louise an insecticide, consisting
of lime, water and salt, was applied
with apparently good results. The older
trees Of this variety were not similarly
attacked.
"Caterpillars appeared during the
month Of June. but with the very fire.
ouent heavy showers, which destroyed
their nests to considerable extent. and
the use OF the money allotted from the
emergency fund for their removal, they
were kept under control. and no per
ceptible destruction Of foliage resulted.
.',The very favorable weather Of the past
spring has caused the trees 10 make prob
ably an unprecedented growth Of leaves
ana young wood, and at this time they
u
seen al this season Of the year. I have
watched with much concern the con-
dition Of trees planted in cement side
walks. in spaces or 31zX7 feet. where
the roadways are OF asphalt and as yet
have discovered no apparent difference
between them and others planted in
parking strips or IN brick sidewalks.
sCader the conditions named. how
ever, IL does not to me seem possible
for them 10 continue to prosper TO the
extent they have in the earlier stages
Of their existence; yet, IL can be plain
" observed that there are trees OF va
r1ous kinds situated as above describ-
"a, doing as well as are those growing
.snder much more favorable conditions
sp this District: for example-the elms
az New Hampshire Avenue, between
Pennsylvania Avenue and u Street, OK
eeDIing those between n Street and Du-
pont Circle. some OF which are rather
fnferior-thOse on New Jersey Avenue
Eas; Capitol Street. and First Streets
northeast, southeast, and southwest
which are not eNcelled by any OF like
Nariet. here"
Tho appropriation for the past fiscal
year for the superintendent ofiice was
s25, 900. After all expenditures, he re-
ports q balance OF ST0.70.