Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-03-16
TREES OF THE DISTRICT
REPORT OF THE SUPERINTEND
EMIT OF PARKING.
Red Oaks Regarded as Peculiarly
Adapted to Washington Soil
Certain Trees Condemned.

In response TO communication from
Col. John Biddle, Engineer Commissioner,
requesting information relative to the trees
of the city of Washington, Mr.. Trueman
Lanham today submitted the following in
teresting statement:
1.-The finest rows of trees in Washington
consist of the red oaks on each side of
18th street, between the Smithsonian In
stitution and the Agricultural Department.
This is not only my opinion, but also the
opinion of others who are well qualified to
judge. In this connection ! would state
that would like to see more of such trees
planted, especially on wide streets, as they
are of rapid growth, do especially well in
the graveled soil of the District and are
free from all insect pests and have beau
tifu1 foliage, including a fine, deep-cleft
leaf. They would be well adapted for such
an avenue as Massachusetts avenue and
If public sentiment would start it red oaks
on that wide avenue would be magnificent,
and in very few years they would be
larger than the linden trees growing there
now, the linden trees have soft roots
and are out of place in the gravel soil,
growing only until the roots strike the
gravel and then stop.
Last year Congress appropriated $4,000
for the maintenance and planting of trees
in the city, and understand this is all the
House recommends for this year, although
the Commissioners made strong plea for
not less than $4,000. 1t is not generally
realized that we have 81. 400 trees in Wash
ington to maintain, wire, plant. repIant
and care for, and each year have far
greater demand for new trees than the APP
preparation will permit. 1t is only by the
practice of careful and economical man
agement that we are enabled to go as far
as we do There are but two Salaried men
In the department. The superintendent of
parking gets $1,000 year and the assist
ant superintendent $1,0O0. Every dollar
possible is spent on trees, dirt, digging,
teaming and wiring. and 1 know of no
money spent in support of the city that.
dollar for dollar, gives such big returns in
beauty, comfort and health as the small
amount spent annually for trees.
The Oriental Plane Tree.
Had We the money, 1 would like to see
the planting of the oriental plane tree,
which is doing handsomely on 18th
street. continued clear to the mall. taking
out the diseased and decayed specimens of
soft naples that now are on that great
thoroughfare and such streets as 18th
street, and replanting. There are many
such cases that We cannot touch for the
want of funds. I would remove every ne
gundo, or ash-leafed maple in the city
They are annually infested with caterpil-
lars, which we spend more money to fight
than would be required to replace them
They are on 4th street northwest. II street
west OF 10Th, at various places on l. street
and on street in Georgetown. Citizens
VINO live on these streets should be much
interested in larger tree appropriations
also think the honey locusts. which are
q poor shade tree and dangerously covered
with thorns, should be removed The Caro-
INA poplars, while not considered the best
street trees, should not be removed as
they are very handsome in early summer
My favorfte trees, after nineteen years eX-
perlence, are, first, The oriental plane, then
in order, the Norway maple. the sugar ma
pie, the American elm and the red and pine
oaks, particularly the red oak where they
have enough space.
1--WE have $1,000 soft wood trees that are
dying because We do not have enough
money to prune them. To head this great
number OF trees back properly would re-
quire $1,000. nearly one-third the entire APP
preparation, and also a great many trees
probably 10000 of the earlier paintings that
need fresh soil. by extending the original
beds. The response in the identifying of
the trees would be immediate and very
gratifying. 1t would cost $4,000, or 81 a
tree.
Conditions Changing.
1.-THE conditions of tree planting are
changing very much. Under the present
system of asphalting the streets and pave
ments. the holes should be increased from
3x4x2 feet, the earliest size, to 3x3x12 feet.
You will see the old space contained
twenty-four cubic feet of SOIL whereas now
we are compelled to use los cubic feet. or
as near that as we can afford All this
costs a great deal of money relative to the
present appropriation. but a very small and
insignificant amount relative to the SPLEEN
did results achieved, of which we are all
so proud.
Every tree should be protected by a
woven wire netting, that costs 3J cents per
tree. About one-half are now unprotected,
and the result is many fine trees are being
continually ruined by horses. A great many
of the old wires are rusted OFF, and we
have not had enough money to replace
them.
1.-THE parking strips that are now being
left to accommodate the trees are very I'M
slightly being bare of grass, muddy in wet
weather and altogether present discred-
table appearance for the national capital.
II we had enough money we would like to
prepare these, top dress them where nee
essary. plant In grass and keep them
moved. There is not a householder In the
city who would not quickly note the great
Improvement and take delight In 1t.