New-York tribune., 1905-07-12
YORK TO SAVE TREES.
Park Department Takes Immediate
Action against CaterpiItarS.

That the crusade Of the City Club against the
Park Department regarding the riddance OF the
pest Of caterpillars on the trees in Central Park
was a timely one is evident by the immediate
action taken by the department TO remedy the
evil. showing that they realize the seriousness
OF the situation.
John J. Pallas, the Park Commissioner, did
not wait for a communication from Mayor Nc
Clellan. AS soon as he read in The Tribune the
copy Of the letter sent TO the Mayor by Law
renee WELLER, secrtary of the City Club. he sent
for DR.. L. b. Southworth. the entomologist OF
the department. also for Deputy Commissioner
Clinton II. Smith and Superintendent Nelson.
After a conference Dr. Southworth asked
TO furnish report which he did.
willis Holly, secretary to the Park Board, in
the absence of the Commissioner said yesterday
that DR.. Southworths report showed that the
situation was not as serious it would seem to
the casual observer. He said that the force Of
men that usually attend to the trees had been
busy in the smaller downtown parks. and the
caterpillars in the Central Park district had
gained little them. The Commissioner, Mr..
Holly said. had directed DR.. Southworth and
Superintendent Nelson to begin at once Vigor-
campaign against the caterpillars, and he
not only expects to make an appreciable dimi-
mutton Of numbers in the present crop. but he
also expects TO prevent second one. To this
a
number Of men and horses. and he expects that
results win be apparent at once. The damage
he said, was not as great as some persons might
fear.
When seen at his headquarters at 79th-st. and
Central Park West. DR.. Southworth said that
with sixteen parks in Manhattan and others in
Richmond County, the force of men had not
been large enough to attend to all of the trees
IN the LOO acres to be taken care of, but that
an extra force Of men were to be put on at once.
and that all the caterpillars would soon disap-
pear.
1T is just our regular spring crop of cocoons
and caterpillars," said he. There are generally
two crops-one in June July and one in Sep
tember. This years first crop is a little larger
than usual, that's all After the caterpillars are
picked off q force of men win spray the trees
with a solution Of london purple arsenate Of
lead, sulphate Of copper, and water, lime and
Hour. This kills any germs that may be left on
the trees
Lawrence WELLER. secretary of the City Club
when seen yesterday and told of the action of
The Park Commissioner, said that he was glad
the Commissioner realized the Importance of
getting rid OF the caterpillars but that in his
opinion, nothing but a large force Of men, put
TO work at once, would be effective in saving the
trees.
Dr.. D. T. McDougaIl. of the New-York Botan-
ieal Gardens. in The Bronx, said yesterday
that so far he had had no trouble with cater
pillars up there. There are some 80 acres in
the gardens, and the ground is covered by the
men at least once day. He had looked at the
NAPLES and elm trees carefully, he said and he
had been unable TO find any caterpillars of the
species mentioned
A visit to Bryant Park yesterday revealed the
same state OF affairs as in Central Park In
gard TO the Caterpillars. They found on
almost every elm tree in the park.
A correspondent Of The Tribune suggests as a
way 10 Hd trees Of caterDillars TO bore a three
eighths-inch hole downward TO the core in the
trunk oe q tree about three feet from the
1G n fFgHa TT1c hole
OF calomel, and then plug it up with thin paper
AS teasDoonful is equivalent TO two ounces,
ana as calonel at wholesale is worth 81 a
pound, this would be a costly experiment TO trv
on some 5000 trees