New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1907-07-21
KILLING INSECT PESTS.
Hoo the Parb: Trees Are Protected
bY DR.. S0uthrich.

Almost everybody feels competent to criticise the
condition Of the parks at this time or year mat
is probably because it is just now that almost
everybody goes to the parks. But with all the
complaints about the condition of the lawns-the
scattered eesshels. tin cans papers, peanut shells
and so on-one will notice that there is little ad-
criticism of the foliage. In the country, IN
the parks Of the smaller cities, along the drive
ways Of the suburbs many ragged, discolored
leaves are noticeable Not in the parks Of this
city.
Wen the reason for New Yorks immunity in
this respect is that for the last quarter century
the Park Department has kept close watch On
the tiny destroyers of green growing things as has
the Police Department on the marauderS or SO
ciety Chief Byrnes once said that all criminals
could be reduced into three classes-murderers,
stronS-arm men and crooks. The farK Depart
ment has 1850 different varieties Of pests all work
ing Independently 10 rob the parks Of their fresh
beauty The one man TO cirCumvcnt these little
criminals has been DR.. Edmund Bronx Southwick,
officially known as the economic entomolosist of
the Park Department.
Fifty-two weeks In the year and seven days TO
the week does DR. Southwick labor to see that the
caterpillars and beetles and slugs defeated In
the boroughs Of Manhattan and Richmond that
are IN his care there are l5.0 acres of park land
Growing this great tract-subdivlded though it
iS-are 2Ge0 varieties of plants, ranging from
towering trees to little bushes that are hardly
noticeable except ornamental commas in the
story Of nature. To these growing things
from becoming the fodder Of queer creepy Great
is Dr.. Southwicks mission. And he fulhls
his mission for. although he has held his present
Office since 1t created, there has been
nothing but praise for his work Cities from coast
10 coast have written him for his prescriptions
guaranteed to cure insects of their love of leaves
and, incidentally, of life.
,cs 10 boo, ax.rtoj entirely, -, g,
Tho 1t+lo trre dasroiers he views his long limo
enemies I'm n kindly almost afroctionate light
He is a tall lean sunbrov,ned man with white
hair ana 1nustache and keen bluc ewes that art,
easily kindled into friendly twinkle. At his best
1o,, ord -La5It hL,,'s oIioint,e, Tho ParL ne
nartrnent.s ,arJ or, ono If the Transyorse roads
in Central Park stones throw from 18th street
and Eighth avenue There he has al manner of
plants ana ,non thcu he feeds the slups and
catarnillars studl,ing tbrI ha hits and with gentle
,raIiciol,srsss asce~fsirine- what sort Of noison
1,,. lin Nv, i,sa,t ,,I,,t i,,tIri,,r rho ,1,pt II
&c nee fa+ for i've, ar tI,rce TorsP .sr,- ,nornire
h, T,,t+crs l,t trrf,q ti, ,rnvt tn or the death
of his victims before going out o, his rounds In
the EVENINGS too he sIends several hours there.
no has IN >tba crai q vow, Of cages cortsinIne,
-, - -, 49,, - ~. - -
oI,s,,To ~ CO., 90 tln,,- ~, IN -, -,
49,
LIVES AMONG lNSECIS.
DR. Southwick lives among insects all the year
round The habits of the little creatures are as
we'll know, 10 hin, .s arr, the habits ~ the vegc-
summer is IA him M more "a season Of en.ca1 i'm
teree+ man &c ~ ,,.i,ter r2,,t rr So,biyt VS.
not surprised when a Tribune reporter asked blln
of his present work
We'll" he said with his fun deep- thrcsted
laugh. "of course people COMPLAIN about the trees
9 rhis limo If ,ar ,i-or.. no TELLING bcy ma N,
corur7i rte CONF inc tl pix Tan.rt ,er, fro,I,
n.reore Who ,,,tice t}ot ,i,c t,eo in TT 80 me-
house or r,avhe a tree or two fin some urt1e mark