Waterbury evening Democrat., 1908-07-11
FIGHTING THE BEETLES
Work of ExtermIDalion Sill In
 Progress on Inc Green.

. A on the green was continued this morning until all had received a thorough sdrenching. It is believed that the dose will do much good, but 1t is not thought that it will de- stroy all the pests because it seems to be out of the question to locate every bunch now on the ground, but by close attention most of them will be ferreted out and disposed of be- fore they get chance to ascend the trees again. Chief Snagg and his men worked hard and the park committee feel grateful for the service rendered.
 A great many of the trees must have been removed since they were set out beginning in 1S41 and con- tinuing to 1S4S. The planting Of the trees and other work on the park was done by public subscription, but according to the Story of the Green" by the Hon F. J. Kings bury, in the History of Waterbury. the principal portion of the expense was borne by J. M. L. Scovill. The stones were blasted out of it on July 4, 1925, by Eldid Parker of Wolcott, under the direction of Israel Coe, about 100 blasts being let off, the excitement bringing into the town for miles distant. The green is 6S6 feet long and 14S feet wide. At the present time it con- tains 69 elm trees, including one that had been pronounced dead and three or four on the sick list. One of the baby elms planted opposite Leavenworth street few years ago, appears to be doing well, but the tree died year or two ago. Consid- ering that the records show that 10S trees were planted there in 1S41 and some more later on and that the number is now reduced to 69 it will be seen that many of them must have died or were removed for other reasons. Some say there are too many there now and that 1t would be better for the trees and the grass if the middle row were taken out, but this isn't likely to happen unless the beetles attend to it.
 In spite of the devavstation done by the grubs the green looks beau tiful to-day, but after all it hasn't half the charm 1t had. for some at least, in ye olden time. Hear MT Kingsbury talk of 1t as he knew 1t in the years that are gone:
 ''I can recall the old green as it appeared of summer afternoon 60 years ago. A few cows nipping the short grass, a few children play ing on the meeting house steps; the three or four clerks from the three or four stores enjoying a game of drive ball on the green; the doors of the stores standing wide open, and an occasional glance in that direc- tion to detect the approach of chance customer, or If the clerk wished to appear careful, he would lock the door and hang the key at one side on a nail. Late In the af- ternoon the swee. smelling loads of hay would come up from the river meadows, and after a while the few business men would con- gregate about the post office or the hotel and walt the coming of the New Haven stage which brought in a small bag, the one daily mail. For years nearly all the mail was kept in candle box, and for the post masters convenience two or three leather straps were nailed inside for such customers as might he supposed to have letters every day. It was the quiet, drowsy life of a New England village: but very soon came to a change. Tn 1s42 the town was growing fast and the characteristic village life was rapid ly disappearing
 The fence that protected the green was removed in 1872. The whip ping post, the flag pole, the water ing and last but by no means least. the dear old band stand. have been removed. but many of the trees are still there, and great effort is be- ing made to save them. The public Is deeply interested in this work, and the number of folks who turned out to see what Is being done shows that after all Waterbury has a goodly share of grand old men and charming old women. They romped on the green when they were young sters and the place Is still green in their memory. Another proof that ouI Vdti9 hhpiesnions are the HlOsl lasting of all. and that there is a lot of logic in the lines which run something like the following:
 "Go where we may, turn where we
 will,
 The soul it's lesson learns.
 The home love Ia the dearest still,
 To 1t the heart returns."
 Chief Snagg finished up deiuging the trunks this forenoon. but two or three men will continue operations with brooms, brushes and paus of kerosene solution as long as the beetles remain on the premises.
 --ir you want to cure that .prfng fever get box of sulphur and cream of tartar lozenges at Walkers