New-York tribune., 1911-04-09
EXPERT SAYS CENTRAL
PARK NEEDS NO NEW SOIL
G. B. Maynadier Declares Much
Damage Due to Vandalism
No Lack of Fertility.
FAULTS EASILY CORRECTED
Adequate Drainage and Irrlga'
tion Recommended - NOT
Favorable to Extension OF
Playground Area.

In an effort to make known to the pun
uo the object Of his mission 10 NC"
York and also because OF the preseh.
cor,roversv in the Park Department
about matters which have come uhoei
his consideration. G.. B. Maynadier. tie
soil expert Of the Department OF Asri'
culture. who has been investigating con-
d;tions in Central Park since the nrst
week IN March. decided yesterday 10
anticipate his future eXtended rePoi' ''
one at the present time.
In the first place. MI Mayhao'er
wanted it made plain that ne was en-
eaeed TO come here by Park Commis-
sioner Slower. who had previously cor
RESPONDED with Professor Milton WHIT
ney. head of the Bureau or SOILS III
Washington, Commissioner Stovers IN
junction when the soil expert began MS
work was ito get at the whole truth anu
nothing but the truth" and tnls' MI
Mavnadier said yesterday. he had en-
deavored to do.
The statement which he made yester-
dav showed him firmly opposed TO the re-
soiling of Central Park. a plan lons
favored by Samuel Parsons, 1r.' the iano !.
scape architect. and to the conversion Vi
aov. part of Central Park into a play
ground thus opposing O movement
favored last year by Commissioner
StOver himself.
They have wanted the ruth anu
am going to give ii to them 10 the pest OIL
nv ability" said Mr.. Maynadier.
Speaking of the condition OF Centrai
Park when he began his investigatloh'
the soil expert said;
THE existing conditions in Centrai
Park are in many ways. far from sais-
factory. the causes leading thereto being
extremely various. Much damage mas
been done to shrubbery by what is ap-
parentlv wilful vandalism. Many OF the
groups of shrubs have been treated III
ruthless way by visitors to the PARK
The resulting appearance, whue anuihs
10 the unsightliness of many sections OF
the park. can therefore in nowise be at-
trib,,ted TO a lack of fertility Of the soil
in which they are growing.
1.-The condition Of the lawns upon
which tennis and baseball are played is
also in part the result of the use 10
which they were put when the conol'ions
were such that they were least able TO
resist the hard usage which they were
called upon to bear. Particularly mas
this been so in the early summer. The
continuous trampling has resulted IN
much injury to the subsoil, which at no
time was Of the very best.
The whole area of the park. as IS
we'll known. was developed on rocky
foundation by filling in with fragments
of glass. china. crockery. brickbats and
other refuse. These areas were overlaid
with layer Of soil of varying thickness.
hut generally good in character.
Notwithstanding the artificial char
acter of the material used for filling and
the diversified character OF the park as
completed. there seems to have been lit
tie attention paid to the installation OF
an adequate system Of sub-drainage. re-
sulting in the formation of many moist
areas and of a somewhat general acid
soil condition throughout the park"
Taking up the matter Of resoiling.
planned at the expenditure of S1.OO0.OOO
or more, AS a means Of bettering condi-
tons in the park. Mr.. Maynadier said