The weekly Republican. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1911-1922, 1911-10-12
SAVE THE TREES.

! The problem of saving the trees
of the city from the maple scale is
one which must be met this fall. As
soon as the leaves are off the trees,
spraying can begin.
To spray or not to spray--that
seems to be the question. To save
the trees or not to save them, is the
problem stated In a different way.
1t will be remembered that the
city council last spring had intend
ed to buy power sprayer this fall
and to spray all the trees of the city.
city. 1t was thought that If the
mater was left to individuals it
would not be done In all parts of
the city. Since it was the purose to
make thorough business of the spray
ing it was thought best, therefore,
for the city to do the work itself, SO
that no tree which should be spray
cd could escape for lack of attention.
Some Of the trees are dying now
and if the spraying is not done this
fall, next year will see several dead
trees on LapOrte street, and others
going the same road TO destruction.
Many tree owners are now wait
ing and wishing for some one to
come along to spray their trees.
The fifteenth of October is said to
be about the proper time to begin
this work, so there is no tue to
lose.
The thing for the city council to
do is TO either 90 ahead and buy a
sprayer itself. or rent one. and pro-
vide the cheapest way possible for
the people to get this work DONE.
There ought not to be moment s
hesitancy as to whether it should be
done. Everybody knows it should
lie done. The only question to con-
slider is. how can it be done the
cheapest?
1t is thought that it may be done
rar cheaper than a dollar tree. The
formula for the solution was given
by state entcmolosist Benz w.
douglass when he was here to ad-
wise the city council last spring,
and it is cheap solution, costing
not more than fifteen cents per gal
lon. Mr.. Mark Vanvactor, living
south of the city made a barrel of
the solution last fall, sprayed two
apple orchards and has some of the
spray left yet.
Mr.. Douglass said when he was
here that he would gladly come back
to Plymouth at any time and help
the council with the spraying prob
lem. even though he was no longer
in office. His very kind offer should
he taken at this time. The city
should have his advice on the matter
for by Sc doing the council can get
the work done at the cheapest price
and also he assured that it will be
properly done.
The saving of the fine shade trees
of tie city is public duty and
should be looked after by the coun-
ell. IT they cannot see their way
clear TO do the work themselves,
they should at least oversee it and
know that it is done and done
thoroughly.
If the city had d machine. either
by buying or renting, it would be an
easy matter for them to set the
street commissioner at the work of
spraying. The street work could
Wait a week or two if necessary Ill
rider that this important work
could he done. We do not believe
that with the city force doing the
work and buying enough material
for the whole city, it would cost
mere than fifteen or twenty cents
per tree. This the owners would
gladly pay for the service.
The important thing Is to get the
work done. and to get ii done at the
lowest possible cost. The council
has had the whole summer for con-
sideraticn of the matter and it ought
not to be a difficult problem for
them. I