Albuquerque evening herald. [volume] (Albuquerque, New Mexico) 1911-1914, 1913-06-21
The Cotton Nuisance;
Some Suggestions

Albuquerque. y. NJ. June q, 1919.
Editor Evening HeraId. city
Dear Sir.--i have read with inter-
cst what was said both in the Journal
ana the Herald on the cotton nuisance
and / agree with both OF the main
propositions: that Is. that the cotton
nuisance ought "a be- abated. and that
the beauty and shade OF the city
ought not 70 be destroyed. A little
applied Intelligence and energy /
think would solve both questions
In the first place il is a mistake
TO suppose that the cottonwood tree
Is better adapt for beauty and shade
than any other tree. The experience
with black locusts has shown that
they grow equally as fast as cotton
woods and are much more beauti-
ful tree. would invite attention 10
the black locust trees which were
planted around the library building a
few years ago. and challenge anyone
to SHOW any cottonwoods that have
grown faster: and they are certainly
as beautiful az tree can we'll be.
The elms around the Alyarado are
another example OF trees that do we'll
The trouble with the Alvarado elms
Is that some evil genius. under a pre-
tense OF trimming them. ruthleasly
cut off the ends OF all the main limbs,
which caused thousands OF sprouts
TO grow and destroy the essential
Characteristic OF the elm. that Il. long.
clean. graceful branches.
~ people want cottonwoods Il is
not necessary 20 plant the cotton
bearing kind. Anyone who has OBJ
served the appearance Of cott0nwoOds
In the spring Is able 20 choose the
kind that IN not cotton bearing.
This discussion Of the cotton nut
san nee has been going on 10 my knOwl-
edge for the last twenty years and
nothing has ever been done.
The present condition is the result
of official and individual carelessneas.
A. a matter NJ fact the cotton nui-
sance could be eliminated in the
course Of few years without injuring
anyone or destroying In any way the
beauty Of the town. / can point out
az least a hundred large cotton bear
ing trees that are wedged In among
other trees SO closely as 20 prevent
tho natural growth Of surrounding
trees. By cutting them down II would
give the other trees chance 10
spread and would not in any way az
feet the desired shade or beauty; but
on The contrary would greatly improve
the beauty Of the surroundings This
would remove more than one-half OF
l ANf HhlhAHff lfhNl tire tNtthHs
Then again, there are but few Of
the cottonwood trees that are trim
med. and most OF them have twice as
much growth on them ns there should
De for their health and beauty. II the
remaining cotton bearing rees we're
properly trimmed az least One-half OF
the remaining cotton nuisance would
be removed. and Il would be an easy
matter, whore those remaining trees
are, 10 plant the on-c0tton-hearing
cottonwood tree. or black locust or
other trees that are not subject 10 the
nuisance, and trim out and cut out
the coiton-b hearing trees as last as
conditions viii permit.
The town could be greatly beauti-
fled by properly trimming all Of Tho
trees. Those who have trimmed trees
IN Albuquerque have 81 n rule seemed
10 have no idea Of the natural growth
or beauty ~ the trees. and have left
them 10 grow very low and full Of
small limbs instead Of trimming them
up "a as 20 give an unobstructed view
and "a the same time a large crown
for shade There ought 90 be some
| way 40 punish those who cut or the
ends Of the limbs and leave dlNiigured
ana diseased stubs IN place OF beauti-
ful. graceful limbs
A little attention 10 this subject