Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1921-07-14
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Daily Talks With Thinking Phadelphians on Subjects They
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than has been known for fifteen years. This
was due to the exceedingly mild February
which we had, causing the sap to start
earlier.
''As a natural result, the foliage also will
drop earlier this year. The Oriental plane
and the Norway maple are shedding now
and If this recent rain had not come along
1t Is safe to say that nearly every variety Of
tree in the city and parks, would have been
bare by the end of September.
There are fewer caterpillars this year
than we have known for seven years. This,
i believe, is due largely to the fact that more
care has been given to the trees than for
merly. The men employed by the city are
now cleaning off the cocoons every year. If
this plan is kept up rgidly, 1t is not i'm
possible that in a few years we may have
no catcrpillnrs to dcnude the trees of Phila-
delphia. There are never any caterpillars
on hardwood trees.
A New Pest
"But while we have been blessed this year
by scarcity of caterpillars, n new pest has
made its appearance on the trees in the out
skirts of the city. This is what is known as
a 'borcr.' 1t is a bug which bores hole
about one sixteenth of an inch in diameter,
from the outside, right into the heart of a
tree, resulting in the death of the tree if
prompt measures are not taken. Six or
eight of these pests will bore dozen holes
INTO the very vitas of tree in single night
and when this is done it takes hard fight to
save the tree. Although small in size and
tnus far not very great in numbers, it Is one
or the most dangerous enemies to trees that
mas visited Philadelphia in years.
10 night this tree pest, we have d strong
tiuid which is squirtcd into the holes made by
the 'borers; This fluid kills the insect it.
helf and also destroys all the eggs which
the pest lays in the holes which 1t makes.
lt Is very eiiicacious, but it must be ad-
ministcrcd promptly.
I,ut fhn of .Il
worm. We have not had any of them this
year ana we will not have them now, as it is
TOO late. 1t Is hard to fight them on account
OF their great numbers. But bad as they
are Tor trees. they are even worse for grass
ana crops IN year when they make their
appearance thcy always come IN great num-
6erS and they will 20 through a ten acre
field IN single night.
Air Space Vital
The greatest trouble with the cara of trees
In the city is the almost universal lack of air
space for the roots. There should be a
minimum OF nine square feet, and this amount
OF room is now provided for by a city ordi.
nance without this air space q tree will
become bark- bound and this condition is
certain death to the tree. Too hard soil and
lhc h'N or air space are responsible for the
dcoth or more trees in the cities than snv
other dozen reasons.
lhe city has done its part in trying to
care Tor and save the trees within it's boun-
darleS, and in 1913 all frees IN tLo nuIiio
highways in the entire city were turned n,ar
TO the care of the Park Commission IL tbo
property owners would take the right inter.
est IN me trees on the public highways in
front OIL their property and notify the com
mission when the trees begin to show signs
OF something going wrong, there w"uIJ l."
very lew d'aths OF trees in the city
The Carolina Poplars