Evening star., 1939-12-03
Parks
Continued From Page B-l.)

problem The almost fireplace
able old trees cannot be placed in
the care of unskilled. laborers, Sc
cured from temporary lists"
Perennials' Elimination Lauded.
The report said that the tendency
to eliminate perennials and ANIMALS
from the parks, which has appar-
entity been emphasized in recent
years, is "a practice heartily to be
commended. Not only is the use of
such plant material very expensive
but its use is of questionable value
in even the very best maintained
parks"
The District presents no special
problem so far as soil for growing
plants is concerned and has an ad-
vantage. it was pointed out, over
some other cities. The Horticulture
Division, it was suggested, should
have ample supplies of topsoil at all
times.
Under certain minor recommended
tions. the report said, no single park
tree should be removed or mutilated
for the sole benefit of private prop
erty owners and the practice Of
cleaning up" natural woodlands
should be abandoned at once
1t also recommended further and
complete study of the difficulty of
maintaining the English elms in the
vicinity of the Rejecting Basin and
the Towering dogwoods near the
District of Columbia War Memorial,
a study of which it was claimed has
never been made.
The Horticulture Division needs
the cooperation of the police in
protecting the downtown parks, it
was said. The report stressed: THE
turf. shrubbery and even the trees
In downtown triangles. squares and.
circles appear to be suffering badly
from abuse by dogs. Conditions of
soil and climate. together with nor
NAL human use, make the problem of
establishing and maintaining these
areas in prime condition very diff
cult. Appropriate design and high
grade maintenance seldom fail to
bring about a helpful attitude on
the part of the citizenry. We are
confident that abuse by boys and
girls would be stopped promptly
by arrest and prosecution. We feel,
just as it has been found necessary
in many cities, that it is vital that
regulations curbing the growing
abuse by dogs be passed and en-
forced in the National Capital
parks"
Experts Declared Helpful.
With respect to "woefully made
quate" maintenance funds, park
oficials are in hearty accord. Funds
available this year are about $780,
900 less than in 1882, despite the
fact that park holdings have in
creased. They challenge, however,
the statement that experienced
horticulturists apparently are not
in control and that the trees are
showing signs of neglectful at
tention.
I'VE have never had a serious
problem of trees, but that the advice
of the best experts in the Agricul-
ture Department and the forestry
branch of the National Park Service
has not been sought and obtained"
an official said. The maintenance
division has an efficient crew, it was
claimed, which is continuously
bracing. pruning and giving surgi-
cal treatment to the old trees. al
ways, the condition of the trees and
shrubbery has been matter of first
importance" he said.
The problem of the English elms,
which the report said shows the
results of futile attempts to check
the suspected water condition, is
one on which the most prominent
scientists in the Government are
unable to agree. Again, officials
claimed, studies of the dread
cephalosporium, commonly known
as the Dayton disease, which is
even more destructive than the
Dutch elm disease, have been made
with the cooperation of forestry
experts. The results were so good,
it was said, that the national for