Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1953-07-22
Park Agency Pours Water and Monpower
Into Fight Against Whitening Drought
By Hermon F. Schoden


drought is giving National Cap
ital Parks it's grimmest fight in
20 years to keep alive the city's
beautiful trees and greenery.
Calling the situation critical"
the agency's horticultural main
tenance chief has thrown $50
of his 400 men into the stupen-
dous job of watering and mulch
ing plants on 1000 acres of
parkland.
It's all costing about $500
a day in manpower and an in
calculable strain on men like
George Harding, who heads the
maintenance group.
City Force Busy, Too.
Also involved in the battle is
the Districts trees and parkings
division under John w. BatSon.
A dozen men are watering and
mulching about $500 young trees
along city streets. So far, all
have survived. but with leaves
beginning to yellow. Mr.. Batson
was worried about the future.
1T sneaks up on YOU" was the
way Mr.. Harding put it. 1--WE
keep thinking and hoping it will
rain, and it never rains. Now
it appears we will need more
equipment to finish the job"
Available equipment and men
are spread thin over a vast area
which includes not only all parks,
but the C. & o. Canal, the
Mount Vernon Memorial park
way. Suitland highway and other
scenic spots.
One of the decisions Mr.. Hard
ing must make is whether to buy
about 5000 feet of A-inch gar
den hose and so additional
Sprinklers - equipment which
may not be needed again for
d1AOG41cI ~ years.
May Pump From River.
Unless there is an immediate
break in the 90-degree hot and
dry spell, the answer is clear.
The agency also is considering
purchase of about 10 pumps, to
draw water from the river and
avoid hauling of hose to many
scattered points.
While the water supply seems
right now, the posi-
bility of a shortage also haunts
Mr.. Harding. In this connec-
ton, he has some advice to offer
ITO save their trees and
perennials and save on water at
the same time, they must mulch
the plants" he said.
This requires a few simple
steps. First, the ground around
the plants must be thoroughly
soaked. Then the wet ground is
covered by 5 or 6-inch layer
of mulch-dead leaves, grass,
peat moss, straw or weeds. The
mulch should then be sprinkled.
Watering Can Be Harmful.
Instead of Intellectual, and
sometimes harmful, daily water
ing, the result will be a damp
ness that will last from five to
10 days.
Mulching and watering-this
has been the battle waged by the
park maintenance men. Moth
ing has escaped their attention
the Japanese cherry trees
around the Tidal Basin or the
ancient elms in Potomac Park.
The problems go further than
that, though. The dryness is
bringing out the insects, and to
spray dry trees and shrubs can
be fatal to the plants. So it is
necessary first to moisten the
plants, then spray them.
In the case of the old elms,
the Dutch elm disease offers
difficulty. Only an ex-
pert can determine whether
or disease is whitening
the tree.
Building superintendent in
the Federal Triangle, whose
landscaping Mop also oversees,
have been asked to turn on auto
matte sprinkler systems under
Mop guidance. Too much water
often can be more harmful than
not enough.
So far, by protecting the
younger plants first, the parks
men have saved all but a few
minor things.
But the struggle each day be-
comes greater, and Mr.. Harding'S
last word on the subject has
familiar ring: Were doing
about all we can; let's pray for