374 



THE GARDENERS' CHRONICLE OF AMERICA. 



•PARK DISTRICTS 

 PARKS 



tvirHJN TMe 



CITY OF CHICAGO 



*5m rsctnola on oppotilt pap 



of territorA', and has about four acres of park land lyini; 

 alouij the west bank of tlie north l)ranch of the Chicago 

 river. 



The Fernwood park (hstrict covers about three 

 square miles of territory, and has one improved park of 

 about six acres. 



The Ridge avenue park district covers about three 

 square miles of territory. This commission spends an- 

 nually about $3,CC0. It has supervision of one and one- 

 half miles of boulevard, and a one-half acre park. A 

 $35,000 bond issue has been passed and sold for the pur- 

 pose of acquiring a larger park within the district. 



The North Shore park district covers one and one- 

 half square miles of territory. It has supervision of 

 three miles of boulevard. 



The West Pullman park district covers about one 

 square mile of territory and has one 17-acre park now 

 being improved. The commission has issued $30,000 in 

 bonds. They are now building a field house that will 

 cost approximately $26,000. which will give this com- 

 munitv excellent service, and in this respect compares 

 favorably with the $300,000 field houses built by the 

 South Park Commissioners. This field house contains 

 a large combination gymnasium and assembly hall. Un- 

 derneath this hall is an all year aroimd swimming tank. 

 Swimming tanks that can be used 365 davs in the year 



are now in greater tlemand than tlie out-door tanks used 

 only during the summer months. 



The Calumet park tlistrict has recently become a mem- 

 lier of this family. It has about three square miles of 

 territory and 15 acres of park land. The baby member 

 of this family is the Ravenswood Manor park district. 

 It covers about one-half square mile of territorv and has 

 no park acreage. 



There remains about thirteen s(|uare miles of territory 

 within the city limits not alreadv organized into a park 

 district. The people living in these districts of course 

 enjoy the privileges pro\ide(l h\ the park districts, for 

 which they pay no tax. 



The arguments in favor of consolidation are numerous 

 and self-evident. In any event consolidation will ulti- 

 mately be accomplished. 



This gives a somewhat hasty account of our compli- 

 cated park situation, which has been talked about a great 

 deal but unfortunatelv i^ not thoroughlv understood. 



CAVITY TREATMENT OF TREES. 



[Continued from page i~<''\) 

 healing. The sections of cement should be as nearly 

 s(|uare as possible, at least the length should not be more 

 than twice the width. Each section should be finished 

 with a flat surface, covered with roofing paper, and al- 

 lowed to set before the one above is built : larger cavities 

 sometimes requiring several days for completion. After 

 the entire cavity is filled the paper should be cut even 

 with the cement. Tlie cement is then either left un- 

 covered, or may be treated with a water-proofing ma- 

 terial. 



If the edge of the cavity is left in proper shape healing 

 will begin very soon in strong growing trees, but much 

 weakened trees do imt heal as quickly. In some cases 

 where the trees are \ery weak no healing takes place 

 and the cavity should be cleaned out and refilled or in 

 after years decay may set in around the edges and 

 eventuall}- destroy tlie tree as if it had not been filled. 

 In fact all cavities should be watched to see that rot fungi 

 no not gain a new fo 't-hold and continue the destruction 

 of the tree. 



Although cavitv filling is important and is much more 

 efficient than formerly, yet it is still ver}- crude and much 

 less satisfactory than prevention of decay in the be- 

 ginning. Trees should be made disease-resisting by 

 keeping them well fed, well watered and free from in- 

 sects and fungi. The latter can be done very easily by 

 spraving at the proper time with some good insecticide 

 or fungicide. Do not allow trees to become weakened 

 by neglect, and when found in this condition they should 

 be built up by giviing plenty of fertilizer and abundant 

 moisture. 



"True worth is in being, not seeming, 



In doing each day that goes by 

 Some little good, not in dreaming 



Of great things to do by and by. 

 For whatever men say in blindness. 



Or in spite of their fancies of youth. 

 There is nothing so kingly as kindness, 



And nothing so royal as truth. 



We get back our mete as we measure: 



We cannot do wrong and feel right. 

 Nor can we give pain and feel pleasure. 



For justice avenges each slight. 

 The air for the wing of the sparrow. 



The bush for the robin and wren. 

 But always the path that is narrow and straight 



For the Children of Men." 



— Selected. 



