46 NEW YORK ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY. 



require to be cut away, and hundreds of dead trees which are 

 Hterally a standing menace to the safety of the pubhc must be cut 

 down and removed. 



The work of preservation, as it has been carried on by the Chief 

 Forester and a force of from eight to twelve trained men, has been 

 very interesting, and at a later date will be reported upon in de- 

 tail. During the month of February, for example, the dead limbs 

 were removed from 202 trees, 33 dead trees were removed, and the 

 trunks of 19 trees were filled in with masonry. In removing dead 

 wood from some of the larger trees sometimes as many as 200 

 cuts were necessary. 



Propagation. — Equal in importance with the preservation of the 

 existing forest growth in the Park is the work of propagation. 

 The creation of extensive border plantations along the Southern 

 Boulevard and Kingsbridge Road is the most urgent demand, and 

 one which will receive attention as rapidly as climatic condi- 

 tions will allow. Along wath this, a great amount of careful plant- 

 ing must be done around Cope Lake, on Audubon's Hill — which 

 IS capable of development as a pinetum — and, to a limited extent, 

 in the ranges for big game. Hot-beds were started early in March, 

 and as soon as possible a commodious greenhouse should be 

 erected. For some years to come the border plantations can be 

 used as nurseries for many kinds of young trees. 



During the autumn and winter Mr. Merkel prepared several 

 thousand cuttings of native trees and shrubs, planted in seed-boxes 

 about 100 kinds of seeds, and in March established a small nursery 

 on a bit of tillable ground in a secluded spot near the northeastern 

 corner of the Park. A small shed was erected at that point, in a 

 clump of bushes, for the proper administration of the nursery and 

 other work on the eastern side of Bronx Lake. This nursery 

 will be of great value to the Park, not only for the propagation 

 of trees and shrubs, but also as a storage place for the stock that 

 will be purchased of nurserymen prior to its final setting out on 

 the grounds. 



In a short time the completion of the Reptile House will fur- 

 nish a conservatory which will be of great value in connection 

 with the extensive supply of living plants that must be provided 

 for the larger animal buildings, for which purpose it was specially 

 designed. 



