58 NEW YORK ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY. 



only two feet beyond his macadam work, and the regulating, 

 grading, and seeding necessary to join the park surface to the 

 walks was work which could be performed satisfactorily only by 

 the Chief Forester and his men. 



For similar reasons, the work of finishing the borders of all 

 ponds devolved upon this department, and in connection with the 

 Aquatic Mammals' Pond and Ducks' Aviary required a great 

 amount of labor. For example, it was found necessary to cover 

 practically the entire bottom and borders of the former with 

 broken rock and gravel six inches in depth. Several hundred 

 loads of rock were donated for this purpose by the Zoological 

 Society from the excavation made for the Antelope House ; and, 

 by permission of Park Commissioner Moebus, about one hundred 

 loads of gravel were hauled from a deposit in Mosholu Parkway 

 and spread upon the banks. 



The following is a brief summary of the principal work per- 

 formed by Mr. Merkel's department during the year : 



About 900 forest trees were pruned, and cavities filled in about 80. 

 About 200 dead, dangerous, and unsightly trees were removed, 



sawn into cordwood, and piled up. 

 A nursery was established in the northeastern corner of the 



Park. 

 A road was opened from Boston Road to the nursery. 

 About 20,000 trees, shrubs, vines, and perennials were collected 



and propagated. 

 The whole of the Ducks' Aviary was surfaced and seeded. 

 The whole of the Aquatic Mammals' Pond was dressed down to 



a finish, surfaced with six inches of broken stone and gravel, 



and borders fertilized and seeded. 

 About 160,000 square feet of walk borders were regulated, graded, 



and seeded. 

 About 2,000 feet of service road border were regulated, graded, 



and seeded. 

 About 700 feet of old roads, through animal ranges, were oblit- 

 erated and seeded. 

 About 2,900 feet of posts and guard-wire were erected along walk 



borders. 

 The Crocodile Pool and 51 reptile cases in Reptile House were 



decorated with plants, and constantly maintained. 



