76 NEW YORK ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY 



The maintenance of the forests, new plantations, lawns, the 

 various bedding plants, and of the many valuable and fine plants 

 in the buildings, was carried on as usual. 



Special attention was paid to the prevention of fires, new 

 extinguishers being installed in several buildings, several fire 

 drills being held, and a regular system of inspection of fire-ex- 

 tinguishers being organized. An alarm whistle operated by 

 compressed air was installed in the Service Yard. This whistle, 

 by means of which separate signals are given in case of the es- 

 cape of an animal, or in case of fire, has already proven in- 

 valuable. 



The usual distribution of food, sand and other supplies, and 

 the removal of animal refuse, ashes, garbage, etc., was carried on 

 as heretofore, in increased quantities. 



A great deal of time was devoted to the crusade against the 

 indiscriminate throwing about of refuse, especially on Saturday 

 afternoons and Sundays, when the great crowds thronged the 

 Park. From fifteen to eighteen men were employed on this 

 work every Sunday, under the personal supervision of Mr. 

 Merkel, and with marked effect. That this crusade, however, 

 will have to be one of continued effort, was clearly shown by the 

 one or two Sundays on which the force was reduced. During 

 the year 1910 it may become necessary to make a number of 

 arrests, and publish the fact that these arrests have been made, 

 as warnings to persistent offenders against law and order. The 

 only arrest found necessary this year was made by the Chief 

 Forester, and a conviction and reprimand was obtained. 



Forest fires on the east side of the Bronx River, and in the 

 strip between Boston Road and the Bronx River, continue to be 

 very troublesome. The greatest number originate in the new- 

 ly acquired strip of park along our eastern boundary. This area 

 has very inadequate protection. 



At the Nursery, the usual work of raising bedding-plants, 

 trees, shrubs, vegetables and live stock, was carried on as here- 

 tofore. A list of the supplies produced, is appended herewith. 

 The facilities of the green-houses continue to be somewhat inade- 

 quate, and with the additional bedding designed for the Con- 

 course, it will be imperatively necessary to obtain more green- 

 house room. Another improvement much needed at the Nursery 

 is an incubator and brooder-house. At present the cellar of the 

 breeding-house is used for this purpose, but that is so dangerous 

 a location for the many brooders and incubators heated by kero- 

 sene lamps, that undoubtedly in case of an explosion, or the up- 



