68 NEW YORK ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY. 



Planting. — The most important item of planting accomplished 

 during the year was the screen of tall red cedars placed by con- 

 tract between the Boston Road Entrance Plaza and West Farms, 

 under the direction of Mr. James L. Greenleaf, Consulting Land- 

 scape Architect. Some very necessary planting was done on the 

 islands and shores of Lake Agassiz. The rhododendron groups 

 along- Beaver Valley Walk were strengthened, and the border 

 plantations along the western and southern boundaries of the Park 

 were increased by the addition of many new conifers. 



The summary of plantings for the year shows additions to the 

 extent of 2,035 trees, 12,450 shrubs and vines, and 4,100 peren- 

 nials. These are now generally in excellent condition. 



Insect Pests. — During the year 1906, 11,194 tent caterpillar 

 nests were found and destroyed, against 40,300 in 1905, a de- 

 crease of almost 75 per cent. Three hundred and fifteen cocoons 

 of noxious insects were collected, against 700 last year. Oyster- 

 shell, San Jose and other scales are now rarely found, due largely 

 to the thoroughness with which spraying was accomplished by our 

 machine. 



The results obtained by spraying the chestnut trees were not so 

 good, and it is now feared that all but a few of these trees — not 

 only in the Zoological Park, but in all this section of the city — are 

 doomed. The^ forester has kept close watch for immune trees, so 

 that seed may be gathered from them, but so far he has been 

 unable to find a single specimen. 



Several egg-masses of the Mantis religiosa, or praying mantis, 

 were hatched, and about eighty young specimens were liberated. 

 Eggs and cocoons of other predaceous insects will be collected, 

 and the insects liberated. 



Forestry. — Six hundred and twenty-five trees, including the 

 chestnuts, were pruned and treated. Thirty-five dead trees were 

 cut out and removed, as against two hundred last year, appar- 

 ently proving the value of previous care. 



The general maintenance work of mowing lawns, edging the 

 walks, the care of the thousands of newly planted trees and 

 shrubs, and the mulching of lawns with about 400 loads of fer- 

 tilizers, was also done by the forestry force. A larger number 

 of men were employed this year than heretofore, and the improve- 

 ment in the Park as a whole was noticeable. 



Good Order. — Notwithstanding the fact that during the past 

 year there were eight arrests and convictions for offenses and 

 depredations committed in that part of the Park lying east of the 

 Boston Road, the crowds that thronged that region during the 



