TWENTY-FOURTH ANNUAL REPORT 101 



gift from time to time, have made enlargement of the storage- 

 house imperative. In view of the fact that our bay-trees are 

 as fine as any in the country, and that bay-trees may no longer 

 be imported, and that none are being raised in the United 

 States, those that we have should be preserved most carefully. 



Nursery Green-honse. — The old boiler at the large green- 

 house which was formerly used in the Park as a Mammal House, 

 has suffered a number of breakdowns, and since repairs to this 

 boiler no longer are possible, a new one should be installed. 



WATER SYSTEM. 



Wate)- Suppbj Systc7n. — Of the hydrants, troughs, drinking 

 fountains, etc., many of the wrought-iron pipes that were in- 

 stalled during the first five years of the existence of the Park, 

 are badly corroded, and now are comparatively useless, as the 

 pressure has been too greatly reduced. I strongly recommend 

 that all replacements of these pipes be made of the best gal- 

 vanized wrought-iron pipe, instead of steel pipe, which rusts 

 so quickly. 



FORESTRY AND PLANTING. 



Forest and Shade-trees. — Our small force of tree pruners 

 has not been able to keep up with the work demanded, and con- 

 ditions in the forest, especially on the east side of the Bronx 

 River, are getting worse all the time. About all the work that 

 we have been able to do has been to prevent dangerous conditions 

 adjacent to walks, buildings and fences. Now, however, many 

 dead limbs and limb-stubs, as well as some dead trees are pres- 

 ent, and a force of at least five men should be kept at work dur- 

 ing the next few years to remove these conditions. Most of 

 the pruning, especially that on the very tall old forest trees, 

 only can be done by able bodied men, experienced in this line 

 of work. 



Plant lug. — At the present time, most of our plantings are 

 in satisfactory condition, but the evergreen beds in the Italian 

 Garden which have been deteriorating for some years, should 

 be replanted entirely, as this most prominent feature of Baird 

 Court has become very shabby. 



