CHAPTER IV 



A SERIOUS SITUATION CITY PARKS SUFFERING IN CONSEQUENCE OF 

 POLITICAL CORRUPTION COMMISSIONER WALGROVE'S STATEMENT 

 PRACTICAL SCHOOLS NEEDED TO TRAIN YOUNG MEN TO HAN- 

 DLE TREES THE "BOARDING HOUSE" HOME OR HELL? 

 How TO GROW FLOWERS THE "FIVE A.M. FORMULA" 

 THE TULIP AND II YACINTH THE ROSE THE RHO- 

 DODENDRON How TO GROW THE COMMON 

 FLOWERS ORNAMENTAL PLANTS CHRYS- 

 ANTHEMUM GROWING CAUSES OF 

 FAILURE How TO SUCCEED. 



A SERIOUS SITUATION. 



When I published the old "Tree Doctor," and it was heart- 

 ily endorsed by practical men, agricultural and horticultural edi- 

 tors, and men of science, it was not received by the "Tree men" 

 of large cities. I had heard much of the grandeur of the parks 

 in Washington City, Boston, New York and other places. Oh! 

 how I longed to see the fine specimens at the National Capitol ! 

 The time came ; but holy horrors ! the very first park I went into 

 (Smithsonian) I found "butchered" just the same as an ordinary 

 street of a northern city. I went on to Richmond, Va. Surely 

 here in this old Capitol of the South, with the skill and taste of 

 centuries contributing to its welfare and glory, something re- 

 deeming would be found! But the very home and resting-place 

 of southern heroes is desecrated by the same monster the tree 

 butcher! I turned toward Bunker Hill and, while not so bad, 

 sad havoc was seen on every hand, in and around "the hub of the 

 universe." The condition of the trees in Philadelphia and Har- 

 risburg have already been spoken of, conditions woeful beyond 

 description ! The parks of New York are an improvement, but 

 they show a lack of skill in caring for the trees in a manner to 

 prolong their lives. Central Park has some fine trees, but many 



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