THIRTEENTH ANNUAL REPORT 73 



from i)laccs in the border planiation, where lliey liad Ijeconie 

 too dense ; the temporary planting- between the Boston Road and 

 the I'ublic Comfort Station, and the flanking of the west ap- 

 proach to Baird Court with large specimens of rhododendrons. 

 No trees or shrubs were purchased during the year, no money 

 being available ; and all the planting was with stock taken from 

 our own plantation or nursery. 



Insect Pests. — Of insect pests, the elm-leaf beetle, which this 

 year occurred in larger numbers than in the previous four 

 years, \vas of the greatest importance. The tussock moth, also, 

 seems to be on the increase, and since it is a dangerous matter 

 to employ in a zoological park such stomach poisons as arsenate 

 of lead, with which these pests could readily and cheaply be con- 

 trolled, it may cause us a great deal of trouble. Several bad 

 cases of the cottony maple-scale, and similar sucking insects, were 

 quickly brought under control. The annual occurrence of the 

 tent caterpillar has become less and less serious, because of the 

 continued warfare waged against this most unsightly of all our 

 pests. In connection with this insect, the following figures may 

 be of interest: In 1905, 40,300 nests were destroyed; in 1906, 

 the number was 11,194; in 1907, only 4.541 nests were found: 

 and in 1908, the total was reduced to 3,712 nests. 



The maintenance cost of forestry and gardening, which in 

 1908 w-as entirely inadequate to' the w^ork that needed to be done, 

 will have to be recognized more fully hereafter, especially in 

 such places as Baird Court, the Italian Garden and the Concourse. 



The Italian Garden. — The Italian Garden has proved to be a 

 very popular feature. The central beds were first planted with 

 8,000 yellow prince tulips, and afterward with 1,600 scarlet sage 

 of a new and dwarf variety called "Zurich." After the sage 

 was cut down by frost, the center beds were filled with 10.000 

 yellow pansies. which will make a fine showing next spring. 



The Care of Lazvns is now an important item. The amount of 

 work in that line has been steadily increasing, and is unavoid- 

 ably costly, because on account of the much broken surface and 

 numerous small patches, the grass lawns have to be mowed 

 chiefly by hand labor. 



Plants ill BitiIdiii^Q;s. — The decorating of the large animal 

 buildings with palms and other foliage plants, and the care of 

 these decorations under very adverse conditions, was successfully 

 performed by the force of gardeners and hothouse men. The 

 Society now owns too large palms and other decorative plants, 

 ranging in height from eight to thirty feet, and also a great 



