EIGHTEENTH ANNUAL REPORT 93 



much in evidence by fallen trees and limb stubs, and it will be 

 months before the Forestry Department will be able to catch up. 



The hickory bark borer is still present, and caused the death 

 of twenty-nine hickories in the past year. With this excep- 

 tion, there was no very serious injury to the tree life from in- 

 sect or disease. The elm-leaf beetle especially was conspicuous 

 by its absence, and the spraying machine was worked for a few 

 days only. 



Fires continue to be a serious source of annoyance and dan- 

 ger in the section east of Bronx River. The most of them origi- 

 nate in the newly-acquired portion of Bronx Park, along the 

 eastern boundary. 



At the Nursery the usual amount of live stock and vege- 

 tables were raised, but we are working under serious difficulties 

 in the poultry department, and the need of a laying house, and 

 an incubator and brooder house is more important than ever. 



DEPARTMENT OF ADMINISTRATION. 



H. R. Mitchell, Chief Clerk and Manager of Privileges; 

 George A. Dorn, Cashier. 



In the early part of 1913 this Department was obliged to 

 put a great deal of time on the compiling of an inventory of 

 equipment, in accordance with the wishes of the Comptroller's 

 office. A list of the equipment purchased by the city was fur- 

 nished by each department, which had to be classified under the 

 proper headings. The original cost and date of purchase was • 

 given wherever possible, and an estimate was made of present 

 values. This was a serious undertaking to be accomplished by 

 our small force, and at the same time keep up the routine of 

 regular business. Naturally, the effort consumed several months 

 before it could be entirely completed, and copied in duplicate. 



At the same time the Finance Department requested that 

 we inaugurate a system of stock accounting for all supplies used 

 in the operation of the Park. Such a task was impossible with- 

 out adding to the office force, and there were no funds available 

 for this purpose. After an investigation by the Bureau of Ex- 

 pert Accounting of the Finance Department, of the work being 

 done by this office and of the clerical force by which it was car- 

 ried on, it was agreed that this system could not be put into 

 effect without an increased force, and we were authorized to 

 include such additional help in our budget request for 1914. 



