C*58) 



W. Bayard Cutting ioo 



James A. Scrymser ioo 



Robert W. de Forest 50 



Hemlock Grove 



The natural hemlock forest on the hills bordering the 

 Bronx River continues to be a great attraction and except 

 for the loss of the many chestnut trees, killed by the 

 destructive chestnut blight, is in as healthy a condition as 

 ever. The dead and dying chestnut trees have been re- 

 moved during several previous winters and some are now 

 being taken out by our gardeners under the observation of 

 an official of the Department of Parks detailed for that duty, 

 in accordance with the agreement between the Garden and 

 that department; it is expected that this winter's work will 

 remove all the dead trees. The loss of the chestnuts will 

 not seriously impair the beauty of the grove nor impair its 

 condition, because there are a large number of other decidu- 

 ous trees, such as oaks, beeches, birches, hickories and 

 maples remaining. 



The notices posted at entrances to the grove, requiring 

 visitors to keep to the trails, have been of considerable 

 service in preventing indiscriminate trampling through the 

 woods, but they are by no means wholly effective; their 

 intention has been supplemented by men detailed as guards, 

 but on days in summer when thousands of people come, it is 

 impossible to restrict them as much as is desirable. As 

 recommended in previous reports, it still seems to me 

 desirable, in order to insure the safety of the hemlocks, that 

 the trails be fenced. 



In this connection I would state that during my visit to 

 the Royal Gardens at Kew, England, in September, I was 

 much interested in observing the treatment of the woodland 

 there known at the Queen's Cottage Grounds, an area of 

 some 40 acres through which had been outlined a circuitous 

 grass path 13 feet wide fenced in with strong iron wire on 

 both sides to a height of 4 feet, and the whole woodland 



