(137) 
REPORT OF THE ASSISTANT DIRECTOR 
To THE DrrECTOR-IN-CHIEF : 
Sir: I have the honor to submit the following report for 
the year 1908. 
Grounds 
The grounds, and the buildings as well, have been main- 
tained during the year as economically as was consistent with 
efficiency. 
The roads and paths through the grounds are under the 
care of the Park Department, but the borders, guard rails, 
water mains, and other mitters connected with the lines of 
traffic, have received due attention from our own employees, as 
detailed in the report of the superintendent. 
Special attention has been given to the removal of dead 
and unsightly trees and branches along the roads and paths 
and on the lawns. In addition to the usual spring pruning, 
the maple trees and the younger trees and shrubs in the col- 
lections were pruned in late summer and early autumn. 
Many shrubs have been added to the collections during the 
year, and many of the decorative clumps of shrubs have 
been rearranged. The condition of the plantations is very 
satisfactory. 
The past season was a very trying one on plants in this 
locality. During the month of May the rainfall was heavy, 
reaching 7.36 inches, and this was succeeded by a severe 
and prolonged drought of six weeks or more. The weather 
of late summer and autumn was rather dry, on the whole, 
although 6 inches of rain fell during the week beginning 
August 22; and the first conspicuous film of ice appeared on 
shallow ponds on November 14. 
The chestnut canker has continued its ravages with 
unabated virulence, and no remedy for this disease has been 
discovered. All of the chestnut trees on the grounds have 
been either killed or seriously damaged by it and those in 
conspicuous places have beenremoved. The rest will be cut 
as rapidly as the wood can be used. 
