-it) REPORT OF THE 



The confidence of the public in our work has been in- 

 creased by the planting of new trees wherever the planta- 

 tions are weak, and the caring for and nursing of trees 

 throughout the Park and on the Boulevards. 



Our forests, which are mostly on steep hillsides, have 

 been injured by the continual wash of the heavy rains, and 

 in many portions the roots have been left partially bare. 

 To obviate this we have planted vines or low shrubbery 

 that will grow in the shade, and also grass in the early spring. 

 The shade, however, kills the grass before the summer is 

 over, but the little fibrous roots assist materially in holding 

 the soil together. It has been decided to cover all the 

 places made bare with a good strong sod. taking a section 

 of the Park every year until the work is accomplished. 

 This will give nutritition to the trees, and restore in a great 

 measure what has been washed away. 



The horticultural department has been greatly enlarged. 

 All plants and flowers used in our various Parks are raised 

 in Prospect Park propagating houses, at a much less cost 

 than buying them 'and of a superior quality. In addition 

 the greenhouse is open to the public during the winter 

 months, where a choice collection of ferns and other tropi- 

 cal plants and flowers are on exhibition, and in summer 

 these same plants are used for tilling of vases and other 

 decorations in the Flower Garden. 



The work of the Department is continually growing, ow- 

 ing to the increasing population that must be provided for, 

 and the construction and maintaining of other parks lo- 

 cated throughout the city. 



The subject of preserving and maintaining the small parks 

 is receiving a great deal of attention, and when these parks 

 are put in order they should be well lighted and policed. 

 They ought to be at all times of the day and night a com- 

 fort and pleasure to the citizens, and not, as has been and 

 still is, in some of the Parks, a menace to all who have to 

 pass through or use the same after nightfall. 



It would seem to be very desirable that sufficient monev 



