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ing a considerable number of trees originally planted in private 

 grounds, of much larger size than can be had from nurseries. Of 

 these, several of fine character were presented by Mr. S. R. Trow- 

 bridge. For the removal of trees of this class, two machines have 

 been invented- and constructed on the park, and it is desirable that it 

 should be generally known that the Commission is prepared to trans- 

 plant to the park any thrifty low-branched tree, the weight of which, 

 with its ball of roots, will not exceed fifteen tons. There are many 

 such in private grounds, which, as they stand, serve no good purpose, 

 and others which must necessarily fall if not soon removed, to make 

 way for new streets or buildings. The public is indebted to Mr. M. 

 S. Beach for a present of six hundred shrubs taken from his country 

 place on the Hudson, and to Commissioner Husted for some fine 

 trees for the replanting of Fort Greene. 



The plan of managing the keeper's force and the gardening work- 

 men in such a way that each would at times help the other, has been 

 gradually coming under trial, and with the advantage of a most dis- 

 creet and assiduous oversight on the part of the Park Inspector and 

 his assistants, seems to be working well. All the regular daily work 

 required to keep in tidy order the walks, steps, seats, shelters, arches, 

 bridges and other constructions with which visitors have to come 

 directly in contact, is now done by the keeper's force early in the 

 morning, before visitors ordinarily require their attention, while any 

 insufficiency in the number of keepers arising from illness, or from 

 unexpected demands upon them, is at once made good by drafts 

 from the gardening hands. Both wings of this organization are ad- 

 vancing satisfactorily in a proper understanding of the duties that 

 will be required of them, ahd in efficiency. 



In pruning the old forest trees an extension ladder, invented for 

 the purpose by our general foreman of gardening work, has been 

 found of much value. 



We have to lament the death of Mr. G. D. McMillan, who until 

 the middle of the last planting season had been charged especially 

 with the detail of arrangement and the planting of the greater part 

 of the shrubbery of the park. He was a faithful and zealous public 

 servant, an intelligent and tasteful gardener, and a man of estimable 

 character. 



The re-grading of Fort Greene is essentially complete, and about 

 two-thirds of the new ground has been finished and planted, in ac- 

 cordance with the design approved by the board. The portion of 

 the ground intended as a place for public meeting was some time 

 since completely graded, and the greater part of it paved. It has 



