50 REPORT OF THE 



to have been the principal work. Many of the most attractive 

 charms designed by the original landscape architects have dis- 

 appeared. A number of interesting features have been altered 

 or obliterated, and the change has not been for the better. One 

 of the difficulties met with in the management of the Park is 

 caused by the fact that it is exceedingly difficult in a city to find 

 men of requisite knowledge to intelligently perform the work. 

 However, during the past year we have been able to greatly 

 improve the status of the Park laborers. 



PRESERVATION OF PLANTATIONS. 



For a number of years past, attention has been called to 

 the gradual decline of the forest trees, especially those belong- 

 ing to the nut and cone-bearing tribes, by the various admin- 

 istrations in their Annual Eeports. ~No action, however, has 

 been taken to check or remedy the evil. As a result, the rapid 

 decay of these trees has assumed alarming proportions. During 

 the past year over sixty trees, some of them ninety feet in 

 height, have been cut out, and as many more are ready for the 

 axe. This loss is made manifest on the elevated grounds, 

 especially in the west woods, and on the slopes of Lookout 

 and Battle Hills. Want of nourishment supplied at the proper 

 time has been the principal cause of this decay. In some places 

 the soil has been washed away, exposing the roots to the extreme 

 climatic influences that prevail in this latitude, and in other 

 places the turf has been trodden down and the earth so hardened 

 as to prevent all access of air and moisture. To prevent 

 further destruction of forest trees, I would suggest limiting 

 the use of woods for picnic and pleasure purposes, and to 

 begin a system of thorough cultivation to restore the trees to 

 their original vigor. I have found, upon examination, that 

 the coniferous tribe of trees has suffered the most. It will be 

 necessary to remove a large number of them in a short time, 

 and the effective contrasts they produce will be sadly missed. 

 I would suggest planting large groups of them, especially 

 of the kinds that possess durability and longevity, at once. 



