60 EIGHTH REPORT OF THE 



Special Report of Forester Fjnecfytel on Dead and Diseased 

 Trees in Flashing and Port Jefferson, I^ong Island. 



Albany, N. Y., December 9, 1902. 

 Col. William F. Fox, Superintendent State Forests, Albany: 



Sir. — On the twenty-eighth of last March I visited Flushing, N. Y., in 

 accordance with your instructions, to determine, if possible, the cause of the 

 death of trees reported to the Forest Commission by the Good Citizenship League 

 of that place. Dr. E. P. Felt, State Entomologist, whom I chanced to meet at 

 that time in New York City, very kindly accompanied me. 



The shade-trees of Flushing are remarkable for their number, beauty, size and 

 variety. One hundred and forty species, native and foreign, together with 

 numerous varieties, have been counted within the limits of the place. For two 

 centuries its trees have been the pride of the old town. 



Nurseries founded there in early times have facilitated the planting of trees. 

 The horticultural interests of America were first established commercially in 

 Flushing, although the arts of budding and grafting had been previously practiced 

 by the French Huguenot immigrants. In 1737 William Prince began a nursery 

 and garden which, in i860, contained 113 acres. The Civil War, however, curtailed 

 the patronage to such an extent that the business was ruined and the lands were 

 afterwards appropriated by the village for building purposes. 



In the year 1790 James Bloodgood founded the nurseries bearing his name, 

 now under the very successful management of Messrs. Keene & Foulk. These 

 are the oldest nurseries in continuous existence in the country. For nearly half 

 a century they were conducted by Mr. Joseph H. King, one of the most 

 enterprising citizens in the town. 



The Parsons Nurseries were established in 1840, and, with the others mentioned, 

 have made Flushing known to horticulturists all over America. 



To the nurseries must be attributed much of the taste for rural adornment so 

 characteristic of the place. Besides the native species of trees are to be found 

 the Cedar of Lebanon, the Chinese Taxodium, the Southern Cypress, the Paulownia, 

 Japanese Maples, and many other nursery varieties. 



Some of these trees are very noted. A stone near the sidewalk on the west 

 side of Bowne avenue, opposite the Bowne House, marks the site where stood two 

 famous Oaks called the "Fox Oaks." Under these trees George Fox, the founder 



