64 
PARK AND CEMETERY. 
noticeable features was the perfect 
nudity of the islands and shores, re- 
lieved only by the sight of four 
American elms on Apple Island, now, 
alas, dwindled to one lone one, and 
a most charming bank of green flank- 
ing the officers’ quarters at Fort 
Warren. This last was found, on 
near approach, to be a row of splen- 
did white poplars. Now, I know 
when Mr. Pettigrew started the 
planting at both parks mentioned 
above he depended on the white pop- 
lar and the white willow as trees to 
withstand the severe exposure. They 
have proved equal to the occasion, 
and now, at Wood Island, measure- 
ments show that from the trees 
planted in the spring of 1899 a pop- 
lar presents a girth of 50 inches, and 
a willow one of 42 inches. The pop- 
lars were young plants from the nur- 
sery, but many of the willows were 
taken from the plantations, with stems 
three inches .in diameter. 
Since these trees first planted com- 
menced to thrive, many other varie- 
ties have been added to the collec- 
tion. Among others that show re- 
markable strength may be mentioned 
oaks, both the red and pin varieties; 
white ash, English elm, sycamore and 
gleditschia. 
Among shrubs that thrive are bush 
honeysuckle, bayberry, tamarix and 
English privet. 
Many of the neighboring shores are 
covered with American juniper, but 
I believe it advisable to hold to the 
deciduous trees. 
The American elm, for some rea- 
son, has not proved a success at 
Wood Island, but I should not aban- 
don hope; they do remarkably well 
in this locality. 
I do not fear for the success of 
planting the Harbor islands, if the 
proper amount of energy is injected 
into the project. 
James B. Shea, 
Asst. Supt. of Parks, 
Boston, Mass. 
APPLICATION FOR MEMBERSHIP. 
I hereby apply for membership in the American Associa- 
tion Park Superintendents. 
*My experience as an executive has been 
*My training and experience in landscape work, engineering, or horticultural 
work has been 
References 
A member of the Association or two other persons. 
Applicant. 
*Use another sheet to give this information more fully if necessary and 
attach to the application blank. 
plexing questions, and comments on 
matter as it appears from month to 
month. The object of these few col- 
umns is discussion and heart to 
heart talks. Come forward every one 
with something, be it ever so little. 
The association is desirous of get- 
ting together at the earliest possible 
moment a complete file of the or- 
ganic acts under which park depart- 
ments are organized. Will you not 
kindly send today a copy of the one 
in force in your city to F. L. Mul- 
ford, secretary-treasurer, office of 
Horticulturist, Department of Agri- 
culture, Washington, D. C. ? 
The library of congress has re- 
quested copies of our mimeographed 
bulletins for use in the library. Will 
not members see if they have copies 
they are willing to spare? If they 
have and will 'drop a postal to the 
secretary-treasurer, he will see that 
proper franks are provided for mail- 
ing' to' the library. - 
? F. L. Mulford. 
Secretary-Treasurer. 
What to See in the Boston Parks. 
The planting scheme for Boston 
Harbor islands is a problem such as 
confronted Mr. Pettigrew, when he 
took up the/ work of the Park De- 
partment in this city, more than a 
dozen years ago. 
Two of the most important points 
that required development on horti- 
cultural lines were Wood Island Park, 
at East Boston, and Marine Park, 
South Boston. 
The former presented exactly the 
same conditions, as to soil and ex- 
posure, that the other harbor islands 
now present. Marine Park, however, 
required regrading and loaming, be- 
ing entirely destitute of sustenance 
for tree life. 
Now, in the first place, an examin- 
ation of the soil on any or all of 
these islands discloses the fact that 
the same composition is to be found 
at all points; that is, a covering of 
loam to the depth of 12 or 15 inches, 
and underneath this a clay bottom, 
very retentive of moisure. The only 
variation from this is to be found in 
the islands and shores in the vicinity 
of Hingham and Weymouth, where 
the subsoil is porous. 
Therefore, to start with, we have 
splendid conditions as to soil, and 
the first thought is as to what trees 
will stand the exposure for the in- 
itial planting. 
The first thought that comes to my 
mind is of my early days? spent 
around Boston Harbor. One of the 
The Park Board of South Bend, 
Ind., believing that $35,000 and $28,000 
are respectively too high for the 
Baker’s field and Beck’s lake tract, 
two committees have been appointed 
to negotiate for a reduction. Both 
pieces of land are wanted by the citi- 
zens of the respective committees for 
park and playground purposes. 
A special election was ordered by 
the City Council of Santa Rosa, Cal., 
on the question of issuing bonds for 
the acquisition of a public park. 
Kansas City proposes to have a 
noteworthy artificial water park, if the 
plans of the park board made public 
recently in a special report of the Blue 
Valley Parkway, are carried out. 
Copies of the report, which represents 
three years’ preparation, have been 
handed to the mayor and council. The 
report proposes the improvement of 
the Blue River between Fifteenth 
Street and Swope Park, and the con- 
nection with Swope Park of the entire 
boulevard system by a boulevard and 
