PARK AND CEME-TERY 
17 
NEW ENGLAND ASSOCIATION OF PARK SUPER-' 
INTENDENTS, 
Extracts from Buttetin No. 4. 
Heber B. Clevvley, Worcester, Mass., asked why 
Ouercus palustris or Pin Oak is not more commonly 
used for street and avenue planting instead of Maples. 
He says ; I realize that it is generally considered that 
all members of the Oak family are slow growers as 
compared to the Maples. My experience, however, 
in the case of the Pin Oak does not agree with this 
idea. During the past five or six years, I have made 
more or less of a study of this tree, planting and 
growing it on my own grounds as well as those owned 
by others, and I now have specimens that are nearly 
as tall as Maples, of the same age, while the diameter 
of the spread of their branches (or we may say shade) 
is nearly fifty per cent more, and this on very poor 
soil, too. The good features of this tree are many — 
beautiful, heavy, dark green foliage, changing to fine 
reds in autumn, a clean straight trunk, branches 
spreading and drooping a little below the horizontal, 
growth quite rapid and permanent, few insect ene- 
mies, and a tree of long life with only one possible 
objection, as far as I can see, and that is that it 
retains its leaves for some time after they turn brown. 
What could be more beautiful than an avenue of these 
stately trees, combining as they do so many good 
points. 
I would use them, not with the idea of detracting 
in any way from the well-deserved merits of the 
Maples, but to give diversity and added beauty at the 
same time. Beauty that is not confined to any par- 
ticular season of the year, as is the case of so man)- 
of our trees which are apt to grow dusty and dingy 
as the hot weather advances, but the same dark glossy 
green (apparently heedless of dirt and dust), changing 
to its brilliant reds and rich browns of autumn. 
There are of course many other desirable street 
and avenue trees which should be planted more freely 
than at present, our native Beech, Fagus ferruginea, 
for example. But let us use more varieties, not all 
mixed up helter-skelter, but by streets, giving to each 
so far as possible, that location and surroundings that 
suits it best. 
Mr. John C. Olmsted, Brookline, Mass. — I agree 
with Mr. Clewley that the Pin Oak ought to be more 
used as a street tree than it is. When I began the 
practice of my profession in 1875 I was much im- 
pressed by old Samuel Parsons’ enthusiasm for the 
Pin Oak used in this way, and have ever since con- 
tinued to recommend it whenever opportunity of- 
fered. It is impossible not to get tired of the almost 
exclusive use of elms and maples for street trees, 
good as they are for the purpose. I have always 
avoided the use of the beech for street trees, thinking 
its tendency to run its roots near the surface and its 
liability to suffer from excavation in its vicinity, suffi- 
cient reasons for not recommending its use in streets. 
Hans J. Koehler, Hartford, Conn. — I should lik'^ 
to know if any one has been able to overcome the 
effects of the gall fly (Andricus cornigera), which often 
attacks the Pin Oak. Here in Hartford a big per- 
centage of the large trees are absolutely unsightly, 
especially in the winter, being loaded down with these 
galls or rather knots. These knots are one to three 
inches in diameter, black, and hang on for years ; 
thus their number increases and a tree so infested 
becomes more unsightly each year. Unless this 
plague subsides or some means are devised for coping 
with it successfully, it will be doubtful if it is advisable 
to plant the Pin Oak in this part of the country. The 
opinion of some of the foremost entomologists seems 
to be that the effect upon the health and life of the 
tree is hardly perceptible. From observation I have 
made myself, I should say that this may be the case. 
Nevertheless, the unsightliness remains. This is ni) 
only objection to the Pin Oak. 
small Swamp White Oak (Quercus platanoides) 
that came under my care was infested by a gall to the 
extent of being badly disfigured. The galls were all 
cut off with a shears about two years ago, and since 
then none have reappeared on it. Possibly the same 
treatment might be effective on the Pin Oak. 
* * if 
SHORT CUTS OR TRAILS IN PARKS. 
John C. Olmsted. — I have always been impressed, 
in designing plans for parks, with the importance of 
combating the tendency to short-cut trails and to the 
wearing out of turf along the edges of walks, and 
have always devoted a great deal of thought and study 
to laying out the walks on lines that will serve so 
well as short-cuts that the tendency of most people 
to cut across the lawns is obviated. This becomes of 
the greatest possible importance in the smaller city 
parks surrounded by densely occupied residence dis- 
tricts. The best way to obviate the wearing of turf 
along the borders of walks is to have them wide and 
perfectly smooth and comfortable to walk upon. 1 
should always condemn loose gravel walks for this 
reason, and any excess of binding material whicli 
becomes muddy should be carefully avoided. In ad- 
dition to this it is well to plant occasional trees, occa- 
sional bushes, and to place other ornamental obstruc- 
tions along the borders of \valks, or where circum- 
stances permit of it, to cover the surface with vinca 
or creeping plants which do not invite pedestrians to 
walk upon them. I dislike the iron hurdle system 
of protecting the borders of walks so much used in 
England, especially in Hyde Park. It would be far 
preferable in such cases, as Mr. Pettigrew says, if no 
other comparatively reasonable and agreeable protec- 
tion can be devised, to repair from time to time the 
damage done. 
