Forestry work commenced immediately after the BPC acquired land. Merkel conducted a general tree pest survey and closely inspected each parcel. Identified pests included the hickory bark beetle, spring cankerworm, gypsy moth, and brown-tail moth. Each tree was examined and treatment was prescribed. Crews were trained and supervised by Robson to perform tree surgery. Live trees were carefully pruned of dead or broken limbs; cavities were cleaned and treated; and wounds were cleaned, treated, and coated to prevent the infestation of disease, insects, or fungus. Merkel reported that it was a pleasure to watch the forestry crews at work. He believed that only a few park systems could equal the work being done in the BRPR, and proclaimed that none could surpass it. Trees were removed when necessary for various reasons, including infestation, crowding more valuable trees, the danger of falling, or being an undesirable species. Cherry trees were removed from the reservation because they were not well suited for parkway purposes and were infested with black knot. Chestnut trees were eliminated because of the chestnut blight.(121) The earliest forestry work began in the Butler donation, which contained one of the finest groves of hemlocks in the Westchester area. Prior to the BPC taking possession of the parcel, more than 400 hemlocks had died from the destructive hemlock borer. BPC labor forces removed infected trees during the winter and early spring in order to destroy the larvae. They also inspected live trees for problems. To control the pest, infested trees and branches were cut down and burned. Parasites were propagated and released to feed on the larvae. The BPC also enlisted the assistance of the New York State Department of Agriculture, which instructed nearby property owners to remove their infested trees. By 1914, the BPC was confident that the hemlock borer had been exterminated and its spread to adjacent groves of trees prevented. Later forestry activities in Butler Woods involved thinning hardwood seedlings that threatened to crowd out the hemlock seedlings.(122) In 1913, Merkel recommended that the BPC establish a nursery on low land
between Tuckahoe and Crestwood to propagate trees, shrubs, and plants
for the parkway. A year later, he noted that the initial nursery was much
too small to accommodate the BPC’s demands and recommended that
it be expanded to at least four times its size. The BPC agreed to Merkel’s
request to enlarge the nursery and plant an additional 5,400 trees. Much
of the nursery’s initial success was due to the generous support
of the New York Zoological Park, which donated more than 20,000 tree cuttings
for future planting material and sold approximately 4,500 additional plants
at a favorable price. In addition, the zoo made large quantities of fertilizer
available for the cost of shipping.(123)
Merkel periodically asked for funds to purchase additional nursery stock,
pointing out that it was an economical method to produce plantings, while
also ensuring that the BPC had |
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| (121)Bronx
Parkway Commission, Report, 1914, 77-80; Report, 1916,
77. |
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