Goodwin, Richard H.

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Connecticut CollegeDigital Commons @ Connecticut CollegeBulletins Connecticut College Arboretum5-1947Bulletin No. 5: The Connecticut ArboretumRichard H. GoodwinFollow this and additional works at: http://digitalcommons.conncoll.edu/arbbulletinsPart of the Botany Commons, and the Forest Sciences CommonsThis Article is brought to you for free and open access by the Connecticut College Arboretum at Digital Commons @ Connecticut College. It has beenaccepted for inclusion in Bulletins by an authorized administrator of Digital Commons @ Connecticut College. For more information, please contactbpancier@conncoll.edu.The views expressed in this paper are solely those of the author.Recommended CitationGoodwin, Richard H., "Bulletin No. 5: The Connecticut Arboretum" (1947). Bulletins. Paper 5.http://digitalcommons.conncoll.edu/arbbulletins/5CONNECTICUT COLLEGEUB«ARyIVtW LONDON, CONN.THE CONNECTICUT ARBORETUMCONNECTICUT COLLEGENEW LONDON, CONNECTICUTTHE CONNECTICUT ARBORETUMCONNECTICUT COLLEGENEW LONDON, CONNECTICUTB U L L E T I N No. 5MAY 1 9 4 7PHOTO BY WM. M. RITTASEHere on the college campus and within New London's city limits maybe found the beauty and peace of the country. The Arboretum is find-ing increasing use as a place for recreation and as an outdoor labora-tory for all phases of nature study. On a recent morning bird-walk overforty species of birds were observed in less than two boms.The Arboretum Tract — Recent Land AcquisitionsSixteen years have passed since the founding of the Connecticut Ar-boretum in 1931. Impressive progress in its development was made dur-ing the first ten years, under the able directorship of Dr. George S.Avery, Jr. The laying out of the original plantings, the construction ofthe entrance, laurel walk, outdoor theatre and Buck Lodge, and the ac-quisition of the wild Ravine Tract in the Bolleswood were all accom-plished during this period. The story has already been told in Ar-boretum Bulletin No. 4.During the past six years further progress has been made, in spite ofthe fact that the wartime manpower shortage severely curtailed ouroperations. The purpose of this little bulletin is to describe some ofthe recent developments, the most notable of which has been the ad-dition to the Arboretum holdings of four new tracts of land situatedto the north of the Connecticut College campus and totalling approxi-mately ninety acres. The acquisition of this land has been made pos-sible through the generosity of the many friends of the Arboretumand the College. The position of these tracts in relation to the cam-pus is shown on the map in the middle of this bulletin.The first of these additions was the ten-acre Benham Road Exten-sion, lying immediately north of the campus. A good portion of thisarea, which was abandoned farmland at the time of acquisition in1942, has been planted to pine and hemlock, as shown in the fore-ground of the view looking northeast across the new Norwich high-way and the George S. Avery Tract. The following donors raisedthe funds necessary to purchase this land:Hon. Christopher L. AveryMr. George S. Avery, Jr.Mr. Henry L. Bailey, Jr.Miss E. Frances BotsfordMiss Julia Wells BowerMiss Frances S. BrettMiss Mary BulkleyMiss Mildred BurdettMiss E. Alverna BurdickMiss Margaret S. ChaneyMiss Pauline H. DedererMrs. Malcolm J. EdgertonMiss Elizabeth H. HarrisMiss Margaret W. KelleyMrs. Allan F. KitchelMiss Betsy B. LarrabeeMiss Rachel LarrabeeMiss Katharine MatthiesMiss Mary C. McKeeMiss Florence R. OranMiss Lois PondMr. William H. PutnamMiss Ruth StanwoodMrs. Jacob VerduinHon. Frederic C. WalcottMiss Miriam Dwight WalkerMiss Eleanor S. WarrenMiss Marian P. WhitneyMrs. S. H. WilliamsMisses Mary and Elizabeth WrightNew London Garden ClubStamford Garden ClubThe George S. Avery Tract, thirty acres of land lying between theBenham Road Extension and the Thames River opposite MamacokeIsland, was purchased in 1944, largely through gifts from twenty gar-den clubs and more than a hundred friends of Dr. Avery, who wishedA new planting of white pine on the Benham Road Extension lookingnortheast across Mohegan Avenue to the George S. Avery Tract.to express in this way their appreciation for all that he had done to-ward developing the Arboretum. The list of contributors is much toolong to publish here, but we are indebted to all those who made thissplendid addition to the Arboretum a reality. The area is partly openland and partly wooded, with steep rocky ledges sloping down to theThames River. It commands extensive views up and down the riverand has great possibilities as a place of beauty in the years to come.The Gallows Lane Extension, a twenty-acre area just to the north ofthe original Arboretum tract, was purchased early in 1946 with fur-ther gifts from Mr. George S. Avery, Jr., Mr. Richard H. Goodwin, Mr.Robert Fulton Logan and Mrs. S. H. Williams and with funds appropri-ated by the College. Some of this land is wooded and some of it is oldpasture now growing up with brush.The Katharine Matthies Tract, twenty-six acres of land connectingthe Avery Tract on the north with the College-held river frontageto the south, was purchased in 1946 and is named for its donor, MissKatharine Matthies, Secretary of the Arboretum Association. Most ofthis tract is open land which, until recently, has been under cultiva-tion. Several acres were planted to white pine this year, and it is hopedto complete the reforestation of this area in another two years.Thus, in the past five years, the Connecticut Arboretum has morethan doubled its area and now extends in a practially unbroken sweepfrom the original tract west of the college campus on Williams Streetclear to the Thames River. It will be years before these new additionscan be developed the way we wish them, but the future looks bright,both for the growth of the Arboretum plantings and for the preserva-tion of the natural beauty of the college setting.A vista looking up theThames River toward Nor-wich from the George S.Avery Tract.From the top of the ledges on the Avery Tract looking southeastacross the river. The south end of Mamacoke Island may be seen tothe left.The Botanical CollectionsThose who were familiar with the stately grandeur of the old hem-lock grove in Bolieswood, which was so devastated by the hurricaneof 1938, will be pleased to see the rapid recovery of the area to itsnatural state. The little sketch on the title page of this bulletin catchesthe spirit of this change—the replacement .of the fallen giants, thetrunks of which are now adding humus to the forest floor, by thriftylittle hemlocks of the coming age.One of the primary objectives of the Arboretum is to gather to-gether a living collection of all the woody plants native to our state.A fine beginning had already been made before the war. Now we aregoing ahead with new plantings to fill in gaps in our list of speciesand varieties. The Arboretum has been fortunate in securing the part-time services of an able field botanist, Mr. K. P. Jansson of Gro-ton, who has been collecting new botanical material for the Ar-boretum. Some financial support for this scientific work is being re-ceived from the Connecticut Geological and Natural History Survey.This work was begun last summer and the most important groupsof species which have been added to the collection are the black-berries and raspberries (genus Rubus). Mr. Jansson has collectedspecimens of this genus for Professor Liberty Hyde Bailey, the worldauthority on this group, and has one species, Rubus Janssonii, named inhis honor.A small portion of the newnursery, where young seed-lings are being propaga-ted for use in our ownplantings and for distribu-tion as "tree dividends" toorganization members ofthe Arboretum Associationfor civic planting projects.Although our old nurserieswere nearly depleted dur-ing the war, we still havea limited offering of spe-cies and have shipped outover jour hundred speci-mens during the past year.Every year is a growing year in the Arboretum. This vigorous standof pines was planted along the ski run as six-inch seedlings in 1938.We now have the following native species of Rubus represented inthe Connecticut Arboretum. Some of these species have economic im-portance as the source of our cultivated berries, e. g., the commonhigh-bush blackberry (R. allegheniensis) and the wild red raspberry(R. strigosus, also known as R. idaeus var. strigosus).Rubus alius BaileyR. allegheniensis PorterR. Andrewsianus Blanch.R. Bigelovianus BaileyR. brevipedalis BaileyR. cuneijolius PurshR. jacetus BaileyR. flagellaris Willd.R. gaarus BaileyR. Gravesii (Fern.) BaileyR. Groutianus Blanch.R. hispidus L.R. bonorus BaileyR. insons BaileyR. Janssonii BaileyR. multijormis Blanch.R. multispinus Blanch.R. notatus Bailey var. ortui BaileyR. novanglicus BaileyR. occidental!! L.R. odoratus L.R. paulus BaileyR. pauper BaileyR. pensilvanicus Poir.R. philadelphicus Blanch.R. piicatijolius Blanch.R. recttrvans Blanch.R. rhodinsulanus BaileyR. Rosa BaileyR. semisetosiis Blanch.R. strigosus Michx.R. udus BaileyA careful survey of all the woody plants now growing within theArboretum is now being made, and specimens of each species are beinglabelled with zinc tags giving the scientific and common names. As thisbulletin goes to press, approximately 150 species have been labelled.CONNECTICUT ARBORETUMATCONNECTICUT COLLEGE:;,Vk|ENHAM ROADAKEXTENSION1942Buck Lodge, the gift ofMr. Nelson L. Buck, pro-vides an ideal spot formeetings, picnics and fieldclasses, and is available tomembers of the ArboretumAssociation. Last year itserved as headquarters forthe two-week summer ses-sion of the Girl Scouts'Day Camp, now held an-nually in the Arboretum.A wintry approach to the outdoor theatre from the laurel walk.*,The Arboretum AssociationThe Arboretum Association is the organization responsible for theArboretum and its welfare. Arboretum maintenance and develop-ment costs are met in part by funds from the College and in part bythe Arboretum Association. Association membership comprises organi-zations and individuals interested in wild life and its conservation, whogive evidence of this interest by joining the Association.The Advisory Committee of the Association is the policy-determiningbody. It includes representatives from the Federated Garden Clubs ofConnecticut and other persons throughout the state who are leaders inconservation. Its present membership is as follows:Hon. Christopher L. AveryMr. George S. Avery, Jr.Miss E. Frances BotsfordMrs. George T. BrownMr. F. Valentine ChappellMrs. Robert F. CorleyMrs. Perry B. CraneMiss Pauline H. DedererMrs. Malcolm J. EdgertonMr. Walter O. Fille}Mr. Richard H. Goodwin, DirectorMiss Katherine H. HeinigMr. Henry W. HicockMiss Louise C. HoweMr. Raymond KienholzMrs. Allan F. KitchelMr. Robert F. LoganMiss Katharine Matthies, Secretaryof the Arboretum AssociationMiss Rosemary ParkMr. William H. PutnamMiss Dorothy RichardsonMr. Edmund W. SinnottMiss Betty F. ThomsonHon. Frederic C. WalcottMrs. S. H. WilliamsMrs. Frank E. WilsonMiss Elizabeth C. WrightConnecticut College is a private institution without state support. Itis therefore necessary for a large part of the cost of development of theArboretum to come from its friends.Garden clubs and other civic-minded organization members of theAssociation may secure "tree dividends" (gifts of young trees andshrubs for civic plantings), and all members may use the Arboretumand its facilities, receive its bulletins, and share in creating land-scapes of the future.INDIVIDUAL MEMBERSHIPSAny interested person may become a member upon payment of anannual fee of $2.00. The Bulletin will be sent to members withoutcost. Individuals may become sustaining members upon payment of$10.00 yearly.ORGANIZATION MEMBERSHIPSCivic and state-minded organizations may become annual mem-bers upon payment of $10.00 yearly, sustaining members, $25.00 yearly,and supporting members, $100.00 yearly.Checks should be made payable to the Conn. Arboretum, and mailedto Richard H. Goodwin, Director, at Connecticut College.I IArboretum Association Members July, 1946—June, 1947ORGANIZATION MEMBERSSUSTAININGFairfield Garden Club New London Garden ClubStamford Garden ClubANNUALBranford Garden ClubBridgeport Garden ClubCherry Brook Garden ClubCheshire Garden ClubClinton Garden ClubConnecticut Botanical SocietyDanbury Garden ClubEast Haddam Garden ClubGarden Circle of the MeridenWoman's ClubGarden Club of CornwallGarden Club of DarienGarden Club of GlenbrookGarden Club of HartfordGarden Club of MadisonGarden Club of Old GreenwichGarden Club of WoodbridgeGarden Department of theWoman's Club of BristolGarden Department of theWoman's Club of StamfordGreens Farms Garden ClubGreenwich Garden ClubGreenwich Woman's Club GardnersWethersfieldHouse and Garden Club of BridgeportHubbard Heights Garden ClubLaurel Garden ClubLitchfield Garden ClubLittle Garden Club of West HartfordLyme Garden ClubMilbrook Garden ClubMystic Garden ClubNew Canaan Garden ClubNew Haven Garden ClubNorwalk Garden ClubPomperaug Valley Garden ClubRidgefield Garden ClubRiverside Garden ClubRoxbury Garden ClubSaybrook-Essex Garden ClubShippan Point Garden ClubSpring Glen Garden ClubStratford Garden ClubSuffield Garden ClubWallingford Garden ClubWest Hartford Garden ClubWest Haven Garden ClubWestport Garden ClubGarden ClubINDIVIDUAL MEMBERS*SUSTAININGHon. Christopher L. AveryMr. and Mrs. George S. Avery, Jr.Miss Mary BulkleyMrs. Walter E. CoeMrs. Harry A. Cooke, Jr.Hon. Wilbur L. CrossMiss Pauline H. DedererMrs. Malcolm J. EdgertonMrs. Charles Andrew EdwardsMr. and Mrs. John O. EndersMr. and Mrs. H. M. GoodwinMr. and Mrs. Richard H. GoodwinMiss Elizabeth HarrisMiss Mary S. HolbrookMrs. Allan F. KitchelMr. Bernhard KnollenbergMr. Robert Fulton LoganMiss Katherine LudingtonMiss Katharine MatthiesMrs. Parker McCollesterMiss Mary McKeeMiss Stella B. MeadMr. and Mrs. Sherburn M. MerrillMrs. James W. MorrissonMrs. Harriet W. C. NewcombMr. and Mrs. Earle W. StammMiss Anna Lord StraussMrs. Dudley WadsworthMiss Miriam Dwight WalkerMrs. James WeirMr. and Mrs. Parker W. WhittemoreMrs. S. H. WilliamsSeveral members have made supplementary gifts.COURTESY OF NEW LONDON DAYSpring tree planting has become an annual college event. Dr. Goodwinand students on Arbor Day, 1946—the fifteenth anniversary of theArboretum. Harktiess Chapel may be seen against the sky.ANNUALMrs. Ellery AllynMrs. Robert P. AndersonMr. Robert P. AndersonMrs. Arthur BarrowsMiss Esther L. BatchelderMiss E. Frances BotsfordMiss A. June BrickerMrs. George T. BrownMrs. W. B. Campbell, Jr.Mrs. Peter J. CascioMiss Margaret S. ChancyMr. Ralph Bolles CoitMrs. Karl T. ComptonMiss H. B. CreightonMrs. Daniel B. DormanMr. Walter O. FilleyMr. and Mrs. George O. GadboisMr. and Mrs. James M. GravesMrs. Elon H. HookerMiss Louise C. HoweMiss Rachael LarrabeeMiss Cora A. MarshMiss Ruth W. NewcombMrs.. Daniel PolskyMrs. Harriet Weaver QuinbyMrs. Julius B. SmithMiss Elizabeth SpeirsMr. and Mrs. Louis TwyeffortMiss Edna Leighton TylerMrs. Ralph E. WadleighMrs. Francis B. WasleyMiss Elizabeth C. WrightCONTRIBUTORSLucretia Shaw Chapter, D. A. R. Sarah Ludlow Chapter, D. A. R.Arboretum NewsOur former director, Dr. George S. Avery, Jr., resigned his positionat Connecticut College in 1944 to assume the directorship of the Brook-lyn Botanic Garden. Those of us who know his record of accomplish-ment here are sure that the Brooklyn Botanic Garden will prosper underhis guiding hand.The drawings which appear on the first and last pages of this bul-letin were executed by Miss Olga v. H. Owens, who was research as-sistant in botany at Connecticut College last year. Miss Owens, is nowa graduate student at the University of Minnesota.Our horticulturist, Mr. William C. Peck, was called into militaryservice in 1942. After two years of duty overseas in England, he re-turned to us in the fall of 1945. While in the service Mr. Peck re-ceived technical training in photography, as attested by the excellentphotographs appearing in this bulletin. Since his return, we have madeheadway in the development of a new nursery. This will replace theold one which has become nearly depleted. Some of our new stock in-cludes mountain laurel, dogwood, and numerous other species whichwill be used to provide material for our own plantings and for tree div-idends to the member clubs.During the past year the Arboretum has distributed over four hun-dred tree dividends, and gave to the City of New London quite a num-ber of trees which have been used for street plantings. It has alsogiven seedlings to the Winthrop School for the children to plant nearthe Old Mill which stands in the shadow of the New London bridgeapproach. It is hoped that this sort of service will stimulate an interestin civic beautification projects.The New London Girl Scouts have held a two-week session of theirDay Camp in the Arboretum for the past three summers. The girlshave centered their activities around the special outdoor fireplaces whichhave been provided and have used Buck Lodge in case of rain. Theyhave proved themselves to be real campers, by leaving the campsitesneater than when they came.Buck Lodge is now being used over a hundred times a year by a greatmany College and outside groups. Its usefulness has been recently en-hanced by the addition of a piano, the gift of Mr. and Mrs. P. C.Woodruff of New London. Last fall, when the Federated Garden Clubsof Connecticut held their annual meeting at the College, the Mystic andNew London Garden Clubs entertained the officers of the Federation ata luncheon in the lodge.Brush fires have been one of our major problems, particularly in thelate winter and early spring. Fires not only destroy stands of youngtrees, but they also frequently damage the bases of larger ones in sucha way as to make possible the invasion of the sound wood by heart rotfungi. Furthermore, repeated burning of an area results in the destruc-tion of humus and consequent impoverishment of the soil. Most of thefires which have occurred in the neighborhood of the Arboretum haveeither been caused by unextinguished cigarettes or have had an incendi-ary origin, pointing up the need for an educational campaign on thissubject. As a means of reducing the fire hazard, we have been develop-ing fire lanes all around the boundaries of the Arboretum property, andparticularly along the highways. These lanes consist of strips, varyingin width with the nature of the terrain, which have been cleared ofbrush and then burned under careful control during the winter months.A kerosene-burning flame-thrower has proved most useful in theseoperations.Our Arboretum Bulletin No. 3, "A Plant Handbook: Lists of Plantsfor Specific Landscape Uses," compiled by Dr. Harriet B. Creighton,now Professor of Botany at Wellesley College, and Miss Priscilla Pasco,is still much in demand by people all over the country. This publicationsolves quickly and easily the majority of problems relating to the selec-tion of suitable species for planting projects. It is still available at sixtycents a copy.

Bulletin No. 5: The Connecticut Arboretum

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Bulletin No. 5: The Connecticut Arboretum

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