100 Years Ago: Nov. 20-26

From The Indianapolis Times, Wednesday, November 24, 1920: Indianapolis pays a heavy toll each year in the number of shade trees killed by scale insects. According to George Morgan, assistant horticulturist of the park department, last year approximately 4,500 trees succumbed to the ravages of parasites, far less than the number planted. This loss is due largely to the neglect of property owners who fail to notice the general condition of trees until it is too late. If the city is to keep its present tree canopy and maintain young trees planted in the fall and spring, citizens have to realize planting a tree is one thing and to care for it is another. Unless care is taken, the city will lose most of its shade trees eventually. The San Jose and Oyster Shell scales killed most of the trees.