Ornamental and Shade Trees 



A Department for the Advice and Instruction of Members of the American Forestry Association 



Edited by J. J. Levison, B.A., M.F. 

 Arboriculturist Brooklyn Park Department, Author of "Studies of Trees," and Lecturer on Ornamental and 



Shade Trees, Yale University Forest School 



MUNICIPAL PLANTING OF SHADE TREES 



IN last month's issue we announced a series of articles 

 on Shade Tree Planting. The first one dealt with 

 planting done by a local community. This month we 

 will consider the advantages of having all street tree 

 ];lanting done by the municipality. It matters little 

 whether the responsibility for the planting and care of 

 street trees is vested in a forester, a department of the 

 city government or in a separate 

 commission, provided the au- 

 thoritative head has the knowl- 

 edge and ability, is clothed with 

 sufficient authority and is pro- 

 vided with adequate funds to 

 carry out the work. There 

 really are distinct advantages in 

 having the municipality under- 

 take shade tree planting as 

 against leaving the work to in- 

 dividual or even cooperative 

 effort. 



If the city authorities under- 

 take the planting, they can do 

 it uniformly over large areas, 

 they can adhere to one species 

 on the same street, set out the 

 trees at uniform distances apart 

 regardless of individual prop- 

 erty lines, and they can have 

 them all of the same size, no 

 matter what the individual de- 

 sires of the property owners may 

 be. The municipality, planning 



for a large number of trees at one time, can plant accord- 

 ingly, select the trees ahead of time, obtain them cheaper 

 than individuals can and possibly grow them in a munici- 

 pal nursery especially designed for that purpose. 



Another advantage of equally great importance lies in 

 the fact that the municipality, in undertaking such work, 

 would be provided with a specially trained man for that 

 purpose. He would be either a representative of the 

 local park department or a city forester with an inde- 

 pendent office. In either case, he would be the man 

 who, by virtue of his special training and experience, 

 would be fitted to plan for the work at the proper time, 

 select the trees in the most advantageous manner and 

 see to the detail of planting and after-care. With his 



experience and concentrated attention, he would of neces- 

 sity obtain better results than any layman could. 



In establishing a municipal nursery, this man could 

 grow trees at a very small cost to the city. These trees, 

 moreover, growing in close proximity to their perma- 

 nent locations, would be better suited for transplanting 

 under local conditions, and would avoid the usual losses 



A STRIKING COMPARISON 



This picture shows the effect of uniform, municipal planting on one side, and spasmodic, individual plant- 

 ing on the other. Pin oaks on the left and maples, etc., on the right at Flushing, N. Y. 



resulting from transportation and change of soil and 

 atmospheric conditions, which would, inore or less, be 

 the case with trees purchased in other localities. 



After the trees have been planted, they must be 

 watered, guarded against mechanical injury, insects and 

 disease, and very often they must be fed. The trained 

 forester representing the city would be better fitted than 

 the individual citizen to know these needs, and apply 

 the necessary cure. 



From the foregoing it is evident that the planting of 

 shade trees as a municipal undertaking is the best method, 

 and deserves the careful consideration of all city authori- 

 ties as well as of others interested in municipal uplift 

 and economic progress. The planting of shade trees 



419 



