284 NEBRASKA STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY 



from it. Shade-trees planted along the walk in cities and towns that 

 are naturally devoid of such trees, should be encouraged as they not only 

 add value to the premises where they are planted, but affords shelter, 

 shade and comfort. A more uniform system of planting should be ob- 

 served, both as to the variety of trees and size of same. People have 

 different ideas about these things, and what one man likes as to variety, 

 another does not like and as to size, what one would call a switch, 

 another might call a saw-log. We believe our Nebraska statutes allow in 

 the government of cities and towns village boards and city councils the 

 right in the laying out of the same, to plant uniformly over such town 

 or city upon the streets there of trees and to tax the expense of the 

 same to the lot or lots upon which they are planted. Had this been 

 done 25 of 30 years ago, in cities and towns of Nebraska, laid out at the 

 time and properly cared for, the same cities and towns would now present 

 a different appearance, and a commercial value much increased. For 

 such planting there is no variety of trees so well suited to the purpose 

 as the "Old Settler's Ellum." This tree can be grown successfully in 

 nearly every part of the state and will adapt itself to almost any soil or 

 climate. As a shade tree for the street this should be planted liberally. 

 The rapidity of growth depending largely upon the care given to it. 

 But with plenty of moisture and good cultivation may be said to grow 

 rapidly. The common soft Maple also should be included as one of the 

 most desirable for street planting. This makes a nicely formed tree if 

 properly pruned and headed. It is a tree somewhat easily broken down 

 in severe wind-torms if limbs are allowed to grow out of shape. The 

 Hackberry also where planted meets with favor. Just why more of these 

 trees are not grown in the nurseries of the state I do not quite under- 

 stond. In many sections over the west for street planting large numbers 

 of the so-called "Carolina Poplar," and in many instances the common 

 Cottonwood in place of them and sold by agents or dealers and recom- 

 mended by them on all sorts of grounds as the tree to plant. We think 

 as time advances we shall find in a few years that for a permanent tree 

 it will be found a mistake to plant liberally of this variety. I\Iany people 

 think only of the rapidity of growth overlooking more desirable qualities. 

 These have only been introduced within the last few years and have 

 reached no great size. The Poplar like the Cottonwood will doubtless 

 prove to be a great robber of the soil, and will interfere with the' growth 

 of anything planted near it. The growth of all the above varieties will 

 be much increased by a liberal supply of water and cultivation. During 

 the years from 1878 to 1891 inclusive, a short period of thirteen years, 

 while the timber culture law was in operation, in nearly every section of 

 the state were planted to the extent of 27,000 trees. ,Had all these ten- 

 acre lots of trees planted at that time grown and were alive today, what 

 a forest we now should have had. To fill the demands of the law all 

 kinds of decidious trees, seeds and cuttings were planted. But few peo- 

 ple planting these claims ever expected to grow tree to maturity. About 

 the only variety of trees planted at that time upon our western prairies 



