September 0, 1908 



HORTICULTURE 



315 



Shade Trees 



There are very few people who have not had occasion, 

 in one way or another, to feel an appreciation for shade 

 trees. However, the most of us should have more than 

 this casual appreciation. We should know more of the 

 tree's life history, more of its physical properties: the 

 adaptability of certain varieties for certain conditions 

 and above all wider knowledge of the species and varie- 

 ties with which we come in contact from day to day. 

 Some of us are content to make an appeal for trees for 

 no other motive than that of the esthetic — the senti- 

 mental appeal. This does very well in some communi- 

 ties but it does not affect the business man. The love 

 of nature, of art and things beautiful cannot be fos- 

 tered in every mind. It may he stored there somewhere 

 but to bring it out the practical side of the thing proves 

 its discovery. It is often the question of dollars and 

 cents to the individual or the city. If that cannot be 

 shown the tree enthusiast generally gets a shock. Be- 

 fore our cities, towns and villages here in the South 

 pay the necessary attention to street trees other values 

 than that of the beautiful will have to be felt. If those 

 who now give little attention to trees could find it prac- 

 ticable to visit towns and cities in the South made fam- 

 ous by their trees and parks a great proportion of the 

 present indifference would be eliminated. 



When a man finds that his property is worth from 

 $100 to $1,000 more today than it was a dozen years 

 ago owing to the growth of one or several beautiful 

 trees on it, he appreciates the tree or trees, without 

 doubt. The owner may have never given his trees a 

 thought until this cash value idea forced itself upon 

 him. How much greater would his appreciation have 

 been for those trees if he had learned to feel them a 

 part of his home and an asset to his everyday happi- 

 ness ? 



Trees, then, must have more than a few appealing 

 features to arouse general interest and when these are 

 enumerated it will be plainly seen that they have. In 

 passing along a city street during the hot summer 

 months with the mercury at 95 degrees in the shade 

 haven't you often sought the spot shaded by a noble 

 tree, where the direct rays of Old Sol, either beating 

 down direct, or reheated by reflection from buildings, 

 are intercepted? Have you not lifted your "straw'' 

 from your sweltering brow and offered up a little inward 

 prayer- for this same tree ? 



Then again we find that trees prove to be sanitary 

 agents. Through their leaves poisonous gases, which 

 are apt to prevail in congested districts, are ab- 

 sorbed. "Where civic and village improvement 

 societies have accomplished results, this fact may 

 not at once appear significant but in many 

 towns that the writer has visited where garbage, 

 etc., has been allowed to remain in the streets until a 

 kindly rain has washed it away, every agency which 

 would tend to eliminate the foul, poisonous odors would 

 certainly seem a blessing. Tree roots absorb superflu- 

 ous water which would otherwise make our basements 

 and cellars damp and unfit for the storage of fruit and 

 vegetables. Soil aeration is another factor to thank 

 roots for. The opposition will say that tree roots often 

 displace curbings and walks, yes and pavements. Why ? 

 Because these same trees were not properly planted. 

 No root can penetrate some of the hardpans found near 

 the surface of many of our streets. Before putting in 

 permanent walks, where beautiful trees exist it would 

 pay towns and cities to see that the tree roots are going 

 to have ample room to develop in penetrable soil. 



The Southern cities, towns, villages and plantations 

 famous for their trees, too little appreciate what nature 

 has done aided by man. There is little done to com- 

 pensate, ami hand down to posterity, the blessings they 

 are at present enjoying. The trees should be watched 

 like children. Over in fiance the city of Paris spends 

 thousands of dollars in supporting a Tree Hospital. 

 Trees are sprayed, fertilized, pruned, replaced when 

 beyond their usefulness and protected in every way pos- 

 sible from injury. '1'hc whole city takes a living inter- 

 est in its trees. They are proud of their well-shaded 

 avenues. 



Our American cities are not far behind. In Penn- 

 sylvania and New .Jersey the cities are enabled by statute 

 to appoint shade-tree commissions to take care of the 

 shade-trees on their streets. They can set out new 

 trees and assess the cost to the property benefitted. 

 TIkv trim trees, protect them from injury, clean out 

 decayed trunks and fill the holes with cement and wage 

 wau against the insect pests. In fighting the latter, 

 spray mixtures not only keep the insects in check but 

 also preserve the foliage of the tree for the season and 

 thus maintain its health and vigor. 



We cannot lay hack anil let Dame Nature take care 

 of our beautiful trees. They will not last forever un- 

 aided and not even then. It is our duty not only to 

 ourselves but to those who follow to protect the trees we 

 already possess and provide others for coming genera- 

 tions,- — living monuments of a thoughtful people. 



Alabama Experiment Station, Auburn, Ala. 



British Horticulture 



THE SHREWSBURY SHOW 



The annual show held by the Shropshire Horticultural 

 Society maintains its premier position. The "Shrews- 

 bury show" holds a high reputation throughout the 

 country and the one held last week showed no diminu- 

 tion in the interest aroused. Keen competition was 

 witnessed in most of the classes. The champion fruit 

 display was a great attraction, the exhibits being of a 

 highly meritorious character. Each collection consisted 

 of thirty dishes of ripe fruit in not fewer than ten. dis- 

 tinct kinds. The champion silver cup was taken by N. 

 F. Barnes, gardener to the Duke of Westminster. In 

 the grape section, usually a strong feature, the first 

 prize fell to J. H. Goodacre, gardener to the Earl of 

 Harrington, who scored 107 out of a possible 124 

 points. There was a spirited contest in the class for 

 nine dishes of vegetables. The championship fell to 

 E. Beckett, V. M. H., gardener to the Hon. Vicary 

 Gibbs. Awards of merit were made to the following 

 exhibits: Silver leaf antirrhinum, Thos. Taylor, 

 Blackpool ; perpetual-flowering pink, "Progress," C. H. 

 Herbert, Acock' s Green, Birmingham ; white border-car- 

 nation, "Mrs. Tom Coulthwaite," Peter Blair, Trentham 

 Gardens, Stoke-on-Trent; gladiolus, "Golden Measure," 

 Kelway & Sons, Langport; cactus dahlia, "Sentinel," 

 Dobbie & Co., Eothesay; carnation, "Mrs. Chas. Eus- 

 sell," Chas. Alcock, Blundellsands ; H. T. rose, "Lena," 

 Alex Dickson & Sons, Newtonards, Ireland. 



ytWrl. Qdi*&. 



