II July, 1910.] J'rce Planting for Cities and Towns. 433 



{Tilia americana) are highly spoken of. Our climate is generally too 

 hot for the Lime Tree (Linden), but we have seen them doing well at 

 Daylesford and other cool places in Victoria. 



Overhead Telegraph Wires. 

 One great drawback to successful tree growth in many of our cities 

 and towns is overhead telegraph, telephone, and electric-light wires. 



In order not to interfere with these by contact, the trees have to be 

 continually headed back. Notable examples of this disfigurement are 

 to be seen in Collins and Flinders streets, Melbourne. Contrast the 

 appearance of the Oriental Planes there with those growing in Castle- 

 maine. In one case, you have noble well developed specimens with — 

 " The shaft of beauty towering high," 



In the other, mutilated round-headed examples of everything that a tree 

 should not be. In America they manage things better. Mr. Ernest 

 Braunton, the talented horticultural editor of the Calif ornian Cultivator, 

 in an able article on " Street Planting," published in that journal on 22nd 

 November, 1906, advises thus :— 



Don't permit telegraph or telej)hone linemen to mutilate street trees. Secure the 

 passing of ordinances forcing wires and cables underground wherever practicable. 

 Telegraph and telephone wires are unsightly and interfere with all schemes of 

 street improvement and tree planting. The wires are fast going underground in 

 the Eastern States and in California. 



When will a beginning be made in Victoria generally ? 



Conclusion. 



We would also recommend intending street decorators to keenly ol)serve 

 what trees succeed best in the districts they wish to adorn, and also to 

 obtain expert advice before buying trees and planting them. Do not leave 

 everything to City, Borough, or Shire Councils. Individual effort can 

 do much in the required direction, and the force of example w'ill lead 

 others to follow. What nobler gift can a rich man leave to posterity than 

 a row of fine shade trees? We do not know of anything in this life 

 more elevating or interesting than to watch trees that our own hands have 

 planted years ago. growing and thriving and gradually mounting skyward, 

 until the tiny sapling is a transformed, stately tree, admired by all. 

 Quietly the years and seasons come round one after the other, and pass 

 aw ay unnoticed and unmarked ; but the growth of a tree at once brings 

 the relentless march of time forcibly home to us. 



In America we have many object lessons and fine examples of indivi- 

 dual effort in connexion with arboriculture. Julius Sterling Morton's 

 Arbor Day crusade in favour of tree-planting has resulted in hundreds of 

 millions being set out on the plains of Nebraska. Nearly fifty years ago 

 Mr. C. M. Loring settled in what was then the small village of Minneapolis 

 (Minnesota), now a prosperous and large city. It is asserted that Mr. 

 Loring made Minneapolis by the interest he took in street and park tree- 

 planting, and the vigour he infused into everything connected with this im- 

 portant work. He undoubtedly inaugurated the feature that made the 

 city attractive, and people of taste and culture sought it for their homes. 

 Business increased, Minneapolis flourished, and to-day it is one of the 

 most beautiful places in the great republic. Hartford (Connecticut) is 

 stated to be the loveliest city in America. To Mr. Horace Bushnell is 

 due the credit of this proud distinction. For nearly fifty years he has 

 given most of his time gratis in the work of clothing the place he loves so 

 well with arboreal verdure. 



