176 MINNESOTA STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



It is important, as Mr. Berry says, to put the ground in proper condi- 

 tion. Of course, in street planting there is not much ground to worlc on, so 

 we must do the best we can; we must dig a pretty large hole, a hole 

 larger than would seem necessary for the small tree we are planting, but 

 it loosens up the ground, and gives the tree a fair chance to grow. A tree 

 for street planting should be selected with some care, all forked trees 

 should be avoided, as high winds and storms are liable to split and 

 ruin them. 



A tree should be selected with a good straight stem, with a single leader, 

 so that, as the tree grows it can be trimmed up to at least eight or ten 

 feet from the ground, though, of course, the trimming must be done 

 gradually. It will take a number of years to get a tree to the proper 

 height, but make a proper selection at the start; there is no trouble to 

 get a line tree in time. 



Now let us return to planting after the right kind of tree has been 

 selected. The ends of the large roots should be smoothly trimmed on the 

 under side, the top should be cut back to balance the roots; the tree is 

 now ready for planting. As above stated, the hole should be quite large, to 

 give ample room for the roots. The hole should now be filled with good 

 rich soil, well worked in among the roots and packed quite firmly, (stable 

 manure should not be used in tree planting); after the tree is planted the 

 ground should be mulched with hay, wet straw or some other coarse 

 litter. Watering should be attended to as the season may requirp. 



The distance in street planting should not be less than twenty to twen- 

 ty-five feet, as many fine rows of trees are ruined by too close planting, pf 

 course, trees could be planted closer if every other one were cut out as they 

 attain some size, but as few people like to cut down trees of their own 

 planting, it is safer to not plant too close; to grow fine trees they need 

 room to spread themselves. If a tree has the proper amount of room, 

 there will be very little need of top pruning. Some varieties need abso- 

 lutely no top pruning. 



There is nothing that makes me so out of patience as to see a fine row 

 of trees, or a single specimen, spoiled by top trimming. Of course, very 

 often trees are planted too closely, and as they grow they crowd each 

 other, then, to get out of the difficulty, instead of cutting some of them 

 down a "tree butcher" is employed to remedy the trouble. The tree 

 butchers are always professionals, at least ours are. The tree butcher 

 comes along with his long ladder, saw, ax and other paraphernalia, and 

 goes to work, no matter what the season of the year may be. It is all the 

 same to him; his business is to cut and slash. Down come the tops of the 

 trees one after the other, and when he is through a sorry sight it is; a 

 lot of bare poles standing with hardly a leaf or branch on them, where a 

 little while before a fine lot of trees were waving their branches in the 

 air; and he, standing and viewing his job with the greatest satisfaction, 

 all unconscious of the mischief he has done. By all means, when trees 

 stand so close that they crowd each other, cut some of them down and 

 give the rest a chance. 



In regard to varieties, there are quite a good many to select from. 

 Hard or sugar maple is one of the best on good soils; in very light soils it 

 is not very reliable, a rather slow grower, but a beautiful tree after it 

 has attained some size. Basswood is one of my favorites; it makes a 



