126 TRANSACTIONS OF ROYAL SCOTTISH ARBORICULTURAL SOCTETY. 
the trees stood in the nursery border being the best criterion to 
go by. As regards the best time to plant town trees opinions 
differ, but there can be little doubt that spring is preferable, for 
the good reason that, as they start into growth at once, they 
are not so likely to suffer from smoke and other deleterious 
affections as if they remained during the winter in an inactive 
condition. 
Staking the trees so as to prevent rocking by the wind, and 
consequent damage to the roots, should be set about immediately 
planting is finished. Circumstances will be the best guide as to 
how this should be done, but it is generally found necessary, even 
when the trees are surrounded with iron railings, to drive a stout 
stake firmly into the ground on the windward side, and as close to 
the stem of the tree as possible. To this the tree should be made 
fast with teased-out tarred rope, and to avoid friction the rope may 
be crossed between the stem and stake. 
These simple matters connected with the preparation of the 
eround, planting, and staking are so important in town planting 
that they should never be lost sight of, for while they add but 
little to the cost, the advantage gained is very great. | 
Advantages of Town Trees.—Not only for the cheerful aspect 
produced by trees when planted alongside streets and thoroughfares, 
but also from a sanitary point of view, they are of special value 
and the greatest importance. That a quantity of healthy-growing 
foliage has a wonderful effect in purifying the atmosphere is a 
recognised fact, and certainly far more than compensates for any 
damage to health that might be occasioned by its decay in autumn. 
Bearing on the question of trees in towns, Dr Phené, at the Social 
Science Congress at Edinburgh, remarked as follows :— 
“To the occupants of houses in streets having a northern aspect, 
the glare of reflected light is injurious; but the effect would be 
much modified by the coolness to the eye produced by the green 
of trees. In ancient surgery, persons having weak or declining 
sight were advised to look at the emerald. In the old style of 
building, the streets being narrow, were both cooler, from the sun 
not being able to penetrate them with direct rays, and less subject 
to noxious exhalations from the scouring and purifying effects of 
the searching air to which narrow streets were subject, so that 
while there was no space for trees, there was also less necessity, 
Wide streets, on the contrary, are hotter, and require the shade 
of trees to cool them, and, as in the case of London, which has so 
