HOW TO PLANT 81 



the lower branches must not interfere with auto- 

 mobiles or other vehicles. If their branches spread 

 over a walk, they should be out of the way of um- 

 brellas, but a tree out upon a lawn, placed there 

 primarily as a thing of beauty, should be allowed to 

 grow in its own way, with its lower branches touching 

 the ground if it is its nature to do so. 



A very common mistake is to "top" a tree. To 

 cut off all of the upper part of the tree not only dis- 

 figures it but often leads to its death. Thousands 

 of maples, cottonwoods and other trees have been 

 killed by this treatment because decay has set in 

 where the trunks have been cut and gradually ex- 

 tended to the bottom of the tree. The trunk has 

 thus been weakened, so that it has been easily broken 

 and destroyed by storms. 



Another exasperating treatment when it is neces- 

 sary to remove trees is to girdle them and allow them 

 to stand dead and naked for an indefinite period. 

 Such trees excite pity for the tree and indignation 

 for the girdler. 



With thrifty plants and good preparation of the 

 soil, the cultivation which has been recommended 

 for new plantations will be unnecessary after one 

 or two years. In orchards in which large fruit is 



