NOTES FROM THE BIOLOGICAL DEPARTMENT OF THE 

 ONTARIO AGRICULTURAL COLLEGE— II. 



THE PROTECTION- OF SHADE TREES IN TOWNS AND CITIES. 



JPN the F"ebruary, March and'April numbers 

 [ of the Canadian Horticulturist of last 

 ^^ year, the writer called special attention 

 to the care of shade trees, and dealt some- 

 what fully with some of the main causes 

 which were operating- to produce the dis- 

 eased conditions so commonly met with in 

 our towns and cities. The causes were 

 grouped as physiological^ such as lack of 

 air, water, and food ; insects ; Sind fungi. It 

 is evident that there, is an awakening in 

 several quarters in the matter of care of 

 shade trees, if one may judge from the re- 

 ports of some of the horticultural societies. 

 The planting and protection of shade and 

 ornamental trees have been left too much to 

 the individual who has made no special 

 study of the conditions under which trees 

 attain their best development. 



The citizens of New Haven, Connecticut, 

 have already taken this matter in hand, and 

 as a result of their action a bulletin has been 

 issued on "The Protection of Shade Trees 

 in Towns and Cities," which deals with some 

 of the causes of the present condition of the 

 shade trees of that city, and makes certain 

 recommendations to the authorities. A 

 summary of the causes stated in the bulletin 

 may be interesting to our readers. 



Briefly stated they are, (i) Old age ; (2) 

 Lack of water and air about the roots ; (3) 

 Lack of plant food ; (4) Mutilations of the 

 trees ; {5) Poisoning- by illuminating gas ; 

 (6) Insect injuries ; (7) Lack of knowledge 

 and care in planting ; (8) Electric currents 

 from wires. 



The recommendations made for the re- 

 moval or abatement of these causes are val- 

 uable, and should be studied carefully by all 

 interested in shade tree protection. 



1. " For old age there is no remedy," al- 

 though the life of the trees may be length- 

 ened by proper care. 



2. Trees would grow better if they were 

 planted on the lawn side of the walk instead 

 of near the curb. The space for the growth 

 of the roots would be greater, wate'ring- 

 could be done just as well, and the trees, 

 would be out of the reach of mutilation by 

 horses. 



3. To supply plant food, an annual spring 

 dressing of an odorless fertilizer is recom- 

 mended. The composition of the fertilizer 

 is given as follows : 



50 lbs. nitrate of soda. 

 300 lbs. cotton seed meal. 

 100 lbs. acid phosphate. 

 TOO lbs. muriate of potash, and costing- 



about $8.00. 

 This is sufficient for an acre. 



4. City By-laws, if enforced, would soon 

 prevent many of the mutilations of trees, 

 and all trees near the curb should be pro- 

 tected by frame or by wire netting. 



5. The damage done to trees through 

 poisoning by gas could be lessened by com- 

 pelling the gas companies to pay for the in- 

 juries done. 



6. Against insect attacks, spraying with 

 some poisonous substance for leaf-eatings 

 insects, and with kerosene emulsion or 

 whale-oil soap solution for sucking insects 

 is recommended. 



7. The cause of unsymmetrical trees is 

 usually poor nursery stock, or poor judg- 

 ment in selecting the species, or unwise lo- 

 cation of trees, or improper planting-, or 

 lack of care after planting. A town or city 

 forester is a necessity if the foregoing de- 

 fects are to be remedied. The forester's 



