18 



SHADE TREES. 



v^ 



A 



Fig. 6. Young tree 

 received from the 

 nursery. 



Fig. 7. Same with 



top and roots 



pruned. 



Crown. Preserve the normal crown, or the form de- 

 veloped in the nursery, if possible. If the root system has 

 been much curtailed it will be necessary to cut back the crown 

 to maintain a balance between roots and foliage, yet this 

 balance is much better kept by saving roots than by sacrific- 

 ing branches. (Figs. 6, 7, 8.) Good trees rarely come from 

 Expand the ^ ne bean poles that are often planted. The 

 crown. lower branches of a street tree should be not less 



than 10 feet above the sidewalk. While it is small something- 

 less may be permitted, but sufficient headroom should always 

 be allowed passers-by. If this is not done the tree is sure to 

 be injured. Observe how the branches bend when the leaves 

 are wet with rain and give plenty of room for umbrella**. 

 See Pruning, page 37. 



THE HOLE. 



Before a tree to be planted is brought on the ground have 

 the hole made ready for it. If the site is on "made" ground 

 take out at least a cubic yard of the rubbish and provide as 

 much good loam. Then prepare the planting hole, by dig- 

 ging or by filling as the case may be, so that it shall be some- 

 what larger than the root area, and about a foot deeper than 

 the roots. On the bottom spread a layer of fine, mellow soil 



