124 MASS. EXPERIMENT STATION BULLETIN 170. 



been growing for years in sod to which no fertilizer has been applied and 

 a hay crop removed annually, and in such cases one year's use of a plow 

 and harrow, together with manuring and some kind of cropping, would 

 work wonders in restoring them. 



In applying remedies to trees it is well to be on the conservative side, 

 since it is a very easy matter to cause them serious injury. The dif- 

 ferent spraying mixtures, etc., recommended for trees are not always to 

 be depended upon, and many trees are injured by their use; hence a 

 word of caution is not out of place. Unfortunately, at the present time 

 it is necessary to be on the watch for fake "tree doctors" who often do 

 more damage to trees than good. This class of so-called "tree experts" 

 has greatly increased within the last few years, and in some localities 

 has become a nuisance. The "tree faker " is not only ignorant and incom- 

 petent, but is dishonest and a "divine right" fiend. There is another 

 class of workers who may be ignorant, but honest; and still another 

 class possessing some intelligent ideas as to tree work and a desire to be 

 conscientious, but they fail to produce the best results. The men who 

 possess sufficient technical knowledge and skill to undertake work on 

 trees are comparatively rare, although fortunately there are a few com- 

 petent firms and professional men who are capable of giving advice in 

 regard to the treatment of trees. 



The tree warden should be, and often is, a man of intelligence and 

 common sense, and one to be called upon for advice pertaining to trees. 



REQUIREMENTS OF SHADE TREES. 



As a rule, those trees should be planted which are known to thrive 

 well in the particular environment under consideration. The fact that 

 a tree does not grow naturally in one locality is no evidence that it will 

 not thrive in some other, and it is well known that species of trees peculiar 

 to wet places will grow in those inclined to be dry; but there is a limit 

 to the adaptability of trees as regards their best growth and development 

 which should be taken into consideration. A species naturally adapted 

 to a wet environment is more likely to suffer from the effects of extreme 

 meteorological conditions when planted in a dry situation than one 

 normal to such places. The nature of the soil environment is, therefore, 

 important; and there are many other factors which enter very largely 

 into the problem of selection and planting of shade trees. Naturall}' 

 there is a considerable difference of opinion in regard to what are the 

 best trees to plant. It is important, therefore, to choose those species 

 which are best adapted to the conditions under which they are to be 

 grown, all trees having their weaknesses and defects, and perfection being 

 no more common to trees than to the human race. The past decade has 

 been characterized by extremely erratic conditions, such as unprecedented 

 drought during the growing season, and severe winters, both of which 

 have been responsible for so much deterioration of trees that the question 

 of selecting resistant types has been a vexing one. Moreover, the presence 



