112 SHADE-TREES IN TOWNS AND CITIES 



sume the growth of a central stem by tying a lateral twig 

 to a bamboo pole and training it upward for a few years. 



The training of street-trees when young saves a great 

 deal of work when the trees become older, when they do 

 not lend themselves so readily to the process of shaping, 

 and it is necessary to form large scars by removing large 

 branches. 



The Street as a Unit. Very frequently, however, it is 

 found necessary to prune trees of considerable age, and 

 certain principles have to be borne in mind. As in the 

 planting of shade-trees the street is treated as a unit, so in 

 the pruning, each tree must be considered in relation to the 

 others on the street. All trees should be trimmed to a 

 height that will allow the unimpeded passage of pedestrians 

 and vehicles. No limbs or foliage should be left to obstruct 

 the street-lights. The shading of lamps is a trouble very 

 common on many streets. The limbs are so low that the 

 entire light is shut off at night, and the street is left in 

 darkness. 



No matter how healthy and perfect shade-trees may be, 

 if the limbs are too low the full beauty of the street is not 

 realized. In walking you may not actually be obliged to 

 stoop in order to keep clear of the leaves; but there is a 

 depressing effect produced by looking down the street and 

 seeing the branches and the sidewalk almost meet. The 

 foliage seems to oppress you with its density. The individ 

 uality of the trees is frequently lost, and the trees look like 

 a great overgrown hedge. On the other hand, if one comes 

 to a street the trees of which are properly pruned on both 

 sides to a uniform height, the ends of the limbs turning 

 upward instead of drooping, one cannot help perceive the 

 improvement. The depressed effect is gone and one looks 



