THE PLANTING OF STREET-TREES 93 



permits. From the natural consideration, however, of the 

 tree's growth, better success is obtained by careful spring 

 work. 



STAKING 



One of the elements of beauty in the planting of shade- 

 trees, is to have them perfectly vertical. In spite of the 

 greatest care in planting, the settling of the earth and the 

 swaying of the trees in the wind cause them to get 

 out of vertical. Attempts to straighten the trees from 

 time to time disturb the roots and injure the tree. The 

 staking of trees, therefore, is an absolute necessity to 

 keep them straight until their roots take firm hold of the 

 ground. 



An elaborate but effective device for holding the trees 

 upright after being planted is employed in Washington, 

 shown in Plate 23, Fig. 3. This consists of a four-sided 

 wooden box around each tree, which is nailed to four stakes 

 driven into the ground. The trees are fastened by means of 

 leather straps to each corner of the box and are kept per- 

 fectly vertical. The boxes, which also serve as guards, are 

 retained for eight or ten years until the trees outgrow them. 

 They are then removed and wire netting is put around the 

 trees to protect them from injury. 



Single Stake. It must be borne in mind that in every 

 device designed to keep young trees upright there must be 

 provision made to keep the top from swaying and bending 

 over as well as keeping the stem rigid at a height of six or 

 seven feet from the ground. Oriental planes, and oaks es- 

 pecially, have a tendency to bend over on account of their 

 weight of foliage, and sometimes the tops snap off in a wind. 

 It has been found, therefore, that one long stake is the best 

 thing to use to support young trees. 



