XIV 



INTRODUCTION 



Trees for Streets and Avenues 



Comparatively few trees meet all the requirements necessary to success for 

 planting along the streets of modern cities. Such trees must be able to grow 

 rapidly with comparatively little room for root development, and yet be so long- 

 lived that they become fairly permanent. They must withstand the dust and gases 

 from streets, houses and factories. They must be practically free from insect and 

 fungous pests. And with all these characteristics they must have attractive com- 

 pact outlines and give a dense shade. 



Probably no tree more nearly meets these conditions than the Oriental 

 Plane, which has been gaining rapidly in favor with the American public during 



LEAVES AND SEED-BALL OF THE ORIENTAL PLANE 



the last decade. It seems to be the ideal street tree, provided it has been properly 

 trained when young so that it has a straight trunk. Care in the nursery is neces- 

 sary for this result and cheaply grown trees are likely to be unsatisfactory as a 

 consequence. 



This Oriental Plane tree has been intimately associated with city dwellers 

 for thousands of years and has remained in favor all the time. "This is the plane 

 tree of the Greek writers," as Miss Rogers says, "in groves of which Plato walked 

 and discoursed a tree held in worshipful esteem for its stateliness and beauty. 

 On occasions they poured wine upon its roots and decked its limbs with jewels 



