LACK OF KNOWLKIXiK i\ PLANTING SHADE TREES. 339 



Street, where, in about two blocks, Norway maple, sugar maple, 

 red maple, basswood, white ash, elm, tulip tree, locust and 

 cherry can be found jumbled together entirely without system. 

 Without a systematic plan for the arrangement of street trees, 

 the result can never be satisfactory. 



(c) Umvise location of trees. . In order to produce the best 

 results, each tree should be given enough space for the develop- 

 ment of its normal form. As a rule the trees in New Haven 

 are planted too closely together, with the result that many 

 individuals become one-sided or otherwise misshapen. 



There is also a tendency to set young trees under old speci- 

 mens which may die in a few years. This has been done in 

 several places on the Green. The old trees have, however, not 

 died and the young specimens have been crowded for room 

 and light and have become distorted. 



(d) Improper planting. This cause for failure in city plant- 

 ing is less common than the causes discussed in the preceding 

 pages. Nevertheless, the members of the Committee have 

 noted in the newly-planted streets a number of small trees, dead 

 or dying, which should have lived if they had been properly 

 planted. 



(e) Lack of care after planting. Hitherto no attention seems 

 to have been given to the young trees after they have been 

 planted, except, in some instances, to trim off the dead limbs. 

 Often young specimens require a certain amount of trimming 

 in order to develop well-shaped crowns, but, so far as the 

 Committee is informed, this is seldom done. Furthermore it 

 frequently happens that young trees are injured so severely that 

 there is no hope of their complete recovery. Even if they 

 live, they cannot become perfect specimens, whereas if they are 

 removed and replaced at once, the new trees will have the benefit 

 of growth during the time the old ones would linger along 

 before death. 



8. Electric Currents from Feed Wires. 



Whether or not the electric currents which sometimes leak 

 into trees from electric light, or trolley wire damage the trees, 

 has not been certainly determined ; there can be no doubt, 

 however, that they are of no benefit and prudence will dictate 

 that such exposures should be carefully avoided. 

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