34O CONNECTICUT EXPERIMENT STATION REPORT,, IQOO. 



WHAT CAN BE DONE TO PROTECT AND IMPROVE THE SHADE 



TREES? 



We have thus set forth the main causes of the present unsatis- 

 factory condition of the city shade trees. To abate or remove 

 these causes we make the following notes and recommendations : 



1. Age of the trees. For old age there is no remedy ! Never- 

 theless the recommendations given below will certainly lengthen 

 the life of the trees by abating those attacks which weaken the 

 vital forces and thus hasten decay and death. 



2. Lack of Water and Air about the Roots. This lack is not 

 very severely felt by trees standing in the squares with some 

 green sward about them. In times of extreme and protracted 

 drought these trees suffer in common with all vegetation and 

 would of course be helped by watering once a month while the 

 drought lasts, with a large volume of water equal to at least 

 one-half the normal average rainfall. 



On narrow paved streets in the center of the city little can 

 be done, and it is a question how long the trees in such situations 

 can survive. On residential streets conditions are better. 



Lawns next the street, which are well watered, give access 

 of air and water to the tree roots under them and thus greatly 

 help to support the trees on the street adjoining. 



The conditions for growth would be still better if the trees 

 were on the lawn side of the walk instead of near the curb. 

 With such an arrangement the trees would have more space 

 for the growth of their roots, and there would be less damage 

 if it were necessary to cut the roots in lowering the foundation 

 of the road. Furthermore they would be out of the reach of 

 horses and would thus escape one of the most serious sources 

 of damage. Such a plan would improve the general appear- 

 ance of the street by giving it a broader effect. There would 

 be an advantage also in having the walks drain directly into the 

 street and thus the possibility of standing water on or beside 

 the walk would be avoided. Such a plan would be practical 

 only where no trees have already been planted, and where the 

 building lots are deep enough to leave some air space between 

 trees and buildings. Figure 12, Plate XIII, gives an idea of the 

 general effect of this system of planting. 



