SHADE TREES IN TEXAS TOWNS AND CITIES 



INTRODUCTION 



Convenience, comfort, and attractiveness are three qualities which a 

 home seeker requires before he purchases his residence. The same 

 qualities are desired by the community in its home the city. Many 

 cities are making strenuous efforts to attract new enterprises and to 

 get new citizens. They are improving their conveniences by paving 

 streets, extending street lights, water systems, and sewerage. They 

 are endeavoring to make their municipality more comfortable by water- 

 ing streets, securing public benefits such as car lines and in many other 

 ways. Most towns and cities are trying to instill a sense of civic 

 pride in their residents through the efforts of Women's Clubs and 

 Chambers of Commerce. The aim is to make the city more beautiful, 

 to attract visitors and influence them to take up residence in the com- 

 munity. 



In no other way can the comfort and attractiveness of a town be 

 secured so cheaply, easily, and satisfactorily as by the extensive plant- 

 ing of shade trees and shrubs. This is a form of city improvement 

 which increases in value from the moment it is undertaken and con- 

 tinues to increase in value for many years, whereas sidewalks, electric 

 lights, and drinking fountains begin to deteriorate as soon as they are 

 installed. 



Trees are especially needed in cities to purify the air and to amelio- 

 rate the hot summer days. They are a valuable a^sset to a man's prop- 

 erty as is recognized by real estate men when they are boosting a new 

 city addition. The first thing done in such cases is to lay off streets 

 and put attractive sign posts on the corners, next trees are put out 

 and if the promoters are ambitious perhaps an impressive gateway will 

 be built to attract the eyes of prospective buyers. The street signs 

 and gateway are advertisement, but the trees represent real value. 

 They are planted because in no other way could the real estate man 

 enhance the value of the property so much with so small an outlay. 



There is great need for more trees in every Texas community and in 

 the hope that a planting movement will get under way with fresh 

 impetus this bulletin is issued to serve as a guide for city planters. 

 During the past fifteen to twenty years a great many species of trees 

 have been planted in West Texas and the Panhandle. Although many 

 of these were failures still many others proved to be suited to the soil 

 and climate of the region. In order to get the benefit of the results 

 of these plantings a six weeks' trip was made through the northwestern 

 part of the State. The information obtained on the trip has been largely 

 used in the preparation of this bulletin. 



The Division of Forestry of the Texas Experiment Station is con- 

 ducting tests on eleven sub-stations in various sections of the State for 

 the purpose of introducing desirable new shade trees. A number of 

 new species are being tried out and demonstrative planting work is 

 being conducted. Although the experiments have been in progress for 



