PLANTING OF STREETS AND WAYSIDES. 113 



hard usage; but, under proper conditions, it is one of the finest 

 trees of the forest. Boston is about its northern limit for free growth. 



The red oak (Quernis rubra) and the scarlet oak (Quercus coc- 

 cinea) are both grand shade trees for the streets in suburban dis- 

 tricts, or for the wayside. The prevalent notion has been that 

 these trees are of slow growth, which accounts, in a great measure, 

 for their not having been used for street planting. This idea is 

 erroneous, especially as regards the red oak, which, I think, will 

 outstrip a hard maple in growth. On the Boston parkways the 

 red oak has been extensively planted for shade. The growth, 

 since the trees became established, has averaged two feet each sea- 

 son, while in some of them a growth of from four to six feet has been 

 made in one season. The oak will not thrive under paved street 

 and sidewalk conditions; but no better trees can be planted for 

 roadsides, or even for suburban streets, than the red and scarlet 

 oaks. 



The pin oak {Quercus palustris) is a very graceful tree in its 

 young state. Its lower branches droop with a curved sweep to the 

 ground, consequently it should be planted only in such positions 

 as will allow the lower branches to be retained. As a street tree 

 in ordinary locations this cannot be done, and the most beautiful 

 feature of the tree is thus lost. Without its lower branches, this 

 oak is much inferior in appearance to the red or scarlet oak. It 

 loves moisture and can be utilized on low grounds. 



The planting of street trees requires as much care as does their 

 selection. It is not enough merely to dig a hole and crowd the 

 roots into it. xVny expectations based on such planting are doomed 

 to end in disappointment. 



If the soil is good no preparation for planting is necessary, other 

 than loosening up the ground for each tree for a space of from seven 

 to ten feet in diameter, and from two to three feet in depth. When 

 the soil is poor not less than ten yards of good soil should be sub- 

 stituted for an equal amount of poor soil excavated from the hole. 

 The same loosening up of the ground should be made. 



If planting is worth doing at all it is Avorth doing well, for on this 

 depends the well-being of the tree. It is safe to say if you have 

 twenty dollars to spend on planting a street tree, let nine-tenths of 

 the amount be spent on the preparation of the ground to receive it. 



