94 Practical Forestry 



be pointed out where even old and established specimens 

 have suffered irreparable damage in consequence of having 

 the paving brought up too close to the stems. 



The roots should always be allowed plenty of breathing 

 room, and to affect this a good-sized space should be railed 

 off around each tree and no pavement laid within it. Grat- 

 ings may be placed on the surface of the ground around the 

 tree, should circumstances compel such a course. By 

 adopting either plan, a double benefit to the trees is brought 

 about by allowing free access of water to the roots and 

 preventing an accumulation of noxious gases in the soil, 

 as would ensue if the flagstone or pavements were used. 



Where street trees are to be planted, the ground surface 

 should in every instance be thoroughly broken up for a 

 space of not less than 8 ft. square, and to a depth of, say, 

 4 ft., the inferior soil removed and replaced by that of good 

 quality, preferably of a loamy description, or loam and leaf 

 soil in about equal proportions. Before placing the fresh 

 soil in position, the sides and bottom of each pit should be 

 thoroughly loosened with a pick or fork. By undermining 

 the sides of each pit, a much larger and freer root run will 

 be provided, and this will not necessitate so much of the 

 street or pavement being torn up as if the pits were of equal 

 width at the top and bottom. We have found, in London 

 at least, that the addition of a small quantity of leaf soil 

 to the loam is highly beneficial to the growth of trees by 

 retaining dampness and encouraging root spread. The 

 newly added soil should be firmly trampled in the pit 

 before planting is engaged in. Sometimes, where the 

 original soil is not of too inferior quality, a small proportion 

 has been mixed with the loam and leaf soil, but, speaking 

 generally, this course cannot be adopted. 



In squares and gardens where shrub-planting is to be 

 engaged in, a general renovation of the soil is also impera- 

 tive, and this can best be done by thoroughly trenching 

 the soil to a depth of, say, 4 ft. and adding a large proportion 

 of fresh loam or other soil. Deep trenching and thor- 

 oughly breaking up and loosening the soil is a most important 

 factor in town planting, and should never be neglected, 



