420 



AMERICAN FORESTRY 



should be classed as one of the most ini|)ortant of civic 

 duties. It matters little how imposing the architecture 

 of a city is, for unless its lines are softened by the foliage 

 of trees, it lacks in artistic beauty and homelike warmth. 

 From the financial point of view, the planting of shade 

 trees has much merit. Barren, shadeless streets are not 

 attractive to visitors or home-seekers, so that as a busi- 



A MUNICIPAL NURSERY 



Thi nuricry at Prospect Park, Brooklyn, is now just one year old. 

 It is expected that with the growth of interest in municipal forests 

 and shade tree planting there will before long be many such 

 nurseries throughout the country. 



ness proposition unplanted streets may be fairly classed 

 with unsanitary conditions or with any other form of 

 slovenly civic housekeeping. Systematic planting of 

 shade trees in the city greatly enhances the value of 

 contiguous property, and always pays in the long run, 

 whether undertaken by the municipality or by the 

 individual. 



In subsequent issues we will consider the organization 

 of a suitable shade tree ordinance and some of the details 

 of planting and care. 



MOUNT VERNON'S DEVELOPMENT 

 A. Oakley Smith, who since last August has been 

 city forester at Mount Vernon, N. Y., has tendered 

 his resignation to the shade tree commission. Mr. 

 Smith, who has been the first man to fill the position 

 created by the common council last summer, will leave 

 it to return to private landscape and forestry with his 

 former employer, Ferruccio Vitale. His services, how- 

 ever, will not be entirely lost to the city of Mount Ver- 

 non, as the mayor as soon as he learned of Mr. Smith's 

 resignation appointed him a member of the shade tree 



commission. Mr. Smith has accepted the new appoint- 

 ment. In his letter of resignation, Mr. Smith said: 



"Active work on our shade trees was commenced last 

 August, and since then some 2,500 trees have received 

 treatment in the form of pruning, trimming, shaping 

 or cavity work. An accurate tree census is gradually 

 being compiled, and when completed will be a very ex- 

 cellent basis for a working plan of the city, giving the 

 number, species and location of young trees, of thrifty, 

 flourishing trees and the ones which are failing; also 

 the number of trees required for planting vacant spaces 

 and unplanted blocks. No planting will be done by the 

 city this spring on account of lack of funds, but next 

 year when the shade tree commission receives a budget, 

 three or four hundred trees will be planted in various 

 parts of the city. 



"Development work of this character is naturally slow, 

 and it will take years to show material improvement in 

 the condition of the trees throughout the entire city. 

 Trees planted today will not be valued as shade trees 

 for five or ten years and the result of money spent of 

 necessity in fighting insects is perceptible only to those 

 watching the trees very carefully from year to year. 

 It has been, however, a source of great satisfaction 

 through these past months to note with what interest 

 and keen appreciation the people of Mount Vernon have 

 taken hold of his very vital problem. At first thought 

 some object to the idea of complete municipal control of 

 the trees, but a few moments' discussion is always suffi- 

 cient to make clear the practicability and importance of 

 this method of protecting and caring for such a valuable 

 asset as the city's shade trees. A number of features 

 are greatly in our favor in connection with this devel- 

 opment. Most important of all is the strong support 

 given by the people of every effort put forth to accom- 

 plish our object ; next is the fact that the insect problem is 

 not as difficult in Mount Vernon as in many other cities. 

 The city is compact, laid out over a relatively small area 

 and the business and residential sections are well defined, 

 thus making possible consistent management and com- 

 paratively rapid improvement. The outlook is very 

 promising, and I have every intention of keeping in 

 touch with the development of this department." 



ADVICE FOR MANY HERE 



One of our members has asked for expert opinion on 

 a number of conditions, and the answers to his questions 

 contain advice of value to many. His questions and the 

 answers are here given : 



Q. I have recently purchased a piece of ground along 

 the Susquehanna River, which I intend to convert into 

 a summer home. I desire to transplant some trees, par- 

 ticularly evergreens, and would greatly appreciate it if 

 you would give me such information as you would be 

 able to concerning the following questions: (We have 

 appended the answer to each question as it occurs, as a 

 more convenient way of presenting the information 

 Editors.) 



Q. 1. Which do you consider the most satisfactory 





