SHADE TREES. 



213 



especially liable to be gnawed by horses, but the many good types of 

 tree guards to be had make most of this inexcusable. There are statutes 

 which cover such cases of injurj', 

 but it is always better for the tree 

 warden or citj' forester to prevent 

 injury by the use of a tree guard 

 than by resort to courts. Very 

 often trees are injured bj^ being so 

 close to the roadbed that heavy 

 teams come in contact with them 

 and cause abrasions. This is com- 

 mon in large cities where there is a 

 great deal of heavy traffic. Run- 

 aways are also responsible for 

 occasional injury, and for all these 

 reasons the ideal location for a 

 street tree is that known as a "tree 

 belt." Many of the modern streets 

 are now provided with tree belts 4 

 to 10 feet wide or more, situated 

 between the sidewalk and the 

 road. When such space is avail- 

 able it is possible to plant trees 

 some distance from the curbing, 

 preventing injuries from heavy 



Fig. 85. — Elm trees with bark scraped, illus- 

 trating a hideous and useless practice. 



Fig. 86. — Obliteration of 

 signboard on tree, result- 

 ing from stimulated cal- 

 lus growth. 



teams and horses' teeth. The most frequent 

 offenders are grocerymen and marketmen. It is 

 their common custom everywhere to leave their 

 horses unhitched in front of a house, within easy 

 reach of any trees located near the roadside. 

 Tree-belt planting prevents this difficulty. If 

 tree belts are not available, it is advisable to 

 plant the trees inside the sidewalk near the 

 highway line, and since on every well-kept 

 avenue there are fertilized lawns, a tree in "such 

 a location is under desirable conditions for 

 healthy growth. 



Placing signs on trees is another objection- 

 able feature. Since the signs cannot accom- 

 modate themselves to the tree's growth, the 

 bark grows over them, causing ugly scars. The 

 same objection holds true of the fastening of 

 other objects, particularly wire fences, to trees. 



Some injury to trees is occasionally caused by 

 spurs. Trees have sometimes been severely 

 injured in this way, and as a rule all climbing of 



